Goldust Released By WWE

Contract has been terminated stemming from an undisclosed incident on April 24th's SmackDown tapings in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

By Matt Holmes /

Dustin Runnels, aka Goldust, has been released by the WWE stemming from an undisclosed incident on April 24th's SmackDown tapings in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Runnels, 43, had been working backstage in the company since suffering a bad shoulder injury in December 2010 and has made fleeting appearances in Goldust make-up on camera ever since. Most recently late last year/early this year, Runnels had been campaigning for a Retirement vs Intercontinental Title between Goldust and his brother Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 28 but despite his constant pleas for the match to happen, WWE went in a different direction. WWE removed Goldust's profile from the Raw Superstars section to the Alumni section on WWE.com on Friday, leading to speculation that his contract had been terminated. PWInsider.com confirms that was the case. Runnels has worked in the WWE, WCW and TNA in his career and several times has switched back and forth. He probably found his biggest success in the mid to late 90's as Goldust where he became synonymous with the Intercontinental Championship. During his career he won that belt three times, the WWE Tag Team Titles once, the WWE Hardcore title seven times, the WCW Tag Team Titles twice and the WCW US Title twice.