Dusty Rhodes Tribute: 10 Awesome Moments To Remember

7. Conceptualizing Big Events

Despite the fact that Vince McMahon is given the credit as the man who revolutionized the industry, a large share of that should also go to Dusty Rhodes. It was The Dream's vision that gave us the aforementioned War Games, and he also brought to life huge events such as Starrcade, The Great American Bash, BattleBowl and The Crockett Cup. As with any booker who is also an active wrestler, Rhodes fell under criticism that he was positioning himself too strongly, but crowd support and ticket sales go a long way in dispelling that notion. Still, it's a tricky spot to be in and it's been said that he eventually burnt himself out. But for a while, there was no greater mind in the business than Dusty Rhodes. When Vince threw down the gauntlet to the pay-per-view providers and warned them against airing shows in opposition to his, Rhodes hit right back by creating a free supershow called Clash of the Champions, one of WCW's premier events. Some of the most seminal moments in the company took place on these shows, and they did a lot to keep the organization on a relatively level playing field while battling their northern neighbors for the wrestling fans' dollar.