Dusty Rhodes: Profile, Career, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won, Gimmick Evolution and Stats

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Dusty Rhodes, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. was born in Austin, Texas on October 12, 1945.

He died on June 11, 2015 at the age of 69.

Dusty Rhodes was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 as an individual, in the WCW Hall of Fame in 1995, in the NJPW Greatest 18 Club in 1990, in the NJPW Greatest Wrestlers in 2011 and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2010 as part of the Modern Era wing.

Profile Info

Gender Male

Real Name Virgil Riley Runnels Jr.

Ring Names

Dusty Rhodes ( May 28, 1968 - June 12, 2015)
The Midnight Rider ( January 2, 1983 - September 24, 1984)
Uvalde Slim ( September 29, 1976 - March 10, 1981)
Dusty Runnels ( October 16, 1967 - May 12, 1968)

Born October 12, 1945

Died June 11, 2015 (aged 69)

Nationality

United States

Birth Place Austin, Texas

Billed From

Austin, Texas

Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)

Weight

289 lbs (131 kg)

Nicknames The American Dream; The Son of a Plumber; The Common Man

Career History

Roles

Coach ( May 17, 2012 - June 12, 2015)
Producer ( January 2, 1985 - June 12, 2015)
Commissioner ( May 17, 2012 - September 12, 2013)
Wrestler ( October 16, 1967 - July 22, 2007)

Companies / Promotions

Promotion	from	to
Promotion WWE	September 1, 2005	June 12, 2015
Promotion WWEBrand NXT	May 17, 2012	September 12, 2013
Promotion TNA	January 15, 2003	May 1, 2005
Promotion ECW	January 28, 2000	January 13, 2001
Promotion WCW	January 30, 1991	January 1, 2000
Promotion WWF	May 29, 1989	January 19, 1991
Promotion WCW	November 2, 1988	January 17, 1989
Promotion AWA	June 10, 1984	April 28, 1986
Promotion NWA	January 28, 1968	November 1, 1988
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	October 26, 1979	April 1, 1982
Promotion AJPW	November 14, 1975	December 11, 1975
Promotion AWA	January 8, 1972	September 20, 1975

Face / Heel Turns

Alignment	from	to
Face	January 2, 2000	June 12, 2015
Heel	January 24, 1998	January 1, 2000
Face	October 16, 1967	January 23, 1998

Images

Jan 2003

Aug 1992

May 1989

Jan 1968

Finishers

Bionic Elbow - Elbow Drop to the head of a standing oppponent ( January 8, 1972 - July 22, 2007)

Theme Songs

Theme Song "Common Man Boogie" by Jimmy Hart & J.J. Maguire - Single ( September 1, 2005 - June 12, 2015)
Theme Song "Leather" by Dale Oliver - Single ( January 15, 2003 - May 1, 2005)
Theme Song "This is Why (I Sing the Blues)" by Reckless Fortune - Single ( January 28, 2000 - January 13, 2001)
Theme Song "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" by Bob Seger - Single ( January 30, 1991 - January 1, 2000)
Theme Song "Rockhouse" by Jimmy Hart e H.Helm - with nWo - Team ( January 24, 1998 - November 30, 1998)
Theme Song "Common Man Boogie" by Jimmy Hart & J.J. Maguire - Single ( May 29, 1989 - January 19, 1991)
Theme Song "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" by Bob Seger - Single ( January 2, 1985 - January 17, 1989)
Theme Song "Midnight Rider" by Willie Nelson - Single ( September 10, 1970 - September 22, 1987)

Titles & Accomplishments

Hall of Fame

WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2007, Individual
WCW Hall of Fame - Year 1995, Individual
NJPW Greatest 18 Club - Year 1990, Individual
NJPW Greatest Wrestlers - Year 2011, Individual
Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame - Year 2010, Modern Era

Titles Won

50th State Big Time Wrestling

NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version)

Big Time Wrestling

1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit Version) (with Dick Murdoch)

Central States Wrestling

1 NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship
1 NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (with Dick Murdoch)

Championship Wrestling from Florida

10 NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
1 NWA World Heavyweight Championship
2 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version)
1 NWA Florida Bahamian Championship
1 NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship (with Magnum T.A.)
4 NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 with Dick Murdoch, 1 with Dick Slater, 1 with Bobo Brazil, 1 with André the Giant)
2 NWA Florida Television Championship
7 NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)
2 NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 with Bugsy McGraw, 1 with Blackjack Mulligan)

Georgia Championship Wrestling

1 NWA World Heavyweight Championship
1 NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
1 NWA National Heavyweight Championship

International Wrestling Alliance (Australia)

1 IWA World Tag Team Championship (with Dick Murdoch)

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling

1 NWA World Heavyweight Championship
2 NWA World Television Championship
1 NWA United States Heayvweight Championshi
1 NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (with Buff Bagwell)
2 NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (with The Road Warriors)
2 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 with Dick Slater, 1 with Manny Fernandez)

NWA Big Time Wrestling

2 NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 with Baron Von Raschke, 1 with Dick Murdoch)
2 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version)

NWA Detroit

1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit Version) (with Dick Murdoch)

NWA San Francisco

1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version)

NWA Tri-State

1 NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Tri-State version)
1 NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (with André the Giant)

National Wrestling Federation

1 NWF World Tag Team Championship (with Dick Murdoch)

Pro Wrestling Federation (Florida)

1 PWF Heavyweight Championship

World Championship Wrestling (Australia)

1 IWA World Tag Team Championship (with Dick Murdoch)

Other Accomplishments

WWE Bronze Statue (2016)
NWA Legends Hall of Heroes induction (class of 2016)
JCP Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament Winner (1987 - with Nikita Koloff)
JCP Bunkhouse Stampede Winner (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988)
NWA Georgia Cadillac Cup Winner (1984)
NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship Tournament Winner (1978)
NWA United States Tag Team Championship Tournament Winner (1980 – with Bugsy McGraw)
George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2017)
WWE Slammy Award - "Say What?!" Quote of the Year (2013 - "One stipulation: I'm in my boys' corner and I'll be your huckleberry all night long")
PWI Wrestler of the Year (1977, 1978)
PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1978, 1979, 1987)
PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1987)
PWI Feud of the Year (1987 - with Nikita Koloff & Road Warriors vs. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, & Lex Luger)
PWI Match of the Year (1979 - vs. Harley Race 21/08)
PWI Match of the Year (1986 - vs. Ric Flair, Cage match at NWA The Great American Bash)
PWI Stanley Weston Award Winner (2013)
11° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
WON Best Babyface (1980)
WON Most Charismatic (1982 - tied with Ric Flair)
WON Best Booker (1986)
WON Biggest Shock of the Year (1989 - for joining WWF)