10 WCW Fates Worse Than Death
9. Trashing Your Own Character During Its Debut
Goldust was a bolt from the blue (gold?) in the 1990s. The industry at large had never seen anything quite like the gimmick Dustin Rhodes played, at least not in the WWF. It presented Dustin as an androgynous enigma who played mind games with his opponents, but it sadly hinged on homophobia at the same time; thanks in part to that last bit being downplayed, Goldust is generally remembered fondly.
In late-1999, WCW signed Rhodes and tried to repackage him into a daring new guise. Vignettes aired for Seven, a mysterious spectre who stood outside a young boy's window (which was awkward) and generally seemed like some mish-mash of Goldust-meets-Undertaker vibes. Then, on the 8 November episode of Nitro, Seven literally floated to the ring.
Minutes later, Dustin himself was cutting a shoot-style promo on the ridiculousness of his own new persona. As you do. He bashed WCW for making him wear "this silly s***", and even took a verbal dump on the Goldust concept too. Man, way to stick a knife into the ribs of your own career then twist it, eh?
Any chance for Rhodes to make a fresh start and dazzle WCW fans the same way he had federation ones years before was ruined. He looked like a clown standing mid-ring taking pot shots at make up he'd willingly put on. Also, why on earth did he float to the ring on wires if he thought the whole thing was rotten?
None of this made any sense, and it destroyed any remaining credibility Dustin had at the time.