Dustin Rhodes
Born	(1966-04-11) April 11, 1966 (age 58) [1] Austin, Texas [1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Dustin Rhodes Dustin Runnels Dusty Rhodes, Jr. Goldust (The) Artist Formerly Known As Goldust Gold Dustin Seven Black Reign
Billed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) [1]
Billed weight	[undue weight? – discuss] [1]
Billed from	"The Deepest, Darkest Corner of His Mind" Hollywood, California [2]
Trained by	Skandor Akbar Dusty Rhodes
Debut	September 13, 1988

Virgil Riley Runnels III, also known as Dustin Runnels (born April 11, 1966), is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Rhodes appeared with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under numerous ring names throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The son of wrestler Dusty Rhodes, he is best known as Dustin Rhodes and most famous for portraying the controversial character Goldust in the WWF/E. ^[2]

Career

National Wrestling Alliance (1988)

Rhodes received his first national exposure in the National Wrestling Alliance in December 1988, where he wrestled as Dustin Rhodes and formed a short-lived tag team with Kendall Windham named the Texas Broncos. Rhodes subsequently formed a tag team with Mike Graham, with the duo winning the FCW Tag Team Championship. ^[1]

World Wrestling Federation (1990-1991)

Rhodes debuted in the World Wrestling Federation in late 1990, wrestling as Dustin Rhodes. In December 1990, Rhodes defeated Ted DiBiase in a televised 10 minute challenge match. On January 19, 1991, Rhodes and his father Dusty lost to Ted DiBiase and Virgil in a tag team bout. ^[1]

World Championship Wrestling (1991-1995)

In February 1991, Rhodes joined World Championship Wrestling, wrestling as "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes. He feuded with Larry Zbyszko until April 1991, when he refused to join Alexandra York's York Foundation, thus beginning a feud with Foundation member Terrence Taylor.

In October 1992, Rhodes and Barry Windham won the WCW World Tag Team Championship. One month later, Windham turned on Rhodes, beginning a feud.

In January 1993, Rhodes won the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. In the same month, he began a lengthy feud with Rick Rude that lasted until August. Rhodes lost the title to "Stunning" Steve Austin in December 1993.

In March 1994, Rhodes began feuding with Bunkhouse Buck and Col. Robert Parker. After Parker introduced Arn Anderson and Terry Funk as adversaries for Runnels, Runnels responded by bringing his father, a former enemy of Funk, to WCW. In December 1994, Parker introduced another opponent for Rhodes, The Blacktop Bully. In March 1995, Rhodes and The Blacktop Bully both bladed during a King of the Road match at the 1995 Uncensored pay-per-view despite being instructed not to, and were fired as a result.^[1]

World Wrestling Federation (1995-1999)

In September 1995, Rhodes returned to the World Wrestling Federation, wrestling under the ring name Goldust. The Goldust character was portrayed as being obsessed with films and gold. As Goldust, Runnels wrestled in a black and gold-colored jumpsuit while wearing black and gold face paint and a platinum blonde wig over his short platinum blond hair, with his appearance modelled after an Academy Award of Merit. Goldust utilized psychological warfare tactics such as groping his opponents, expressing affection towards them and delivering sexually suggestive interviews. ^[2]

Goldust initially feuded with Razor Ramon, whom he stalked and sent lewd messages throughout late 1995. The feud culminated at the Royal Rumble on January 21 1996, where Goldust defeated Ramon for the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Razor due to outside interference from the 1-2-3 Kid. This match also marked the debut of his valet, Marlena. Marlena would sit at ringside in a director's chair and advise Goldust whilst smoking cigars. A scheduled rematch between Goldust and Ramon at WrestleMania XII was cancelled after Ramon was suspended, with Goldust instead wrestling and losing to Roddy Piper in a non-title "Hollywood Backlot Brawl". ^[2]

Goldust defended his WWF Intercontinental Championship in bouts with Savio Vega and the Ultimate Warrior before losing to Ahmed Johnson on June 23, 1996.

In August 1996, Goldust briefly gained control over Mankind and feuded with The Undertaker. His attention soon turned to Marc Mero and his wife Sable. Goldust and Marlena attempted to get Sable to join their team but Mero won the feud and kept her by his side.

In May 1997, Goldust revealed his identity as Dustin Runnels, the son of Dusty Rhodes. In summer and autumn of that year, he joined other U.S. wrestlers in their conflict with the Hart Foundation, feuding in particular with Brian Pillman, to whom he lost the services of Marlena for 30 days. In November 1997, Goldust split with Marlena and refused to cooperate with his Survivor Series team mates. This led to a feude with Vader and the appearance of The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust (a reference to Prince), managed by Luna Vachon. He began mimicking various celebrities and fellow wrestlers with parody characters such as "Chynadust", "Dust Lovedust", "Dustydust", "Hunterdust", "Flashdust", "Marilyn Mansondust", "Sabledust" and "Vaderdust". ^[1]

In May 1998, Rhodes burned his Goldust jumpsuit on television, thereby splitting with Luna Vachon, and preached the good life, eventually getting involved with Marlena (now known as Terri Runnels) once again. He feuded with Val Venis, who claimed to have impregnated Terri. After spending several months alluding to "His return", Goldust reprised his original gimmick in October 1998 and began feuding with Jeff Jarrett over the attentions of his manager, Debra. In early 1999, Goldust feuded with Al Snow upon stealing Head, Al Snow's "mascot", and with The Blue Meanie, who had recently renamed himself "Bluedust" and adopted many of Goldust's mannerisms. After Goldust defeated Bluedust at the St. Valentines Day Massacre, Bluedust became Goldust's apprentice. After Ryan Shamrock became Goldust's valet, Bluedust and Shamrock began vying for Goldust's attention. In the same time period, Goldust won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Road Dogg, losing to The Godfather two weeks later.

Throughout 1999, vignettes featuring hidden camera footage of wrestlers began airing on WWF television. The vignettes were originally referred to as GDTV (Goldust Television), with the intention of eventually revealing Goldust as the person behind them, but were renamed GTV after Rhodes requested and was granted a release from his WWF contract. ^[3]

World Championship Wrestling (1999-2001)

Rhodes returned to World Championship Wrestling in 1999, filming several vignettes for a fantastical, face-painted character named Seven. The character was dropped after Turner Standards and Practices expressed concern that it could be misinterpreted as a child abductor. Upon returning to WCW television, Rhodes removed his costume and delivered an interview in which he mocked unrealistic gimmicks. Rhodes began wrestling as "The American Nightmare" Dustin Rhodes, with his nickname a reference to his father's nickname, "The American Dream".

Rhodes feuded with Jeff Jarrett and Terry Funk before being suspended in 2000 due to an appearance on the WCW Live! Internet radio program in which he criticized WCW head writer Vince Russo, calling him a "sawed-off midget" and an "asshole". He returned to WCW television in February 2001, assisting his father in his feud with Jarrett and Ric Flair.

In March 2001, WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation, with the WWF neglecting to acquire Runnels' contract. In July 2001, Runnels began wrestling for his father's newly created Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling promotion, winning the TCW Heavyweight Championship.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2002-2003)

Rhodes returned to the World Wrestling Federation in January 2002, taking part in the Royal Rumble and reprising his Goldust character. He went on to feud with Rob Van Dam before entering the hardcore division, winning the WWF Hardcore Championship on seven occasions.

In March 2002, the World Wrestling Federation was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment and the roster was divided into two brands, Raw and SmackDown!. Goldust was assigned to the RAW brand, where he formed a tag team with Booker T. The duo engaged in numerous comedic vignettes, on one occasion hosting a segment entitled Booker T and Goldust at the Movies and delivering negative reviews of The Scorpion King, a film starring The Rock. During the skit, Booker T would refer to Goldust as "The Scorpion Queen," to which Goldust replied "Tell me you did not just say that!", Booker's tagline of the time. Also, in a hysterical segment, Goldust followed Booker T into a 7-11, dressing like a rapper in an attempt to be inconspicuous (Oddly enough, Goldust had his in-ring gold and black face paint applied). After appealing to Booker T to keep their team going, he then asked him for a drink of his slurpee, to which he promised "a bite of his weiner" in return. In May 2002, Booker T joined the New World Order, with Goldust's requests to join the faction rejected. In June 2002, Booker T was ejected from the New World Order by Shawn Michaels, sparking a feud between the New World Order and Booker T and Goldust. Booker T and Goldust went on to compete in the tag team division, winning the World Tag Team Championship at Armageddon 2002 before splitting amicably in January 2003.

Following the dissolution of the tag team, Rhodes developed a new gimmick whereupon he contracted a stutter and Tourette syndrome upon receiving an electric shock from a junction box during an attack at the hands of Batista and Randy Orton. Rhodes appeared sporadically thereafter, forming a short-lived tag team with Lance Storm in August 2003. He was released in December 2003 following a period of inactivity.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004-2005)

On February 4, 2004, he debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Dustin Rhodes, unsuccessfully challenging Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. On February 18, 2004, Runnels and El Leon defeated Kevin Northcutt and Legend in a tag team bout.

On March 7, 2004 in the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, he, wrestling as Dusty Rhodes, Jr., teamed up with his father and lost to Satoshi Kojima and Shinjiro Otani during a Hustle event.

In December 2004, he returned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, once again wrestling as Dustin Rhodes. He feuded with Raven, Kid Kash, and Bobby Roode during his time there. He left the promotion in April 2005.

American Combat Wrestling (2005)

Rhodes wrestled on December 6th, 2005 in a battle royal as the masked "Midnight Assassin." Upon winning the battle royal, he was awarded a match with ACW Champion, Ralph Mosca. The Midnight Assassin was unmasked during the match and revealed to be Dustin Rhodes, but went on to win the match and be crowned ACW World Champion by referee Mr Fabio.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005-2006)

Rhodes returned to World Wrestling Entertainment on October 31, 2005 as Goldust, attacking Batista along with Vader. At Taboo Tuesday 2005, Goldust and Vader unsuccessfully interfered in a bout between Batista and Jonathan Coachman on behalf of Coachman.

In January 2006, Rhodes took part in the Royal Rumble. He was subsequently assigned once more to the RAW brand, where he formed a tag team with Snitsky. The team feuded with Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch until Rhodes was released in June 2006 for no-showing a scheduled appearance.

On March 31, 2007, Dustin and his half-brother Cody inducted their father into the WWE Hall of Fame.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2007)

On January 28, 2007, it was announced that Rhodes would appear at the February 17, 2007 All Japan Pro Wrestling show in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. On February 15, 2007, Rhodes, identified as Gold Dustin, appeared at ringside during a match involving The Great Muta, resulting in a brawl between Rhodes and The Great Muta. On February 17, Rhodes and Hakushi were defeated by The Great Muta and Yoshihiro Tajiri in a tag team bout.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007-)

On July 15, 2007, Dustin Rhodes returned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling at Victory Road and aligned himself with Christian Cage by helping him defeat Chris Harris. In an interview on TNA Impact conducted by Mike Tenay, Rhodes discussed accusations of having a split personality, and stated that he was going to embrace it and let it out. TNA presented the interview as being an emotional breakdown on the part of Rhodes. On August 12, 2007 at Hard Justice, Rhodes debuted his new ring name, Black Reign, and a "new, darker and bizarre look". At Hard Justice, Chris Harris defeated Black Reign via DQ. The next week, the gimmick was explored even further, saying that Rhodes constantly switches between face "Dustin Rhodes" and heel "Black Reign".^[4] On the September 13 edition of Impact, he defeated Shark Boy. After the match, Rhodes unmasked Shark Boy and put a rat into the mask. Eric Young came to the aid of Shark Boy and concealed Shark Boy's head with a towel, while Rhodes petted the rat.

Wrestling facts

• Finishing and signature moves
• As Black Reign
  • Schizophrenic (Rotating suplex dropped into a whiplash)
• As Goldust
  • Curtain Call - as Goldust / Lonestar State of Mind - as Dustin Rhodes (Lifting reverse DDT, scoop hangman's neckbreaker - 2003 or suplex slam - 1998-1999) ^[2]
  • Director's Cut / Shock Treatment (Snap scoop powerslam pin)
  • Golden Globes / Shattered Dreams (Corner low blow kick) ^[2]
  • Oscar Treatment (Mat slam)
  • Butt Bump (Hip attack)
  • Bronco buster
  • Inverted atomic drop
  • One-handed bulldog
  • Uppercut

• Managers
  • Bluedust
  • Dusty Rhodes
  • Terri Runnels
  • Ryan Shamrock
  • Luna Vachon
  • Misty(The Rat)

• Nicknames
  • The American Nightmare (WCW; 1999)
  • The Bizarre One (WWF; 1995-1999)
  • The Lone Star (TCW; 2001)
  • The Natural (WCW; 1991-1995)
  • The Prince of Perversion

Championships and accomplishments

• American Combat Wrestling

• ACW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Coastal Championship Wrestling

• CCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, Current)

• NWA Florida

• FCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• FCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mike Graham

• Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling

• TCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Championship Wrestling

• WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times) ^[2]
• WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Big Josh and Tom Zenk
• WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Ricky Steamboat (1) and Barry Windham (1)
• NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Barry Windham (1)(simultaneously with the WCW World Tag Team Championship)

• World Wrestling Federation | World Wrestling Entertainment

• WWF Hardcore Championship (9 times)
• WWF Intercontinental Championship (3 times)
• World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Booker T ^[2]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year award in 1991
• PWI ranked him # 126 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
• PWI ranked him # 87 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Barry Windham in 2003.

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter

• Rookie of the Year award in 1989
• Most Improved Wrestler award in 1991
• Worst Gimmick award in 1995 - Movie Critic as Goldust
• Worst Gimmick award in 1997 - Run-down Movie Critic as The Artist Formerly known as Goldust/New Goldust

Personal life

Dustin Rhodes is the son of wrestler Dusty Rhodes and half-brother to Cody Rhodes.

Dustin was married to Terri Runnels and together they have a daughter named Dakota, who was born on February 14, 1994. [1].

Dustin and his girlfriend, Milena got married in 2002.^[5]

References

External links

• WWE Alumni Profile
• Dustin Runnels at IMDb