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
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon
(2016)
Dusty Rhodes (voice)
Full Filmography
Acting
The Wrestler
(1974)
Dusty Rhodes
The Super Bowl of Wrestling
(1978)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
(1980)
Dusty Rhodes
Gold Raiders
(1982)
NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show
(1982)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge
(1984)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Night of Champions
(1984)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Lords of The Ring
(1984)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Boogie Jam
(1984)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering
(1985)
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash 1985
(1985)
Dusty Rhodes
MSW WrestleFest
(1985)
Dusty Rhodes
I Like To Hurt People
(1985)
Self
AWA/NWA Night of Champions II
(1985)
Dusty Rhodes
Pro Wrestling USA Star Wars: December 1984
(1985)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers
(1986)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land
(1986)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Superstars on The SuperStation
(1986)
Dusty Rhodes
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
(1986)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
(1986)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro
(1986)
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade '87: Chi-Town Heat!
(1987)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games
(1987)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation
(1987)
Dusty Rhodes
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
(1987)
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
(1988)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash '88: The Price for Freedom
(1988)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade '88: True Gritt
(1988)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Clash of The Champions
(1988)
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Clash of The Champions II: Miami Mayhem
(1988)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88
(1988)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
(1988)
Dusty Rhodes
The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
(1988)
The Midnight Rider
PWF Homecoming
(1989)
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
WWE SummerSlam 1989
(1989)
Himself
WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89
(1989)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Survivor Series 1989
(1989)
Dusty Rhodes
Fan Favorites
(1989)
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
(1990)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE WrestleMania VI
(1990)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE SummerSlam 1990
(1990)
"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
(1990)
"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
Battle of the WWE Superstars
(1990)
Dusty Rhodes
WWF Hottest Matches
(1990)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Survivor Series 1990
(1990)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
(1991)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Halloween Havoc '91
(1991)
Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)
WCW SuperBrawl: Return from The Rising Sun
(1991)
Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
WCW WrestleWar 1991
(1991)
Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
WCW/New Japan Supershow II
(1992)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
(1994)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVIII
(1994)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW All Nighter 1995
(1995)
Paradise Park
(1996)
Deputy Johnny Morton
The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling
(1998)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Souled Out 1998
(1998)
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
WCW SuperBrawl VIII
(1998)
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Uncensored 1998
(1998)
Dusty Rhodes
ECW Living Dangerously 2000
(2000)
Dusty Rhodes
ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000
(2000)
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000
(2000)
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
WCW Greed
(2001)
Dusty Rhodes
MLW King of Kings
(2002)
Dusty Rhodes
ROH: The Epic Encounter
(2003)
Dusty Rhodes
FIP Return Of The Dream
(2003)
Dusty Rhodes
3PW Legends Collide
(2003)
WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection
(2004)
Dusty Rhodes
HUSTLE-3
(2004)
Dusty Rhodes
NEW Renegades Rampage
(2004)
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Victory Road 2004
(2004)
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
TNA Turning Point 2004
(2004)
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
WWE: The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's
(2005)
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy
(2005)
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Lockdown 2005
(2005)
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA Destination X 2005
(2005)
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA Against All Odds 2005
(2005)
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA Final Resolution 2005
(2005)
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
WWE Survivor Series 2006
(2006)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Cyber Sunday 2006
(2006)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
(2006)
Dusty Rhodes
The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story
(2006)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
(2006)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE The Great American Bash 2007
(2007)
Dusty Rhodes
Life In The Fast Lane
(2007)
Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen
(2007)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Hall of Fame 2007
(2007)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE WrestleMania 23
(2007)
Dusty
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
(2007)
Dusty Rhodes
Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection
(2008)
Dusty Rhodes
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
(2009)
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
(2009)
Dusty Rhodes
Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain
(2009)
Dusty Rhodes
The Rise & Fall of WCW
(2009)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
(2010)
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time
(2011)
Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
The True Story of WrestleMania
(2011)
Self (archive footage)
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions
(2012)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
(2012)
Dusty Rhodes
nWo: The Revolution
(2012)
WWE: The Attitude Era
(2012)
Dusty
WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches
(2013)
Dusty Rhodes
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
(2013)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Battleground 2013
(2013)
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
(2014)
Dusty Rhodes
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash
(2014)
Dusty Rhodes
ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3
(2015)
Dusty Rhodes
Sting: Into the Light
(2015)
Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream
(2015)
WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness
(2016)
Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon
(2016)
Dusty Rhodes (voice)
TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2
(2016)
Dusty Rhodes
Eric Bischoff: Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure
(2016)
Self (archive footage)
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
(2017)
Nature Boy
(2017)
Himself (archive footage)
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
(2018)
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
(2020)
Self (archive footage)
A Future WWE: The FCW Story
(2020)
Himself
Biography: Rey Mysterio
(2022)
Self (archive footage) - Dusty Rhodes
American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes
(2023)
Self (Archival Footage)
Biography: Dusty Rhodes
(2023)
Self
Writing
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
(1980)
Writer
NWA Starrcade 1983
(1983)
Writer
NWA Night of Champions
(1984)
Writer
NWA Lords of The Ring
(1984)
Writer
NWA Boogie Jam
(1984)
Writer
NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge
(1984)
Writer
NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering
(1985)
Writer
NWA Superstars on The SuperStation
(1986)
Writer
NWA Battle of The Belts II
(1986)
Writer
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
(1986)
Writer
NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land
(1986)
Writer
NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
(1986)
Writer
NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro
(1986)
Writer
NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers
(1986)
Writer
NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation
(1987)
Writer
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
(1987)
Writer
NWA Starrcade '87: Chi-Town Heat!
(1987)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions
(1988)
Writer
NWA Clash of The Champions II: Miami Mayhem
(1988)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88
(1988)
Writer
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
(1988)
Writer
NWA The Great American Bash '88: The Price for Freedom
(1988)
Writer
The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
(1988)
Writer
PWF Homecoming
(1989)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite
(1991)
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl: Return from The Rising Sun
(1991)
Writer
WCW Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA
(1991)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XVI: Fall Brawl '91
(1991)
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc '91
(1991)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XVII
(1991)
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1991
(1991)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII
(1992)
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl II
(1992)
Writer
WCW Wrestle War: WarGames
(1992)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XIX
(1992)
Writer
WCW Beach Blast
(1992)
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash
(1992)
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc
(1992)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXI
(1992)
Writer
WCW Starrcade
(1992)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXII
(1993)
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl III
(1993)
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1993
(1993)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII
(1993)
Writer
WCW Beach Blast 1993
(1993)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIV
(1993)
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1993
(1993)
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1993
(1993)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXV
(1993)
Writer
WCW Battle Bowl
(1993)
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1993
(1993)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX
(1994)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI
(1994)
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl IV
(1994)
Writer
WCW Spring Stampede 1994
(1994)
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1994
(1994)
Writer
WCW Bash at The Beach 1994
(1994)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVII
(1994)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVIII
(1994)
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
(1994)
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1994
(1994)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXX
(1995)
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1995
(1995)
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1995
(1995)
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1995
(1995)
Writer
WCW Bash at the Beach 1995
(1995)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI
(1995)
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1995
(1995)
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1995
(1995)
Writer
WCW World War 3 1995
(1995)
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1995
(1995)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXII
(1996)
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl VI
(1996)
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1996
(1996)
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1996
(1996)
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
(1996)
Writer
WCW Bash at the Beach 1996
(1996)
Writer
WCW Hog Wild 1996
(1996)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXIII
(1996)
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1996
(1996)
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1996
(1996)
Writer
WCW World War 3 1996
(1996)
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1996
(1996)
Writer
nWo Souled Out 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXIV
(1997)
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl VII
(1997)
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Spring Stampede 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Bash at The Beach 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Road Wild 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXV
(1997)
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW World War 3 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1997
(1997)
Writer
WCW Souled Out 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl VIII
(1998)
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW Spring Stampede 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW Bash at The Beach 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW Road Wild 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW World War 3 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1998
(1998)
Writer
WCW Souled Out 1999
(1999)
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl IX
(1999)
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1999
(1999)
Writer
WCW Spring Stampede 1999
(1999)
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1999
(1999)
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1999
(1999)
Writer
WCW Bash at The Beach 1999
(1999)
Writer
WCW Road Wild 1999
(1999)
Writer
TNA Destination X 2005
(2005)
Writer
WWE Royal Rumble 2006
(2006)
Writer
WWE Royal Rumble 2007
(2007)
Writer
Directing
Production