Rhodes attended West Texas State University after graduating from Johnston High School in Austin. In 1967, Rhodes read an advertisement in the newspaper for Tony Santos' Boston-based professional wrestling organization, Big Time Wrestling.
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Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. a.k.a. “The American Dream”, Dusty Rhodes, was born on October 11, 1945. He was a professional wrestler, booker, and trainer from the United States who most famously worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation, later known as the WWE. Rhodes is regarded as one of the best wrestlers and talkers in professional wrestling history.
Rhodes was a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, as well as a United States Heavyweight Champion and several World Television, World Tag Team, and World Six-Man Tag Team Champions during his stint with Jim Crockett Promotions, afterward known as WCW. He also won several regional titles and is one of seven guys inducted into the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. Dustin and Cody, his kids, have also followed professional wrestling careers, now appearing for AEW and WWE, respectively.
Following his retirement from wrestling, he worked as a backstage booker and producer in WWE’s NXT developmental division and made infrequent on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views. Rhodes, billed as “the son of a plumber,” did not have the body of a traditional wrestler; his character was that of the “ordinary guy,” noted for the personality displayed in his interviews. According to WWE chairman Vince McMahon, no wrestler “personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes.”
Rhodes attended West Texas State University after graduating from Johnston High School in Austin. In 1967, Rhodes read advertising in the newspaper for Tony Santos’ Boston-based professional wrestling organization, Big Time Wrestling. Rhodes drove to Boston and, despite his lack of wrestling expertise, bluffed his way into working for the organization by leveraging his real-life ties with Bobby Duncum and the Funk brothers. In 1968, Rhodes moved on to Fritz Von Erich’s Texas territory World Class Championship Wrestling, which was also known at the time as Big Time Wrestling. The ring name “Dusty Rhodes” was initially used by Rhodes in Texas.
| Name | Virgil Riley Runnels |
| DOB | 11 October 1945 – 11 June 2015, 69 years |
| Height | 188 cm |
| Weight | 125 kg |
| Occupation | Professional wrestler, Booker, Trainer |
| Professional Debut | 1967 |
| Wife | Sandra Runnels (m. 1965; div. 1975), Michelle Runnels (m. 1978–2015) |
| Professional Name | Dusty Rhodes |
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Dusty Rhodes made his untelevised debut on May 29 in Montreal, Quebec, nine days after his final PWF match. He beat Ted Dibiase while filling in for Jake Roberts. Rhodes was introduced to WWF audiences through a series of vignettes in which he would gregariously and enthusiastically play working-class roles (such as a plumber, butcher’s apprentice, gas station attendant, taco cook, trash collector, and pizza delivery man), eventually being recognized by others at the end of the skit.
That month, Rhodes remained unbeaten in home shows against Dibiase. On June 6, he was pinned in a dark match against Dibiase during a WWF Superstars taping in Madison, WI. Aside from this setback, “The American Dream” was unbeaten against the top-tier heel. Following a bout between Big Bossman and Jim McPherson, Rhodes interfered to prevent Bossman from using his nightstick against the beaten opponent on the July 22nd episode of WWF Superstars. Dusty was now in his first World Wrestling Federation feud.
On the August 13th episode of Wrestling Challenge, Rhodes pinned Greg Valentine when his opponent was distracted by Ronnie Garvin. That month, he launched his home show series versus Big Bossman and was completely dominant, beating the rulebreaker in every match. On the August 21 episode of Prime Time Wrestling, Rhodes defeated Bossman for his first televised victory. He made his WWF PPV debut at SummerSlam 89, defeating The Honky Tonk Man. Meanwhile, on the road, he maintained his domination, remaining unbeaten against the Bossman.
Sapphire, a Rhodes fan, began to appear at ringside during his televised contests in October. After a victory, Rhodes would finally ask the woman into the ring and dance with her. She would become his manager and was given the moniker “Sapphire.” Dusty was supposed to symbolize “The Common Man,” and she was supposed to represent “The Common Woman.” On November 23, 1989, at The Survivor Series, he led The Dream Team, which included Brutus Beefcake, Tito Santana, and The Red Rooster, to triumph over The Enforcers (Big Bossman, The Honkytonk Man, Rick Martel, and Akeem). Rhodes finished the year by defeating Bossman in house show battles around the country, often in “ball and chain” matches.
In September 2005, Rhodes signed a WWE Legends contract and was hired as a creative consultant by the Creative Team. He appeared on October 3, 2005, at WWE Raw Homecoming, when he and other legends beat down Rob Conway, to who Rhodes administered a famous Bionic Elbow. On March 31, 2007, his two kids, Dustin and Cody, inducted Rhodes into the WWE Hall of Fame. During his acceptance speech, Rhodes requested that Ric Flair and Arn Anderson hold up the “sign” to induct him and Harley Race into the Four Horsemen. Rhodes made an appearance on the February 16, 2015 edition of Raw in an attempt to reconcile Goldust and Stardust, who were feuding. On March 28, Rhodes would make his farewell appearance in WWE programming, on the Hall of Fame: Live From the Red Carpet presentation.
Paramedics arrived at Rhodes’ house in Orlando, Florida, on June 10, 2015, after receiving a call stating that he had fallen. They took him to a neighboring hospital, where he died the next day from the consequences of renal failure at the age of 69. Rhodes was cremated following his death, and his ashes were dispersed in November 2015 on a ranch that Rhodes enjoyed visiting. A ten-bell homage was given to Rhodes at Money in the Bank 2015, with the entire WWE roster and the McMahon family on the entrance ramp. The next night on Raw, he was honored with a video tribute and an after-show special on the WWE Network.
WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2007)
Slammy Award (1 time)
“Say What” Quote of the Year (2013) – “One stipulation: I’m in my boys’ corner and I’ll be your huckleberry all night long”.
WWE Bronze Statue (2016)
From 1965 to 1975, Runnels was married to Sandra. He married Michelle Rubio in 1978, and the couple was married for 37 years until his death in 2015. Dustin, Kristin, Teil, and Cody Runnels were his four children. Dakota, the daughter of Dustin and his ex-wife Terri Boatright, Dalton and Dylan, children of Kristin and her husband Don Ditto, Kellan and Maris, children of Teil and her husband Kevin Gergel, and Liberty, daughter of Cody and his wife Brandi were among his six grandkids. He also has a brother named Larry and a sister named Connie. Little is known about his spouses, although both his ex-wife and widow preferred a secluded existence away from the spotlight.
