Long Live the American Dream, Baby!

Hi, Everybody!

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I dedicate today’s blog post to a legend in the wrestling business. He was born Virgil Runnels, Jr., but the wrestling world knew him better as “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes.

All things considered, I know all about Dusty’s career, thanks in part to my aunts and uncles—and incidentally, Dusty was my Grampa Clark’s favorite wrestler. I watched an old home movie where Grampa Clark referred to Gramma Jewel as his “sweet, sexy Sapphire,” and how he was gonna “humblize royalty, ‘cuz common peoples gotsta stick together, Baby!” I heard so much about Dusty over the years that he may as well have been a close family relative. Heck, my Uncle Ronnie would refer to him as “Big Dust” so much that I eventually started referring to Dusty by that very name.

Dusty Rhodes was unquestionably one of (if not) the greatest talkers in the business. Dusty was just a common man—the son of a plumber, if you weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Baby! He wined and dined with kings and queens, and he slept in alleys and ate pork and beans. He was a three-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, and he most definitely deserved his spot in wrestling’s Hall of Fame.

I got a chance to see Big Dust in action in September 2013; his sons Dustin and Cody (better known as Goldust and Stardust, respectively) took on the Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose of the Shield. When Big Dust started throwin’ them bows—droppin’ those bionic elbowdrops, if ya weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee—I liked to have jumped up out of my seat! I remember shouting: “Get him, Big Dust—you still got it, Baby!”

The following clip is considered one of Big Dust’s greatest promos ever. He discusses hard times.

 

Thanks for the memories, Big Dust. It’s sad to know that you’ve left us too soon, especially considering that we were about to celebrate your #70 in about four months. I tell ya what, though, Baby—the American Dream is still livin’ strong in this ol’ heart of mine.

Hugs & Kisses,

Natasha