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"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes talks FCW

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes talks FCW

Posted: Jun 2nd 2009 By: mikeiles

For nearly four decades, Dusty Rhodes has had a huge impact in pro wrestling. As "The American Dream" he was beloved by fans as the common man while winning the NWA World Heavyweight Title on three occasions. Even though his in-ring career has basically come to an end (more on that coming), the Hall of Famer is still involved in the business with Florida Championship Wrestling where he is the creative mind behind the scenes for the WWE developmental group.

Rhodes has been involved in the creative process with several wrestling promotions during his legendary career. But now, he gets to work with young, up-and-coming talent who are trying to make it to the WWE roster. That has been happening lately with the company looking to bring up new talent to freshen things up and in hopes of finding its next big star.

"I think there is a need right now and there is a movement in the WWE for the younger kids to get a foot up; the Evan Bournes and (Ted) DiBiases and (Cody) Rhodes," says the "Dream". "I really enjoy working with them and you try to find a diamond in the rough and that?s what we?re doing."

One of the main points of emphasis that he works on with the wrestlers at FCW is their characters and teaching them to cut promos on the microphone.

"It?s really a lot of fun to see them coming out of their shell and just crank it up. And when you see them there ? when they?re right there ? they?re in a positive mode. They know where to stand, they know where the hard camera is, they know what?s expected of them, what the system is at World Wrestling Entertainment and given a sheet of paper there, OK this is what I have to say but they do it in what they?ve learned and how to do it. So I think it works for everyone all the way around."

While many things have changed in wrestling over the years, one of the most notable is the look of the wrestlers themselves. Gone are the days of guys with less than perfect bodies with everyone now showcasing a lean, muscled look. You have to wonder if a hefty person like Rhodes could even make it now in wrestling.

"It?s tougher but if you are able to have the fan invest in you, have the company invest in you millions of dollars and you?re able to put a hind end every 18 inches then it?s there for you," says Rhodes. "But it is tougher. You take a look at guys like Kofi (Kingston) and Ted and Cody and (John) Morrison and (CM) Punk. There is a new athlete on the horizon."

While it has been two years since his last match and he doesn't have any aspirations of getting back in the ring, the "Dream" admits that he has yet to formally retire.

"I see all these guys getting these big retirement matches and I got to thinking and I never actually said? When I went back to WCW I backed off and asked myself because I was in my 40?s why didn?t I continue on. But I love being able to create and be creative, to write TV?s and write storylines and make movies. I haven?t retired but don?t look for me doing any Ricky Steamboat off the top rope moves any time soon. I had my swan song I think with Randy (Orton) in the bullrope match (at the 2007 Great American Bash)."

Florida Championship Wrestling is in town tonight with a show at the Orlando Armory beginning at 8p.m. The group does plan on coming back to Orlando more frequently as it continues to grow.

You can listen to the entire interview I had with Dusty Rhodes from earlier this week on my radio show Between The Ropes (airing Tuesday nights from 6-8p.m. ET on ESPN Radio 1080) by clicking here: Download Dustyrhodes6. Find out more about Florida Championship Wrestling at FCWWrestling.com.

 

Tags: Dusty Rhodes, NWA, WWE, WCW

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Spotlight in History

  • 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 06-16 to Sat: 06-22

  • 06-16 1959 The Zebra Kid def. The Golden Giant for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-16 1970 Johnny Valentine def. Killer Kowalski for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-16 1984 Terry Taylor def. Krusher Khrushchev for the MSW Television Champion
  • 06-16 1986 Buzz Sawyer def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Bobby Burns def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Beau Dalton became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-16 2012 Big Business (Kevin Morgan & Damon Windsor) def. The Old School Suckas (Gary Tool & Randy Price) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-16 2017 Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders & Chaz Sharpe) def. Cursed (Kuda & Blade [2nd]) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-16 2017 Nytronis A'Teo def. Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders, Shawn Sanders, & Chaz Sharpe) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Jason Simon became the MajCW Native American Champion
  • 06-16 2023 Dan Webber def. Cappuccino Jones for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1957 Billy Raborn became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1958 Bull Curry def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-17 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. David Von Erich for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-17 1983 Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Michael Hayes) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 06-17 2005 Kenny Campbell def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 06-17 2006 The Party Express (Mitch Carter & Cade Sydal) def. Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-17 2008 Kunna Keyoh def. El Culo Intruso for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Prince Mahalli def. Paul Puertorico for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-17 2017 Randy Price def. Double D for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-17 2023 Alex Royal def. Justin Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 06-18 1964 Karl Kox def. Louie Tillet for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Shane Morbid def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Codie Mullins def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Codie Mullins for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Pork Chop def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Dexter Hardaway def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 S.K. Fulton def. Dexter Hardaway for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. S.K. Fulton for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-18 2006 Ryan Davidson def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-18 2011 Michael Barry def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Spyder became the SRPW United States Champion
  • 06-18 2016 Skylar Slice became the IZW Womens Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Lady Sensacion became the FIW Women’s Champion
  • 06-18 2021 Rodeo (Chandler Hopkins & Malico) def. Cam Cole & Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-18 2022 Duke Cornell def. Blue Bolt for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 06-18 2022 Maddox Jones def. Striker for the EPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-18 2022 Mike Gunns def. Jake Danielsson for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-19 1977 Fritz Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-19 2010 Aaron Neil def. John O'Malley for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-19 2015 Bree Ann def. Claudia for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 06-20 1972 The Continental Warriors (Bobby Hart & Lorenzo Parente) def. Tom Jones & Ivan Putski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 06-20 1977 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-20 1987 Barry Windham became the UWF Western States Heritage Champion
  • 06-20 2004 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-20 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Dane Griffin for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-20 2009 BLK-OUT (Montego Seeka & Jermaine Johnson) def. Impact, Inc, (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-20 2014 Bree Ann def. Miss Diss Lexia for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 06-20 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Malik Mayfield & Maui Mike for the ASP Tag Team Champions
  • 06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Champion
  • 06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
06-18
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