Virgil Runnels

Biography

Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr., better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler, booker/writer, and trainer who most notably worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, NWA Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), and WWE. Rhodes is considered one of the greatest wrestlers and talkers in the history of professional wrestling. Rhodes was a three-time NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, and during his time in Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, later known as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he was a NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA World Television, NWA Tag Team and NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He also won many regional championships, and is one of seven men inducted into each of the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. His sons, Dustin and Cody, both pursued careers in professional wrestling, performing for WWE and AEW. Following his retirement from wrestling, he made occasional on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views and worked as a backstage booker/writer and producer in WWE's NXT developmental territory. Billed as "the son of a plumber", Rhodes did not have a typical wrestler's physique; his character was that of the "common man", known for the personality exhibited in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon remarked that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes".

Known For

Raw

Raw

WWE NXT

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

WWE Saturday Night's Main Event

WWF Wrestling Challenge

ECW Hardcore TV

WWE Pay Per View

All Movies (122)

• Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal2024 · as Self
• American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes2023 · as Self (Archival Footage)
• You Cannot Kill David Arquette2020 · as Self (archive footage)
• A Future WWE: The FCW Story2020 · as Himself
• Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man2018
• Nature Boy2017 · as Self (archive footage)
• WWE Unreleased: 1986-19952017
• Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon2016 · as Dusty Rhodes (voice)
• TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 22016 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness2016 · as Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
• Sting: Into the Light2015 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream2015
• ECW - Unreleased Vol. 32015 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash2014 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 12014 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Battleground 20132013 · as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
• Legends of Mid-South Wrestling2013 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches2013 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE WrestleMania 29 Kickoff2013 · as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• WWE: The Attitude Era2012 · as Dusty
• nWo: The Revolution2012
• The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions2012 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection2012 · as Dusty Rhodes
• ROH: Ring of Hardcore2012 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time2010 · as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• The Rise & Fall of WCW2009 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection2009
• Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain2009 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event2009 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection2008 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Life In The Fast Lane2007
• Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 12007 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE The Great American Bash 20072007 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen2007 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Hall of Fame 20072007 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Survivor Series 20062006 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Cyber Sunday 20062006 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology2006 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story2006 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story2006 · as Dusty Rhodes
• TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy2005 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s2005 · as Self
• TNA Lockdown 20052005 · as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• TNA Destination X 20052005 · as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• TNA Against All Odds 20052005 · as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• TNA Final Resolution 20052005 · as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• TNA Turning Point 20042004 · as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• TNA Victory Road 20042004 · as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
• NEW Renegades Rampage2004 · as Dusty Rhodes
• HUSTLE-32004 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection2004 · as Dusty Rhodes
• FIP Return Of The Dream2003 · as Dusty Rhodes
• ROH: The Epic Encounter2003 · as Dusty Rhodes
• 3PW Legends Collide2003
• MLW King of Kings2002 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW Greed2001 · as Dusty Rhodes
• ECW Hardcore Heaven 20002000 · as Dusty Rhodes
• ECW Wrestlepalooza 20002000 · as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
• ECW Living Dangerously 20002000 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling1998 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW Uncensored 19981998 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW SuperBrawl VIII1998 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW Souled Out 19981998 · as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
• WCW: Ric Flair - 2 Decades of Excellence1995 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW All Nighter 19951995
• WCW Fall Brawl 19941994 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII1994 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW Clash of the Champions XXV1993 · as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
• Paradise Park1992 · as Deputy Johnny Morton
• WCW/New Japan Supershow II1992 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW Halloween Havoc 19911991 · as Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)
• WCW SuperBrawl 11991 · as Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
• WCW WrestleWar 19911991 · as Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
• WWE Royal Rumble 19911991 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Survivor Series 19901990 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Hottest Matches1990 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE SummerSlam 19901990 · as "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
• Battle of the WWE Superstars1990 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: June '901990 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE WrestleMania VI1990 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI1990 · as "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Royal Rumble 19901990 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Survivor Series 19891989 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Survivor Series Showdown '891989 · as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
• WWE SummerSlam 19891989 · as Himself
• Fan Favorites1989
• PWF Homecoming1989 · as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Starrcade 19881988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings1988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '881988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA The Great American Bash 1988: Greensboro1988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA The Great American Bash 19881988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem1988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament1988 · as The Midnight Rider
• NWA Clash of the Champions1988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Bunkhouse Stampede1988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Starrcade 19871987 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Wrestling The Danger Zone1987
• NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games1987 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament1987 · as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation1987 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Starrcade 19861986 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land1986 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro1986 · as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte1986 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament1986 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Superstars on The SuperStation1986 · as Dusty Rhodes
• AWA/NWA Night of Champions II1985 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Pro Wrestling USA Star Wars: December 19841985 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Starrcade 19851985 · as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• Mid-South WrestleFest '851985 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA The Great American Bash 19851985 · as Dusty Rhodes
• I Like To Hurt People1985 · as Self
• NWA Starrcade 19841984 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Lords of The Ring1984 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Night of Champions1984 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA Boogie Jam1984 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Gold Raiders1982
• NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show1982 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa1980 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The Super Bowl of Wrestling1978 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The Wrestler1974 · as Dusty Rhodes

All TV Shows (33)

• WWE Rivals2022 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Biography: WWE Legends2021
• WWE Rivalries2014 · as Self
• Wrestlemania Rewind2014 · as Dusty Rhodes
• The JBL and Cole Show2012 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE NXT2010
• WWE Hall of Fame2005 · as Self
• TNA iMPACT!2004
• TNA iMPACT!2004 · as Dusty Rhodes.
• TNA iMPACT!2004 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Major League Wrestling: Underground TV2003
• ECW on TNN1999 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW Thunder1998 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WCW Monday Nitro1995
• WCW Monday Nitro1995 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Burke's Law1994 · as Archie 'Mad Dog' McCray
• ECW Hardcore TV1993
• Raw1993 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Raw1993
• Clash of the Champions1988 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Clash of the Champions1988 · as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
• WWF Wrestling Challenge1986 · as Dusty Rhodes
• NWA World Championship Wrestling1985 · as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• NWA World Championship Wrestling1985 · as Midnight Rider
• WWE Saturday Night's Main Event1985
• WWE Saturday Night's Main Event1985 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Pay Per View1985
• WCW Arena Shows1983 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Mid-South Wrestling1981 · as Dusty Rhodes
• Mid-South Wrestling1981 · as 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes
• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling1981 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWF All-Star Wrestling1975 · as Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Old School1973 · as Dusty Rhodes