Virgil Runnels
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1945-10-12
Day of Death
2015-06-11 (69 years old)
Place of Birth
Austin, Texas, USA
Virgil Runnels
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".
Known For
Acting
ROH: Ring of Hardcore
as Dusty Rhodes
(2023)
American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes
as Self (Archival Footage)
(2023)
Biography: Dusty Rhodes
as Self
(2022)
Biography: Rey Mysterio
as Self (archive footage) - Dusty Rhodes
(2020)
You Cannot Kill David Arquette
as Self (archive footage)
(2020)
A Future WWE: The FCW Story
as Himself
(2018)
(2017)
Nature Boy
as Himself (archive footage)
(2017)
(2016)
Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon
as Dusty Rhodes (voice)
(2016)
Eric Bischoff: Sports Entertainment's Most Controversial Figure
as Self (archive footage)
(2016)
WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness
as Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
(2016)
TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2
as Dusty Rhodes
(2015)
ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3
as Dusty Rhodes
(2015)
Sting: Into the Light
as Dusty Rhodes
(2015)
(2014)
WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1
as Dusty Rhodes
(2014)
WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash
as Dusty Rhodes
(2013)
WWE Battleground 2013
as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
(2013)
WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches
as Dusty Rhodes
(2013)
Legends of Mid-South Wrestling
as Dusty Rhodes
(2013)
WWE WrestleMania 29 Kickoff
as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
(2012)
WWE: The Attitude Era
as Dusty
(2012)
WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection
as Dusty Rhodes
(2012)
The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions
as Dusty Rhodes
(2012)
(2011)
Stone Cold Steve Austin: The Bottom Line on the Most Popular Superstar of All Time
as Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
(2011)
The True Story of WrestleMania
as Self (archive footage)
(2010)
WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time
as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
(2009)
The Rise & Fall of WCW
as Dusty Rhodes
(2009)
WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
as Dusty Rhodes
(2009)
Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain
as Dusty Rhodes
(2009)
(2008)
Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection
as Dusty Rhodes
(2007)
WWE The Great American Bash 2007
as Dusty Rhodes
(2007)
WWE Hall of Fame 2007
as Dusty Rhodes
(2007)
Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen
as Dusty Rhodes
(2007)
(2007)
(2006)
WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology
as Dusty Rhodes
(2006)
WWE Survivor Series 2006
as Dusty Rhodes
(2006)
WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story
as Dusty Rhodes
(2006)
WWE Cyber Sunday 2006
as Dusty Rhodes
(2006)
The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story
as Dusty Rhodes
(2005)
TNA Against All Odds 2005
as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
(2005)
TNA Final Resolution 2005
as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
(2005)
TNA Lockdown 2005
as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
(2005)
TNA Destination X 2005
as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
(2005)
WWE: The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's
as Dusty Rhodes
(2005)
TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy
as Dusty Rhodes
(2004)
WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection
as Dusty Rhodes
(2004)
TNA Victory Road 2004
as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
(2004)
TNA Turning Point 2004
as Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
(2004)
NEW Renegades Rampage
as Dusty Rhodes
(2004)
HUSTLE-3
as Dusty Rhodes
(2003)
ROH: The Epic Encounter
as Dusty Rhodes
(2003)
(2003)
FIP Return Of The Dream
as Dusty Rhodes
(2002)
MLW King of Kings
as Dusty Rhodes
(2001)
WCW Greed
as Dusty Rhodes
(2000)
ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000
as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
(2000)
ECW Living Dangerously 2000
as Dusty Rhodes
(2000)
ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000
as Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
(1998)
WCW Uncensored 1998
as Dusty Rhodes
(1998)
WCW Souled Out 1998
as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
(1998)
WCW SuperBrawl VIII
as Dusty Rhodes
(1998)
The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling
as Dusty Rhodes
(1996)
Paradise Park
as Deputy Johnny Morton
(1995)
(1994)
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
as Dusty Rhodes
(1994)
WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII
as Dusty Rhodes
(1993)
WCW Clash of the Champions XXV
as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
(1992)
WCW/New Japan Supershow II
as Dusty Rhodes
(1991)
WCW WrestleWar 1991
as Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
(1991)
WCW Halloween Havoc '91
as Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman)
(1991)
WCW SuperBrawl: Return from The Rising Sun
as Dusty Rhodes (Commentator)
(1991)
WWE Royal Rumble 1991
as Dusty Rhodes
(1990)
WWE WrestleMania VI
as Dusty Rhodes
(1990)
WWE Royal Rumble 1990
as Dusty Rhodes
(1990)
WWE Survivor Series 1990
as Dusty Rhodes
(1990)
WWE SummerSlam 1990
as "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
(1990)
Battle of the WWE Superstars
as Dusty Rhodes
(1990)
WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI
as "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
(1990)
WWF Hottest Matches
as Dusty Rhodes
(1990)
WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: June '90
as Dusty Rhodes
(1989)
WWE SummerSlam 1989
as Himself
(1989)
WWE Survivor Series 1989
as Dusty Rhodes
(1989)
WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89
as Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
(1989)
PWF Homecoming
as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
(1989)
(1988)
The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
as The Midnight Rider
(1988)
NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88
as Dusty Rhodes
(1988)
NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem
as Dusty Rhodes
(1988)
NWA The Great American Bash '88: The Price for Freedom
as Dusty Rhodes
(1988)
NWA Starrcade '88: True Gritt
as Dusty Rhodes
(1988)
NWA Clash of the Champions
as Dusty Rhodes
(1988)
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
as Dusty Rhodes
(1988)
NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings
as Dusty Rhodes
(1987)
The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament
as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
(1987)
NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation
as Dusty Rhodes
(1987)
NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games
as Dusty Rhodes
(1987)
NWA Starrcade '87: Chi-Town Heat!
as Dusty Rhodes
(1986)
NWA Superstars on The SuperStation
as Dusty Rhodes
(1986)
(1986)
NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land
as Dusty Rhodes
(1986)
NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro
as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
(1986)
NWA Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte
as Dusty Rhodes
(1986)
NWA Starrcade '86: The Night of The Sky-Walkers
as Dusty Rhodes
(1985)
Pro Wrestling USA Star Wars: December 1984
as Dusty Rhodes
(1985)
NWA Starrcade '85: The Gathering
as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
(1985)
MSW WrestleFest
as Dusty Rhodes
(1985)
NWA The Great American Bash 1985
as Dusty Rhodes
(1985)
I Like To Hurt People
as Self
(1985)
AWA/NWA Night of Champions II
as Dusty Rhodes
(1984)
NWA Night of Champions
as Dusty Rhodes
(1984)
NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge
as Dusty Rhodes
(1984)
NWA Lords of The Ring
as Dusty Rhodes
(1984)
NWA Boogie Jam
as Dusty Rhodes
(1982)
(1982)
NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show
as Dusty Rhodes
(1980)
NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa
as Dusty Rhodes
(1978)
The Super Bowl of Wrestling
as Dusty Rhodes
(1974)
The Wrestler
as Dusty Rhodes
Crew
(2014)
WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014
Executive Producer
(2013)
WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches
Executive Consultant
(2007)
WWE Royal Rumble 2007
Writer
(2006)
WWE Royal Rumble 2006
Writer
(2005)
TNA Destination X 2005
Writer
(1999)
WCW Souled Out 1999
Writer
(1999)
WCW SuperBrawl IX
Writer
(1999)
WCW Uncensored 1999
Writer
(1999)
WCW Spring Stampede 1999
Writer
(1999)
WCW Slamboree 1999
Writer
(1999)
(1999)
(1999)
WCW Road Wild 1999
Writer
(1998)
WCW Souled Out 1998
Writer
(1998)
WCW SuperBrawl VIII
Writer
(1998)
WCW Uncensored 1998
Writer
(1998)
WCW Spring Stampede 1998
Writer
(1998)
WCW Slamboree 1998
Writer
(1998)
(1998)
(1998)
WCW Road Wild 1998
Writer
(1998)
WCW Fall Brawl 1998
Writer
(1998)
WCW Halloween Havoc 1998
Writer
(1998)
WCW World War 3 1998
Writer
(1998)
WCW Starrcade 1998
Writer
(1997)
nWo Souled Out 1997
Writer
(1997)
(1997)
WCW SuperBrawl VII
Writer
(1997)
WCW Uncensored 1997
Writer
(1997)
WCW Spring Stampede 1997
Writer
(1997)
WCW Slamboree 1997
Writer
(1997)
(1997)
(1997)
WCW Road Wild 1997
Writer
(1997)
(1997)
WCW Fall Brawl 1997
Writer
(1997)
WCW Halloween Havoc 1997
Writer
(1997)
WCW World War 3 1997
Writer
(1997)
WCW Starrcade 1997
Writer
(1996)
(1996)
WCW SuperBrawl VI
Writer
(1996)
WCW Uncensored 1996
Writer
(1996)
WCW Slamboree 1996
Writer
(1996)
(1996)
(1996)
WCW Hog Wild 1996
Writer
(1996)
(1996)
WCW Fall Brawl 1996
Writer
(1996)
WCW Halloween Havoc 1996
Writer
(1996)
WCW World War 3 1996
Writer
(1996)
WCW Starrcade 1996
Writer
(1995)
(1995)
WCW Uncensored 1995
Writer
(1995)
WCW Slamboree 1995
Writer
(1995)
(1995)
(1995)
(1995)
WCW Fall Brawl 1995
Writer
(1995)
WCW Halloween Havoc 1995
Writer
(1995)
WCW World War 3 1995
Writer
(1995)
WCW Starrcade 1995
Writer
(1994)
(1994)
(1994)
(1994)
WCW Fall Brawl 1994
Writer
(1994)
WCW Starrcade 1994
Writer
(1994)
(1994)
(1994)
WCW SuperBrawl IV
Writer
(1994)
WCW Spring Stampede 1994
Writer
(1994)
WCW Slamboree 1994
Writer
(1993)
(1993)
WCW SuperBrawl III
Writer
(1993)
WCW Slamboree 1993
Writer
(1993)
(1993)
WCW Beach Blast 1993
Writer
(1993)
(1993)
WCW Fall Brawl 1993
Writer
(1993)
WCW Halloween Havoc 1993
Writer
(1993)
(1993)
WCW Battle Bowl
Writer
(1993)
WCW Starrcade 1993
Writer
(1992)
(1992)
(1992)
WCW Beach Blast
Writer
(1992)
(1992)
WCW Halloween Havoc '92
Writer
(1992)
(1992)
WCW Starrcade 1992
Writer
(1992)
(1992)
WCW SuperBrawl II
Writer
(1991)
(1991)
(1991)
(1991)
(1991)
WCW Halloween Havoc '91
Writer
(1991)
(1991)
WCW Starrcade 1991
Writer
(1989)
PWF Homecoming
Director, Writer
(1988)
(1988)
(1988)
(1988)
(1988)
(1988)
NWA Bunkhouse Stampede
Writer
(1987)
(1987)
(1987)
(1986)
(1986)
(1986)
(1986)
(1986)
(1986)
(1986)
(1985)
(1985)
(1984)
NWA Starrcade '84: The Million Dollar Challenge
Writer, Director
(1984)
NWA Night of Champions
Writer
(1984)
NWA Lords of The Ring
Writer
(1984)
NWA Boogie Jam
Writer
(1983)
NWA Starrcade 1983
Writer
(1980)