20 Years On From WWE In Your House: Canadian Stampede's Main Event: Where Are They Now?

4. Goldust

Steve Austin Bret Hard Goldust
WWE

One of the most unlikely professional wrestling renaissances of the modern era, Goldust's steady employment as a fiercely reliable WWE midcarder in 2017 represents phenomenal personal vindication for the late Dusty Rhodes' first-born.

A seasoned pro by the time he first adorned the controversial golden onesie in 1995, Dustin Runnels' trajectory following the electric ten-man tag took a swerve down a deranged path following Brian Pillman's October passing.

Bereft of the angle he and wife Terri had spent months building towards, it was Dustin who severed their marriage on screen, morphing into 'The Artist Formally Known As Goldust' as Vince McMahon's grossly mishandled stab at high art.

His career fluctuated after that, with separate returns to his traditional Goldust persona and a short run as a religious zealot failing to undo the damage done by his insane repackaging, but a WCW stint during Vince Russo'a equally schizophrenic tenure did little to recover his career.

Multiple returns in the early 2000s were stifled by his recurring drug problems, and he reached his personal and professional nadir in a 2007 TNA run as bloated caricature 'Black Reign'.

His fifth return to WWE in 2013 would dazzle fans and bosses alike. In arguably the best shape of his entire career, Goldust joined brother Cody and father Dusty for an evocative rivalry with The Shield as part of the family's wider arc against The Authority. Still a useful member of the main roster, Goldust has reverted back to the very first incarnation of his gimmick, nearly 22 years after it first appeared on screens.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett