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Dustin Rhodes

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Dustin Rhodes
Born (1966-04-11) April 11, 1966 (age 58)
Austin, Texas, United States
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust
Dustin Rhodes
Dustin Runnels
Dusty Rhodes, Jr.
Goldust
Gold Dustin
Lonestar
Seven
Billed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) [1]
Billed weight[undue weight? – discuss] [1]
Billed fromHollywood, California [1]
Trained bySkandor Akbar
Dusty Rhodes
DebutSeptember 13, 1988

Virgil Riley "Dustin" Runnels III (born April 11, 1966) is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Dustin Rhodes. The son of wrestler Dusty Rhodes, Runnels appeared with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under numerous ring names throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He is perhaps best known for portraying the controversial character Goldust in the WWF. [1]

Career

National Wrestling Alliance (1988)

Runnels received his first national exposure in the National Wrestling Alliance in December 1988.

World Wrestling Federation (1990-1991)

Runnels debuted in the World Wrestling Federation in late 1990, wrestling as Dustin Rhodes. In December 1990, Runnels defeated Ted DiBiase in a televised 10 minute challenge match. On January 19, 1991, Runnels and his father Dusty lost to Ted DiBiase and Virgil in a tag team bout.

World Championship Wrestling (1991-1995)

In February 1991, Runnels joined World Championship Wrestling, wrestling as "The Natural" Dustin Rhodes. Runnels feuded with Larry Zbyszko until April 1991, when he refused to join Alexandra York's York Foundation, thus beginning a feud with Foundation member Terrence Taylor.

In October 1992, Runnels and Barry Windham won the WCW World Tag Team Championship. One month later, Windham turned on Runnels, beginning a feud.

In January 1993, Runnels won the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. In the same month, he began a lengthy feud with Rick Rude that lasted until August 1993. Runnels lost the title to "Stunning" Steve Austin in December 1993.

In March 1994, Runnels began feuding with Bunkhouse Buck and Col. Robert Parker. After Parker introduced Arn Anderson and Terry Funk as adversaries for Runnels, Runnels responded by bringing his father, a former enemy of Funk, to WCW. In December 1994, Parker introduced another opponent for Runnels, The Blacktop Bully. In March 1995, Runnels and The Blacktop Bully both bladed during a King of the Road match at the 1995 Uncensored pay-per-view despite being instructed not to, and were fired as a result.

World Wrestling Federation (1995-1999)

In September 1995, Runnels debuted in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Goldust. The Goldust character was portrayed as being obsessed with films and gold. As Goldust, Runnels wrestled in a black and gold-colored jumpsuit while wearing black and gold face paint and a platinum blonde wig over his short platinum blond hair, with his appearance modelled after an Academy Award of Merit. Goldust utilized psychological warfare tactics such as groping his opponents, expressing affection towards them and delivering sexually suggestive interviews. [1]

Goldust initially feuded with Razor Ramon, whom he stalked and sent lewd messages throughout late 1995. The feud culminated at the Royal Rumble on January 21 1996, where Goldust defeated Ramon for the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Razor with the assistance of his debuting valet, Marlena. Marlena would sit at ringside in a director's chair and advise Goldust whilst smoking cigars. A scheduled rematch between Goldust and Ramon at WrestleMania XII was cancelled after Ramon was suspended, with Goldust instead wrestling and losing to Roddy Piper in a non-title "Hollywood Backlot Brawl". [1]

Goldust defended his WWF Intercontinental Championship in bouts with Savio Vega and the Ultimate Warrior before losing to Ahmed Johnson on June 23, 1996.

In August 1996, Goldust briefly gained control over Mankind and feuded with The Undertaker. His attention soon turned to Marc Mero and his wife Sable. Goldust and Marlena attempted to get Sable to join their team but Mero won the feud and kept her by his side.

In May 1997, Goldust revealed his identity as Dustin Runnels, the son of Dusty Rhodes. Billed as The Artist Formerly Known As Goldust (a reference to Prince), Goldust began painting only half of his face and leaving the other half bare to represent the dual nature of his character. After he lost a match to Brian Pillman, Pillman gained the services of Marlena for 30 days. However, Marlena returned to Goldust after Pillman died in October 1997. In November 1997, Goldust left Marlena and acquired a new valet, Luna Vachon, and began mimmicking various celebrities with characters such as Dustydust, Mansondust and Shaftdust. He feuded with Mero and Sable once again, this time with Luna by his side.

In May 1998, Goldust split with Vachon, burned his Goldust jumpsuit on television and feuded with Val Venis, who claimed to have impregnated Marlena (now known as Terri). After spending several months alluding to "His return", Goldust reprised his original gimmick in October 1998 and began feuding with Jeff Jarrett over the attentions of his manager, Debra. In early 1999, Goldust feuded with Al Snow upon stealing Head, Al Snow's "mascot", and with The Blue Meanie, who had recently renamed himself "Bluedust" and adopted many of Goldust's mannerisms. After Goldust defeated Bluedust at the St. Valentines Day Massacre, Bluedust became Goldust's apprentice. After Ryan Shamrock became Goldust's valet, Bluedust and Shamrock began vying for Goldust's attention. In the same time period, Goldust won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Road Dogg, losing to The Godfather two weeks later.

Throughout 1999, vignettes featuring hidden camera footage of wrestlers began airing on WWF television. The vignettes were originally referred to as GDTV (Goldust Television), with the intention of eventually revealing Goldust as the person behind them, but were renamed GTV after Runnels requested and was granted a release from his WWF contract. [2]

World Championship Wrestling (1999-2001)

Runnels returned to World Championship Wrestling in 1999, filming several vignettes for a fantastical, face-painted character named Seven. The character was dropped after Turner Standards and Practices expressed concern that it could be misinterpreted as a child abductor. Upon returning to WCW television, Runnels removed his costume and delivered an interview in which he mocked unrealistic gimmicks. Runnels began wrestling as "The American Nightmare" Dustin Rhodes, with his nickname a reference to his father's nickname, "The American Dream".

Runnels feuded with Jeff Jarrett and Terry Funk before being suspended in 2000 due to an appearance on the WCW Live! Internet radio program in which he criticized WCW head writer Vince Russo, calling him a "sawed-off midget" and an "asshole". He returned to WCW television in February 2001, assisting his father in his feud with Jarrett and Ric Flair.

In March 2001, WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation, with the WWF neglecting to acquire Runnels' contract. In July 2001, Runnels began wrestling for his father's newly created Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling promotion, winning the TCW Heavyweight Championship.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2002-2003)

Runnels returned to the World Wrestling Federation in January 2002, taking part in the Royal Rumble and reprising his Goldust character. He went on to feud with Rob Van Dam before entering the hardcore division, winning the WWF Hardcore Championship on seven occasions.

In March 2002, the World Wrestling Federation was renamed World Wrestling Entertainment and the roster was divided into two brands, Raw and SmackDown!. Runnels was assigned to the RAW brand, were he formed a tag team with Booker T. The duo engaged in numerous comedic vignettes, on one occasion hosting a segment entitled Booker T and Goldust at the Movies and delivering negative reviews of The Scorpion King, a film starring The Rock. In May 2002, Booker T joined the New World Order, with Runnels' requests to join the faction rejected. In June 2002, Booker T was ejected from the New World Order by Shawn Michaels, sparking a feud between the New World Order and Booker T and Runnels. Booker T and Runnels went on to compete in the tag team division, winning the World Tag Team Championship at Armageddon 2002 before splitting amicably in January 2003.

Following the dissolution of the tag team, Runnels developed a new gimmick whereupon he contracted a stutter and Tourette syndrome upon receiving an electric shock from a junction box during an attack at the hands of Batista and Randy Orton. Runnels appeared sporadically thereafter, forming a short-lived tag team with Lance Storm in August 2003. He was released in December 2003 following a period of inactivity.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004-2005)

Runnels debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on February 4, 2004 as Dustin Rhodes, unsuccessfully challenging Jeff Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. On February 18, 2004, Runnels and El Leon defeated Kevin Northcutt and Legend in a tag team bout.

On March 7, 2004 in the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, Runnels, wrestling as Dusty Rhodes, Jr., and his father lost to Satoshi Kojima and Shinjiro Otani during a HUSTLE event.

Runnels returned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in December 2004, once again wrestling as Dustin Rhodes. He feuded with Raven, Kid Kash, and Bobby Roode during his time there. He left the promotion in April 2005.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2005-2006)

Runnels returned to World Wrestling Entertainment on October 31, 2005 as Goldust, attacking Batista along with Vader. At Taboo Tuesday 2005, Runnels and Vader unsuccessfully interfered in a bout between Batista and Jonathan Coachman on behalf of Coachman.

In January 2006, Runnels took part in the Royal Rumble. He was subsequently assigned once more to the RAW brand, where he formed a tag team with Snitsky. The team feuded with Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch until Runnels was released in June 2006 for no-showing a scheduled appearance.

On March 31, 2007, Runnels and his half-brother Cody inducted their father into the WWE Hall of Fame.

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2007)

On January 28, 2007, it was announced that Runnels would appear at the February 17, 2007 All Japan Pro Wrestling show in the Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. On February 15, 2007, Runnels, identified as Gold Dustin, appeared at ringside during a match involving The Great Muta, resulting in a brawl between Runnels and The Great Muta. On February 17, Runnels and Hakushi were defeated by The Great Mutoh and Yoshihiro Tajiri in a tag team bout.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2007-)

Runnels returned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling on July 15, 2007 at Victory Road. Identified as Dustin Rhodes, Runnels aligned himself with Christian Cage by helping him defeat Chris Harris. In an interview on TNA Impact! conducted by Mike Tenay, Runnels discussed accusations of having a split personality, and stated that he was going to embrace it and let it out. TNA presented the interview as being an emotional breakdown on the part of Runnels.

Wrestling facts

  • Nicknames
    • The American Nightmare (WCW; 1999)
    • The Bizarre One (WWF; 1995-1999)
    • The Natural (WCW; 1991-1995)
    • The Prince of Perversion

Championships and accomplishments

  • American Combat Wrestling
  • ACW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Coastal Championship Wrestling
  • CCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time, Current)
  • Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling
  • Rookie of the Year award in 1989
  • Most Improved Wrestler award in 1991
  • Worst Gimmick award in 1995 - Movie Critic as Goldust
  • Worst Gimmick award in 1997 - Run-down Movie Critic as The Artist Formerly known as Goldust/New Goldust

1Won when the NWA and WCW World Tag Team Championships were briefly unified just prior to WCW's withdrawal from the NWA.

Personal life

Dustin was married to Terri Runnels and together they have a daughter named Dakota, who was born on February 14, 1994. [1].

Dustin and his girlfriend, Milena got married in 2002.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Goldust". WWE.com. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Ferrara, E. (July 14, 2005). "Ask Ed Ferrara #7: Former WWF/WCW script writer on GTV..." PWTorch.com. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |accessmonthday= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Dustin Runnels and his girlfriend of a year and a half, Milena, got married Wednesday in Florida, according to the WWE website. The wedding is Runnels' second, and the bride's first.

References

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