Who was Dusty Rhodes?
Virgil Runnels Jr’s in-ring name was Dusty Rhodes. He was born on 12 October 1945 in Austin, Texas, United States. The professional wrestling legend died at the age of 69 on 11 June 2015 in Orlando, Florida, United States. He was also a booker and trainer.
Dusty, who was also known as “The American Dream“, had a great contribution in making the sport famous worldwide. Dustin Rhodes and Cody Rhodes are Dusty’s sons. They, too, are utterly well-known pro wrestlers.
How did Dusty Rhodes die?
“A kidney failure was the key reason behind the death of Dusty Rhodes”. On 11 June 2015 in Orlando, Florida, United States, he left this brick-and-mortar world.
“A fall at home” was a decent reason behind his death. He had a long-standing kidney issue. As a result, it worsened over time. Dusty lived for 69 years as one of the most prominent pro wrestlers in the world.
| Basics | Details |
|---|---|
| Reason for Death | Kidney failure |
| Died on | 11 June 2015 |
| Place of Death | Orlando, Florida, United States |
| Age at the time of death | 69 years |
Basics of Dusty Rhodes’ Life
Dusty Rhodes was born in Austin. He opened his eyes for the first time on 12 October 1945. Dusty was a Christian who believed in the path of the Lord Jesus. Libra was his zodiac sign.
Dusty was an active professional wrestler from 1967 to 2010. (Late) Joe Blanchard was his trainer.
- Dusty was 6 feet and 2 inches tall.
- His body weight was 125 kg.
- Dusty had blue eyes and blonde hair.
- He had a heavyweight build.
- 13 (US) was his shoe size.
- Dusty was strong, but he was not a gym-fit wrestler.
- He loved eating American fast food to the core.
| Basics | Details |
|---|---|
| In-ring Name | Dusty Rhodes |
| Real Name | Virgil Runnels Jr |
| Born | 12 October 1945 |
| Died | 11 June 2015 |
| Birth Place | Austin, Texas, US |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Faith | Christian |
| Career | (Late) Pro Wrestler |
| Active Years | 1967 to 2010 |
| Lived For | 69 years |
| Trained By | Joe Blanchard |
| Billed from | Austin and Diablo Canyon |
| Height | 6 feet and 2 inches |
| Weight | 125 kg |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Hair Colour | Blonde |
| Feet Size | 13 (US) |
| Tattoos | No |
| Build | Heavyweight |
Early Life of Dusty Rhodes
Austin was Dusty’s birthplace. He grew up in East Austin in a working-class background. His full name was Virgil Riley Runnels Jr.
- Virgil Riley Runnels Sr. was his father.
- Willie Mae Runnels was Dusty’s mother.
- Larry Rhodes and Connie Rhodes were his siblings.
| Relation | Name |
| Father | Virgil Riley Runnels Sr. |
| Mother | Willie Mae Runnels |
| Sister | Connie Rhodes |
| Brother | Larry Rhodes |
He studied at Sacred Heart High School, Arlington Heights High School and West Texas A&M University. At Sul Ross State University in Alpine, he even played baseball and football.
For a brief period, he played for the Hartford Charter Oaks in the Continental Football League. Dusty was a very sports-oriented person from his younger days.
Dusty Rhodes’ Wives and Children
- Dusty Rhodes was married twice.
- From 1965 to 1975, Sandra McHargue was Dusty’s wife.
- Then, in 1979, Dusty married Michelle Rubio.
- He was the father of two sons and two daughters: Dustin Rhodes, Cody Rhodes, Kristin Runnels Ditto and Teil Runnels.
- Dustin Rhodes and Cody Rhodes are wrestling legends. Both are well-respected wrestling trainers.
| Relation | Name |
| First Wife | Sandra McHargue (1965 to 1975) |
| Second Wife | Michelle Rubio (Married in 1979) |
| Children | 4 |
| Sons | Dustin Rhodes and Cody Rhodes |
| Daughters | Kristin Runnels Ditto and Teil Runnels |
Early Career
Dusty played football for the Hartford Charter Oaks in the Continental Football League in the early and late 1960s.
Back then, football was not the biggest sport in the US. Hence, Dusty and many others in the 1950s and 60s were not able to make a career in football. As a result, he turned his attention towards wrestling and made his pro debut in 1967.
1970s: Becoming a star
For the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Dusty played a major role. His persona as “The American Dream” became a hit.
He was known for playing emotional promos and carrying a working-class character. In the 1970s, he won several NWA titles. He was a 3x NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Back then, he became the promo king.
1980s and 90s: WWF and WWE
Dusty joined WWE in the 1980s. Back then, it was known as the WWF. For the biggest wrestling promotion in history, he played the roles of Booker and Wrestler.
He was the creative genius behind making the storyline and characters work. In the 1980s and 90s, he played a key role in WWE being one step ahead of WCW. He was famous for the polka-dot outfit gimmick.
2000s and 2010s: Finals days as pro wrestler
Dusty, in the 2000s, worked for Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He also worked for the independent circuit from 2003 to 2006.
Then, from 2005 to 2010, Dusty played the role of the mentor to his son Cody. In 2010, he had his retirement match.
He also trained Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Becky Lynch. Three of them and Cody are the players of the modern era. He was a 2007 WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
In 2015, Dusty passed away. But until 2015, he was working on making the next generation of fighters. He also helped to establish the NXT brand for WWE.
Social Media
Dusty Rhodes passed away in 2015 before the rise of the social media era. He was an old-school person who loved staying away from social media.
Net Worth
In 2015, when Dusty Rhodes died, his net worth was USD 5 million. He lived a life filled with decent luxury. But Dusty did not like to flash money.
Conclusion
A kidney failure took away the life of Dusty Rhodes in 2015. He was a key player in the growth of WWE in the 1980s and 90s. Now, his son Cody is the poster boy of WWE. However, he was not able to see the amazing rise of Cody in AEW and then WWE.
FAQs
A kidney failure became the key reason behind the death of Dusty Rhodes in 2015.
Dusty Rhodes was popular as a creative genius in the pro wrestling world.
Dusty Rhodes, who passed away in 2015, was the father of Cody Rhodes.
Dusty Rhodes retired as a pro wrestler in 2010.
Before becoming a pro wrestler in 1967, Dusty Rhodes was a football player.
Hobbies and Trivia
- Dusty Rhodes was a key player in making NXT a talent academy for WWE.
- The Bounty Hunter, Dusty Runnels, The Midnight Rider, Mr Ichiban and Uvalde Slim were his lesser-known in-ring names.
- Dusty was loved for being one of the biggest creative minds in WWE.
- Dusty loved eating burgers, pizza, tacos and steak.
- Rhodes was a very close friend of Vince McMahon.
- He was a religious person.
- Dusty loved being around dogs.
- Rhodes loved travelling to coastal places.
- He helped WWE create several legendary characters.
- Dusty was a big NFL fan. He supported the Dallas Cowboys.