
Virgil Runnels
- Date of Birth: 1945-10-12
- Date of Death: 2015-06-11
- Place of Birth: Austin, Texas, USA
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 Allia... 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".

HUSTLE-3
• 2004 May

MSW WrestleFest
• 1985 July

NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
• 1986 July

ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000
Action • 2000 May

MLW King of Kings
• 2002 December

Battle of the WWE Superstars
• 1990 August

Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1
• 2007 July

NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
• 1988 December

WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
• 2014 March

WWE WrestleMania 29 Kickoff
Action, Drama • 2013 April