In October, Dustin Rhodes stated on social media that he had some “heavy thinking” to do regarding his in-ring future, which has seemingly concluded now. That’s because, at Saturday night’s Blizzard Brawl event for Great Lakes Championship Wrestling, the AEW star revealed that 2023 would be his final year as an active pro wrestler. So with him debuting in 1988, that will see him hang his boots up after 35 years at the top of the industry.
Due to being the son of Dusty Rhodes, the young Dustin performer got the opportunity to work for WCW, All Japan, and WWE within his first few years. And while nepotism is undoubtedly a part of pro wrestling, he would go on to prove he deserved his spot during his second WCW run, which commenced in 1992. And had he not been fired for going against company policy and blading in 1995, he would likely have become one of the company’s top stars in the battle against the nWo.
Ultimately though, it was in WWE where he cemented his legacy as Goldust, a character he portrayed on and off between 1996 and 2018. This, though, would at times put him firmly in the category of Wrestle Crap, and he’d win Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s worst gimmick on multiple occasions. Additionally, it led to him being given the gimmicks of Seven and Black Reign, which went nowhere in WCW and TNA, respectively. Thankfully though, his run in AEW has allowed him to demonstrate how great of a talent he could be without an over-the-top gimmick, and when he does step away, his ring work will be fondly remembered.
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