Dusty Rhodes: the American Dream

Dusty Rhodes was a professional wrestler who managed to achieve icon status thanks to his larger-than-life personality, impressive in-ring skills, and a signature dance move that looked like he was trying to shake off a swarm of bees.

Known affectionately as “The American Dream,” Rhodes was a true legend in the wrestling world, and not just because of his girth. He was born Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. in Austin, Texas, in 1945, and grew up in poverty. Wrestling, with its glitz and glamour, offered a chance for him to escape his humble background and make a name for himself.

Rhodes worked his way up the ranks, starting as a backstage hand and learning the ropes (no pun intended) from veterans like Eddie Graham. He developed a flamboyant character that was part cowboy, part carnival barker, and all charisma. He was witty, loquacious, and not afraid to break into an impromptu song or dance.

Despite his size, Rhodes was surprisingly agile in the ring, performing moves like the Bionic Elbow and the Figure-Four Leglock. He won numerous championships in different promotions, including the NWA and the WWF. But what really endeared him to fans was his common touch. He liked to brag that he was “the son of a plumber,” and he spoke in a folksy, down-home way that resonated with working-class audiences.

Rhodes was also a master of the mic, delivering colorful promos that were part poetry, part comedy, and all Dusty. He coined phrases like “Hard Times,” “the Tower of Power,” and “the Common Man,” which became part of the lexicon of professional wrestling. His interviews were like mini-plays, full of exaggerated gestures, facial expressions, and catchphrases.

But perhaps the most enduring legacy of Dusty Rhodes is the Dusty Dance. This was a move he would do after a victory, in which he would shake his hips, wiggle his arms, and generally look like he was having a seizure. It was goofy, it was infectious, and it became a staple of wrestling lore. Even after his death in 2015, wrestlers and fans would imitate the Dusty Dance as a tribute to the man who made it famous.

So if you ever find yourself wondering who the greatest wrestler of all time was, remember this: it wasn’t Hulk Hogan or Ric Flair or Stone Cold Steve Austin. No, it was the man who embodied the American Dream: Dusty Rhodes. And if you don’t believe that, well, you can kiss his grits.