Virgil Runnels
Born: 1945-10-12 in Austin, Texas, USA
Died: 2015-06-11
Known For: Acting
Biography
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr., better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler, booker/writer, and trainer who most notably worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, NWA Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), and WWE. Rhodes is considered one of the greatest wrestlers and talkers in the history of professional wrestling. Rhodes was a three-time NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, and during his time in Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, later known as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he was a NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA World Television, NWA Tag Team and NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He also won many regional championships, and is one of seven men inducted into each of the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. His sons, Dustin and Cody, both pursued careers in professional wrestling, performing for WWE and AEW. Following his retirement from wrestling, he made occasional on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views and worked as a backstage booker/writer and producer in WWE's NXT developmental territory. Billed as "the son of a plumber", Rhodes did not have a typical wrestler's physique; his character was that of the "common man", known for the personality exhibited in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon remarked that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes".
Filmography
2023
- American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes as Self (Archival Footage)
2022
- WWE Rivals as Dusty Rhodes
2020
- You Cannot Kill David Arquette as Self (archive footage)
- A Future WWE: The FCW Story as Himself
2017
- Nature Boy as Self (archive footage)
- WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
2016
- Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon as Dusty Rhodes (voice)
- WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness as Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
- TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2 as Dusty Rhodes
2015
- Sting: Into the Light as Dusty Rhodes
- Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream
- ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3 as Dusty Rhodes
2014
- Wrestlemania Rewind as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Rivalries as Self
- WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014 ... (Executive Producer)
- WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1 as Dusty Rhodes
2013
- Legends of Mid-South Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Battleground 2013 as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
- WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE WrestleMania 29 Kickoff as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
2012
- The JBL and Cole Show as Dusty Rhodes
- The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE: The Attitude Era as Dusty
- WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection as Dusty Rhodes
- nWo: The Revolution
- ROH: Ring of Hardcore as Dusty Rhodes
2010
- WWE NXT
- WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
2009
- WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event as Dusty Rhodes
- The Rise & Fall of WCW as Dusty Rhodes
- Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
- Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain as Dusty Rhodes
2008
- Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection as Dusty Rhodes
2007
- WWE Royal Rumble 2007 ... (Writer)
- WWE Hall of Fame 2007 as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE The Great American Bash 2007 as Dusty Rhodes
- Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen as Dusty Rhodes
- Life In The Fast Lane
- Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1 as Dusty Rhodes
2006
- WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Royal Rumble 2006 ... (Writer)
- WWE Cyber Sunday 2006 as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Survivor Series 2006 as Dusty Rhodes
- The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story as Dusty Rhodes
2005
- WWE Hall of Fame as Self
- The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s as Self
- TNA Against All Odds 2005 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- TNA Lockdown 2005 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- TNA Final Resolution 2005 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy as Dusty Rhodes
- TNA Destination X 2005 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
2004
- TNA iMPACT!
- HUSTLE-3 as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection as Dusty Rhodes
- TNA Victory Road 2004 as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
- TNA Turning Point 2004 as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
- NEW Renegades Rampage as Dusty Rhodes
2003
- Major League Wrestling: Underground TV
- ROH: The Epic Encounter as Dusty Rhodes
- 3PW Legends Collide
- FIP Return Of The Dream as Dusty Rhodes
2002
- MLW King of Kings as Dusty Rhodes
2001
- WCW Greed as Dusty Rhodes
2000
- ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000 as Dusty Rhodes
- ECW Living Dangerously 2000 as Dusty Rhodes
- ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000 as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
1999
- ECW on TNN as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW Spring Stampede 1999 ... (Writer)
- WCW Uncensored 1999 ... (Writer)
- WCW Road Wild 1999 ... (Writer)
- WCW Bash at the Beach 1999 ... (Writer)
- WCW The Great American Bash 1999 ... (Writer)
- WCW Slamboree 1999 ... (Writer)
- WCW SuperBrawl IX ... (Writer)
- WCW Souled Out 1999 ... (Writer)
1998
- WCW Thunder as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW Fall Brawl 1998 ... (Writer)
- WCW Starrcade 1998 ... (Writer)
- WCW Uncensored 1998 as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW Bash at the Beach 1998 ... (Writer)
- The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW The Great American Bash 1998 ... (Writer)
- WCW World War 3 1998 ... (Writer)
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 ... (Writer)
- WCW Souled Out 1998 as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
- WCW Road Wild 1998 ... (Writer)
- WCW Spring Stampede 1998 ... (Writer)
- WCW SuperBrawl VIII as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW Slamboree 1998 ... (Writer)
1997
- WCW Starrcade 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXXV ... (Writer)
- WCW World War 3 1997 ... (Writer)
- nWo Souled Out 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW Uncensored 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW Slamboree 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXXIV ... (Writer)
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW Bash at The Beach 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW SuperBrawl VII ... (Writer)
- WCW The Great American Bash 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW Road Wild 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW Spring Stampede 1997 ... (Writer)
- WCW Fall Brawl 1997 ... (Writer)
1996
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXXII ... (Writer)
- WCW Hog Wild 1996 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXXIII ... (Writer)
- WCW Slamboree 1996 ... (Writer)
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1996 ... (Writer)
- WCW Fall Brawl 1996 ... (Writer)
- WCW The Great American Bash 1996 ... (Writer)
- WCW Uncensored 1996 ... (Writer)
- WCW Starrcade 1996 ... (Writer)
- WCW World War 3 1996 ... (Writer)
- Paradise Park as Deputy Johnny Morton
- WCW Bash at the Beach 1996 ... (Writer)
- WCW SuperBrawl VI ... (Writer)
1995
- WCW Monday Nitro
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1995 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI ... (Writer)
- WCW All Nighter 1995
- WCW Slamboree 1995 ... (Writer)
- WCW The Great American Bash 1995 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXX ... (Writer)
- WCW Starrcade 1995 ... (Writer)
- WCW Fall Brawl 1995 ... (Writer)
- WCW World War 3 1995 ... (Writer)
- WCW: Ric Flair - 2 Decades of Excellence as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW Bash at the Beach 1995 ... (Writer)
- WCW Uncensored 1995 ... (Writer)
1994
- Burke's Law as Archie 'Mad Dog' McCray
- WCW Bash at the Beach 1994 ... (Writer)
- WCW Fall Brawl 1994 as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW Slamboree 1994 ... (Writer)
- WCW Starrcade 1994 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXVII ... (Writer)
- WCW Spring Stampede 1994 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI ... (Writer)
- WCW SuperBrawl IV ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII as Dusty Rhodes
1993
- Raw as Dusty Rhodes
- ECW Hardcore TV
- WCW Slamboree 1993 ... (Writer)
- WCW SuperBrawl III ... (Writer)
- WCW Starrcade 1993 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII ... (Writer)
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1993 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXII ... (Writer)
- WCW BattleBowl ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of the Champions XXV as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
- WCW Fall Brawl 1993 ... (Writer)
- WCW Beach Blast 1993 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV ... (Writer)
1992
- WCW WrestleWar 1992 ... (Writer)
- WCW Starrcade 1992 ... (Writer)
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1992 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII ... (Writer)
- WCW/New Japan Supershow II as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW Clash of The Champions XXI ... (Writer)
- WCW The Great American Bash 1992 ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XIX ... (Writer)
- WCW Beach Blast ... (Writer)
- WCW SuperBrawl II ... (Writer)
1991
- WCW Clash of The Champions XVI: Fall Brawl '91 ... (Writer)
- WWE Royal Rumble 1991 as Dusty Rhodes
- WCW Starrcade 1991 ... (Writer)
- WCW WrestleWar 1991 as Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
- WCW Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA ... (Writer)
- WCW Halloween Havoc 1991 as Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite ... (Writer)
- WCW Clash of The Champions XVII ... (Writer)
- WCW SuperBrawl 1 as Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
1990
- WWE WrestleMania VI as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Survivor Series 1990 as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE SummerSlam 1990 as "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: June '90 as Dusty Rhodes
- Battle of the WWE Superstars as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Royal Rumble 1990 as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Hottest Matches as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI as "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
1989
- WWE Survivor Series 1989 as Dusty Rhodes
- WWE SummerSlam 1989 as Himself
- PWF Homecoming as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89 as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
- Fan Favorites
1988
- Clash of the Champions as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Clash of the Champions as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Bunkhouse Stampede as Dusty Rhodes
- The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament as The Midnight Rider
- NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88 as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA The Great American Bash 1988 as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Starrcade 1988 as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA The Great American Bash 1988: Greensboro as Dusty Rhodes
1987
- NWA Starrcade 1987 as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation as Dusty Rhodes
- The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Wrestling The Danger Zone
1986
- WWF Wrestling Challenge as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Starrcade 1986 as Dusty Rhodes
- The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Battle of The Belts II ... (Writer)
- NWA Superstars on The SuperStation as Dusty Rhodes
1985
- WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
- WWE Pay Per View
- NWA World Championship Wrestling as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- I Like To Hurt People as Self
- NWA The Great American Bash 1985 as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Starrcade 1985 as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
- AWA/NWA Night of Champions II as Dusty Rhodes
- Pro Wrestling USA Star Wars: December 1984 as Dusty Rhodes
- Mid-South WrestleFest '85 as Dusty Rhodes
1984
- NWA Lords of The Ring as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Boogie Jam as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Night of Champions as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Starrcade 1984 as Dusty Rhodes
1983
- WCW Arena Shows as Dusty Rhodes
- NWA Starrcade 1983 ... (Writer)
1982
- Gold Raiders
- NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show as Dusty Rhodes
1981
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
- Mid-South Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
1980
- NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa as Dusty Rhodes
1978
- The Super Bowl of Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
1975
- WWF All-Star Wrestling as Dusty Rhodes
1974
- The Wrestler as Dusty Rhodes
1973
- WWE Old School as Dusty Rhodes