Sep 20th 2024 08:28pm

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Cody Rhodes Posts Eulogy He Read at Dusty Rhodes? Funeral on Twitter

Cody Rhodes Posts Eulogy He Read at Dusty Rhodes? Funeral on Twitter

Posted: Jun 20th 2015 By: Cody Rhodes

"DADDY"

I am honored and I am privileged to tell this gathering today who dusty was...who he was in his heart

Although his profession claimed so much of his identity, it was suck a miniscule portion of the man...

His first priority IN LIFE was to be the Husband of Michelle Runnels. He was a man with a moral code from a bygone era "golden age", and he RESPECTED my Mother so very much, it almost bordered on fear. A quirky-reciprocated love. I recall one time her being asked "why don't you have any pictures of you with the other wrestlers Michelle?"

My normally reserved Mother grinned and declared "when you're married to Elvis, you don't take pictures with the band"

Not in a disparaging sense to the others, just for her...it was only him. The love of her life.

That love can be witnessed all throughout their bungalow-home, where an endless amount of love notes scribbled from Dusty sit. On the counters, in the pages of her books.

And if you look at those notes and ya' see Dusty's handwriting, the cursive-hybrid...you unearth a large secret about Dusty, he was college educated, he was an intellectual. As a teacher...if you walked into his office at Crockett promotions, at the CNN Center, at TCW or at the Performance Center and you were the total package, he didn't connect with you.

He may have hired you or saw your value, but he liked to fix things...a propensity for misfit toys...broken people. If you were overweight, or covered in tattoos, or having just been through divorce...he wanted to take your pain and make it your power. To arm you with weapons for your profession.

A lot of his students from the performance center are in attendance, and I want you to know...he CHERISHED you. And you how I know, is because he never talked to ME about you...because he knew I'd be jealous.

Because myself and my siblings were his priority. He made it his job to PROVIDE. In all senses of that word. For a few year period starting when I was in my mid-teens, we lost our fortune...we went broke...but we ate like kings, we danced like stars, and lived like the monarchy we pretend to be...because he REFUTED the idea hsi children would go without.

"You had one more silver dollar, but you didn't let them catch you no."

My beautiful sister Teil will tell you about "angel money". And that beautiful gold Rolex...he told me if I ever won the World Title, that I could have it. Just the other night I inquired about that watch, come to find out he had sold it so that I could drive to Los Angeles to chase that dream.

Last Wednesday night was a dreadful night. I didn't leave, I sat by his bedside throughout the night. I rallied behind the vital number displayed, because his heart-rate would calm down a few beats my heart would flutter...I thought he was getting better. Around 330am the nurse Mena had stepped-out for a few moments and it was just me, the cold air, the white floors, the industrial noise of the machines, and my hero laying before me

I said...

"I'll sit here until you wake-up..."

So I hope dad that you're not upset with me when you awake...and you don't see my face, but you see Dick Murdoch, you see Eddie Graham, and when little Virgil gets to see big Virgil.

You were a figure of FAITH. You did not preach your religion, you lived your religion. And to describe my feelings not just about being your son, or your friend, or your partner, Hell if I'd only met you for five minutes...I'll amend the Legendary New York Yankee Lou Gehrig and say; "today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth...for having stood in the company of you Dusty Rhodes"

You were a cowboy of the old republic, the last bastion of Southern wrestling. A master orator who spit fire, but if the question was ever posed to you...what would you rather have, fame of family??

Family. Always family. Getting over with your family and extended family trumped all. You were a world-class family man.

I encourage those here today to go and watch the 2003 movie "Big Fish". The story of a Father's tall-tales and his Son. It's a nearly autobiographical account of Dusty Rhodes. Not to ruin it, but the tales are either fully true or half-truths...from the amount of teeth the giant had or the derailing of a local train or wrestling a bear. The message is to live life one the edge of a lightning-bolt and to fight for your family.

Friends, family, colleagues, passer-bys; tonight...when you lay your head against your pillow, don't just have a dream.

Have an American Dream.

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

2
The Gimmick Table: The Origin of Avatar

The Gimmick Table: The Origin of Avatar

A gimmick is something that is intended to hook the attention of fans to a wrestler. They may be outrageous or steeped more in r... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1971 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 09-15 to Sat: 09-21

  • 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Champion
  • 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Champion
  • 09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
  • 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Champion
  • 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Champion
  • 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Champion
  • 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Champion
  • 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
  • 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-20 1971 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 09-20 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 09-20 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 09-20 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-20 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 09-20 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-20 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-20 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 09-20 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-21 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 09-21 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 09-21 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-21 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 09-21 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-21 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
09-20
  • Justin Lee Sep 20th Today!
  • Joey Stixx Sep 20th Today!
  • Boz Sep 20th Today!
  • Pepper Martin Sep 20th Today!
  • Ethan Page Sep 20th Today!
  • Chuck Singer Sep 20th Today!
  • Jason Simon Sep 20th Today!
  • Greg Valentine Sep 20th Today!
  • Randy Rhodes Sep 20th Today!
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st
  • Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
  • Doug Somers Sep 22nd
  • Harley D Sep 22nd
  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • John J. Bishop Sep 24th
  • Kai Fayden Sep 24th
  • Jason Bruce Sep 24th
  • Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
  • Joe Jones Sep 24th
  • Connor Crunk Sep 24th
  • Len Rossi Sep 24th
  • Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
  • Toots Estes Sep 25th
  • Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
  • Chief Mike Sep 25th
  • Chris Matthews Sep 26th
  • Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
  • BB Sep 26th
  • Lone Eagle Sep 26th
  • Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
  • Angel Camacho Sep 27th
  • Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
  • Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
  • Tommy Prince Sep 28th
  • Kamille Sep 28th
  • Scott Lee Sep 28th
  • Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
  • Rip Tyler Sep 28th
  • David Sammartino Sep 29th
  • Ann Casey Sep 29th
  • Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
  • Lady Starwind Sep 30th
  • Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
  • Raymon Downey Sep 30th
  • Fred Urban Sep 30th
  • Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
  • Seth Coburn Sep 30th
  • Hector Guerrero Oct 1st
  • Waldo Von Erich Oct 2nd
  • James Southard Oct 2nd
  • Funnybone Oct 2nd
  • Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
  • Mike Foxx Oct 2nd
  • Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
  • Cold Blooded Chris Oct 2nd
  • Don Fargo Oct 3rd
  • Johnny TV Oct 3rd

More Look Back In History

Card Results

1