10 Legendary Promos All Wrestlers Must Study

7. Dusty Rhodes On Hard Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1421914688&x-yt-cl=84503534&v=9py4aMK3aIU "There were two bad people, one was John Wayne and he's dead. The other is standing right here". What a line to slip into a promo, the impact of it is incredible. Dusty Rhodes portrayal of the every-man resonated with the wrestling audience - the people could relate with Rhodes, and accepted him as someone they could live vicariously through, but one who also had enough fragility to make him a real person. Later, Vince McMahon would make the 'American Dream' gimmick a parody of itself, but during his time battling Ric Flair for the NWA Heavyweight Title, Dusty was on fire, and one of the most-loved characters in all of the wrestling profession. This promo deals with the "hard times" Rhodes experienced whilst out-injured, crippled at the hands of the arrogant, privileged Flair. Unable to pay his bills and thus feed his family, Rhodes gives several notable examples of other people in the same situation, only endearing himself to the fans in the process. Closing out with a promise to gain revenge on Flair is simple but effective, by the end of this interview, folks really wanted to see Dusty Rhodes tear Ric Flair to pieces.