Virgil Runnels
Acting
Born: October 12, 1945 · Austin, Texas, USA
Died: June 11, 2015 (aged 69)
Highest Rated
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".
Photos (3)
Movies (99)
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
Dusty Rhodes
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon
Dusty Rhodes (voice)
WWE Survivor Series 1990
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Survivor Series 2006
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Cyber Sunday 2006
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Greed
Dusty Rhodes
WWE The Great American Bash 2007
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Battleground 2013
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
WWE Hottest Matches
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: The Attitude Era
Dusty
WCW Uncensored 1998
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Souled Out 1998
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)
WWE Survivor Series 1989
Dusty Rhodes
nWo: The Revolution
2012
The Rise & Fall of WCW
Dusty Rhodes
WCW SuperBrawl 1
Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness
Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain
Dusty Rhodes
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade 1984
Dusty Rhodes
The Super Bowl of Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
2009
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Dusty Rhodes
WWE WrestleMania VI
Dusty Rhodes
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
Dusty Rhodes
Sting: Into the Light
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Night of Champions
Dusty Rhodes
WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches
Dusty Rhodes
The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
Dusty Rhodes
The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story
Dusty Rhodes
WWE SummerSlam 1990
"The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
WCW SuperBrawl VIII
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
Dusty Rhodes
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes
ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3
Dusty Rhodes
ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000
Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream
2015
MLW King of Kings
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
2017
Gold Raiders
1982
WCW Clash of the Champions XXV
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection
Dusty Rhodes
WWE Hall of Fame 2007
Dusty Rhodes
WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
Dusty Rhodes
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade 1985
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
WCW WrestleWar 1991
Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Destination X 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88
Dusty Rhodes
WCW All Nighter 1995
1995
NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash 1985
Dusty Rhodes
Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
2018
NWA Starrcade 1986
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Final Resolution 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA Lockdown 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
ECW Living Dangerously 2000
Dusty Rhodes
Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash 1988: Greensboro
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash 1988
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Boogie Jam
Dusty Rhodes
Paradise Park
Deputy Johnny Morton
ROH: The Epic Encounter
Dusty Rhodes
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade 1987
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Wrestling The Danger Zone
1987
Mid-South WrestleFest '85
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Turning Point 2004
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
ROH: Ring of Hardcore
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Lords of The Ring
Dusty Rhodes
Life In The Fast Lane
2007
NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Victory Road 2004
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
Dusty Rhodes
WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection
Dusty Rhodes
TNA Against All Odds 2005
Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2
Dusty Rhodes
The Wrestler
Dusty Rhodes
Battle of the WWE Superstars
Dusty Rhodes
NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games
Dusty Rhodes
NWA Starrcade 1988
Dusty Rhodes
WCW/New Japan Supershow II
Dusty Rhodes
Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen
Dusty Rhodes
ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000
Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
Fan Favorites
1989
TV Shows (29)
Raw
Dusty Rhodes · 8 eps
Raw
1 eps
WWE NXT
25 eps
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
3 eps
WWF Superstars
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes · 23 eps
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Dusty Rhodes · 24 eps
ECW Hardcore TV
364 eps
Mid-South Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes · 6 eps
Mid-South Wrestling
'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes · 1 eps
TNA iMPACT!
3 eps
TNA iMPACT!
Dusty Rhodes. · 1 eps
TNA iMPACT!
Dusty Rhodes · 24 eps
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Dusty Rhodes · 3 eps
NWA World Championship Wrestling
"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes · 90 eps
NWA World Championship Wrestling
Midnight Rider · 2 eps
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes · 30 eps
Burke's Law
Archie 'Mad Dog' McCray · 1 eps
WWF All-Star Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes · 4 eps
WWE Old School
Dusty Rhodes · 6 eps
WWE Rivals
Dusty Rhodes · 1 eps
Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes · 5 eps
Clash of the Champions
Dusty Rhodes (Ringside) · 1 eps
WCW Monday Nitro
262 eps
WCW Monday Nitro
Dusty Rhodes · 1 eps
Biography: WWE Legends
1 eps
Wrestlemania Rewind
Dusty Rhodes · 1 eps
ECW on TNN
Dusty Rhodes · 59 eps
WCW Thunder
Dusty Rhodes · 3 eps
WCW Arena Shows
Dusty Rhodes · 3 eps
Self / Appearances (11)
WWE Rivalries
Self · 1 eps
WWE Hall of Fame
Self · 2 eps
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
Self (archive footage)
American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes
Self (Archival Footage)
Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal
Self
The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s
Self
WWE SummerSlam 1989
Himself
Nature Boy
Self (archive footage)
A Future WWE: The FCW Story
Himself
Fight Owens Fight: The Kevin Owens Story
Self
I Like To Hurt People
Self
Directing (1)
Writing (123)
Raw
Writer
WWE NXT
Writer
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
Writer
Clash of the Champions
Writer
WCW Bash at the Beach 1994
Writer
NWA Clash of the Champions
Writer
WCW Souled Out 1999
Writer
WCW Bash at the Beach 1996
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1997
Writer
WWE Royal Rumble 2007
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1992
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1992
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl IX
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1998
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1994
Writer
WCW Spring Stampede 1998
Writer
WCW Road Wild 1999
Writer
WWE Royal Rumble 2006
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1998
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1999
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1994
Writer
WCW Souled Out 1998
Writer
WCW Hog Wild 1996
Writer
WCW WrestleWar 1992
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1993
Writer
WCW Spring Stampede 1997
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1996
Writer
nWo Souled Out 1997
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1995
Writer
WCW World War 3 1998
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1996
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl 1
Writer
WCW World War 3 1995
Writer
WCW Spring Stampede 1994
Writer
WCW Road Wild 1997
Writer
WCW Road Wild 1998
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1998
Writer
WCW BattleBowl
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1993
Writer
NWA Starrcade 1984
Writer
WCW Bash at the Beach 1998
Writer
WCW World War 3 1997
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1995
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1999
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1999
Writer
The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1998
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1996
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1996
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl II
Writer
WCW Bash at the Beach 1995
Writer
WCW World War 3 1996
Writer
NWA Night of Champions
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXX
Writer
WCW Beach Blast 1993
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1997
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX
Writer
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1998
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl IV
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl VIII
Writer
NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
Writer
WCW Fall Brawl 1995
Writer
WCW Spring Stampede 1999
Writer
WCW Bash at the Beach 1997
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1997
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXII
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl VI
Writer
WCW Beach Blast
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1995
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1993
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXIV
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1997
Writer
WCW Clash of the Champions XXV
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXIII
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1992
Writer
WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XVI: Fall Brawl '91
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1998
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1995
Writer
NWA Starrcade 1985
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXVII
Writer
NWA Starrcade 1983
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1997
Writer
NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land
Writer
TNA Destination X 2005
Writer
NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88
Writer
WCW All Nighter 1995
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXI
Writer
NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro
Writer
NWA The Great American Bash 1985
Writer
WCW Halloween Havoc 1995
Writer
NWA Battle of The Belts II
Writer
NWA Starrcade 1986
Writer
NWA The Great American Bash 1988: Greensboro
Writer
NWA The Great American Bash 1988
Writer
WCW The Great American Bash 1996
Writer
NWA Boogie Jam
Writer
WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV
Writer
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl VII
Writer
NWA Starrcade 1987
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXV
Writer
WCW Starrcade 1991
Writer
WCW Bash at the Beach 1999
Writer
WCW SuperBrawl III
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XVII
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXII
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1993
Writer
NWA Lords of The Ring
Writer
WCW Slamboree 1997
Writer
NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem
Writer
WCW Uncensored 1996
Writer
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
Writer
WCW Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI
Writer
WCW Clash of The Champions XIX
Writer