The Goldust character was a revolutionary one that laid the groundwork for the Attitude Era, something Steve Austin, The Rock, Undertaker, Kane and Mankind get credit for. The bizarre one was ambiguous and struck a chord with teens and young adults while simultaneously infuriating parents. The character had a tendency to go too far with some of his antics but he gave the audience a general idea of what they could expect from the most successful and profitable period in WWE history. When he became a babyface in 1997, a lack of quality good guys led to Goldust becoming one of the most popular stars in the company. With Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, Steve Austin and Undertaker taking up all of the main event slots, there really was no room for Goldust to emerge at the top of the card. When he returned to the company in 2002 and partnered with Booker T, he proved to be more popular than ever, thanks to a comedic timing that was unmatched by the rest of the roster. Unfortunately, politics and the overabundance of Kliq members at the top of the card on Monday Night Raw left very little opportunity for anyone else to rise up and become a breakout star on the show. Despite receiving some outstanding ovations from the WWE faithful Goldust was utilized as midcard fodder.\ In 2013, he returned to WWE in better shape and as good between the ropes as he had ever been. He and brother Cody Rhodes were incredibly popular, thanks to a strong storyline involving the Shield and the Authority. At first, they were regularly featured in main events and high profile matches. After dropping the tag titles in January of 2014 to the New Age Outlaws, however, they fell off significantly and became largely irrelevant. Only recently have they begun to see a resurgence thanks to Cody's impending heel turn. A multiple-time Intercontinental and Tag Team champion, Goldust was always over and always had a way of keeping the crowd's attention. A highly marketable star with a unique look, he was good enough to compete against the top stars but never considered one by those with power. Why that is and why Goldust never quite got a chance to prove his worth as a marquee star for WWE is a question only those the bookers can answer.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
