How Good Was Dusty Rhodes Actually?

Dusty Rhodes’ legacy lives on today in the performers he mentored in NXT. From Becky Lynch to Kevin Owens, and Seth Rollins and Mercedes Mone to Finn Balor and Roman Reigns, the biggest superstars in the world today have a little bit of Dusty’s magic dust sprinkled on their personalities and in-ring work. Survivor Series and NXT have had some of their best moments in WarGames, and that is a match that Dusty Rhodes literally invented in the mid-'80s.

The ‘Hulk Hogan’ model of getting over doesn’t really resonate with fans of the past 20 years. Fans don’t like to be force-fed a superstar winning over and over with the company behind them, as was shown by the visceral pushback shown to John Cena and Roman Reigns. Instead, modern audiences want to believe in a performer's struggle against the rising tide. 

Dusty Rhodes’ method of doing that through relatability and hard work feels way more culturally impactful than simply strapping a rocket to the guy that the office has ordained to be the company’s “top guy”. From CM Punk feeling like the misfit standing up to the corporate WWE, to Adam Page selling the story of his insecurities against the best wrestlers of his era in The Elite, Dusty's battles with the Horsemen feels way more culturally significant today than Hogan's government approved "say your prayers and take your vitamins" schtick.

Most obviously, Cody Rhodes is wrestling’s biggest babyface. His story came to an end at WrestleMania 40, after echoing Dusty’s “nearly man” reputation by eating two losses in WrestleMania main events. The common perception is that Cody has been handed everything, but the reality is that this is a man who lost in his first 'Mania main event at WrestleMania 39, and ate a pin from The Rock at night one of WrestleMania 40. Dusty’s legacy of never being made the top guy in WWF or WCW was pivotal to the outpouring of emotion when Cody lifted the WWE Title at WrestleMania 40 because his son had overcome those same odds. 

The biggest WrestleMania moment since the Attitude Era was built on Dusty’s story as much as it was Cody’s. We rooted for the Rhodes family, not just the guy who left to make his name and returned to stand atop the mountain.

As long as Cody Rhodes is on top, Dusty’s legacy lives on. Cody telling the story of Dusty selling his Rolex to help him move to California, or when any superstar adopts Dusty’s trademark lisp and southern drawl to remind fans of his influence, keeps his memory alive in the hearts of wrestling fans everywhere. 

You don’t even have to have seen a Dusty Rhodes promo or match to feel the significance of his character, inside the ring or behind the scenes, and that is a cultural significance that even the biggest names in wrestling cannot touch. 

8/10