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Surprising Love For A ?Common Man'

Posted: Jun 14th 2015 By: Bob Magee

We all have guilty pleasures ? those things we love that others either don?t understand or think are too kitschy, low-brow or just plain dumb to embrace. For some, it?s romance novels or collections of ?Star Wars? toys. Others will repeatedly watch the cinematic trash heap ?Showgirls? at every opportunity. It doesn?t matter what others think ? we find joy where others see junk.

For me, it has always been professional wrestling. I have loved it since my cousin Wayne put me in a headlock while we were watching Dick the Bruiser take on Handsome Jimmy
Valiant on a black-and-white TV. What I learned this week is my guilty pleasure is embraced by many others and I had no idea we shared this bond.

On Thursday morning came news that legendary pro wrestler Dusty Rhodes, ?The American Dream,? had died at age 69. The news left me saddened for his family and fans and nostalgic for the days when he was a top star in the industry. During an era when more and more emphasis was placed on appearance, Rhodes (real name Virgil Runnels) commanded a top spot despite his pot belly, crazy curly bleached hair and ever-present lisp. As tanned, musclebound Hulk Hogan was taking pro wrestling into the mainstream, Rhodes remained relevant because he was a master showman who made you believe it all
was real.

Rhodes? death was surprising, as there was no indication he had been in poor health, but also surprising was the reaction. People who I never guessed would know who he was ?
let alone have any affection for him ? were lamenting his passing and sharing memories on social media. On the same day, actor Christopher Lee and musician Ornette Coleman also died, but the response to Rhodes? passing was more widespread and passionate.

Rhodes made his way through Sedalia back in the days when wrestling cards were run at Convention Hall. Steven Reed recalls seeing Rhodes perform both here and in St. Joseph
against the likes of Danny Little Bear and Bob Geigel.

?He put on a heck of a performance,? Reed said. ?Dusty was always one my favorites.?

Another legendary wrestler who performed in Sedalia was shocked to hear the news.

?I wrestled the guy a million times, and knew Dusty very well,? Missouri native Harley Race shared via email. ?He was one of the best out there ? even by today?s standards. When my son (Leland) told me about it, I didn?t know what to think. The only thing I could think was that the world lost a hell of a wrestler, and an even better person.?

Chris Gough, who runs the MetroPro Wrestling promotion out of Kansas City, worked with Rhodes when both were employed by World Wrestling Entertainment.

?My first reaction was how big of a loss this is for wrestling and for pop culture,? he said. ?Dusty transcended wrestling and brought a lot of non-wrestling fans to the shows.?

Gough believes Rhodes leveraged his look to appeal as an everyman hero.

?Dusty brought so many new traditions to pro wrestling,? Gough said. ?He was a babyface who didn?t have a good body. In fact, Dusty had one of the worst bodies of all time, but,
with that said, he was one of the greatest talkers of all time. He was his generation?s ?common man? who every average Joe could relate to ? his body, his blue collar appeal, his wit.?

Sedalian Brian Pettis said no remembrance of Rhodes would be complete without one of his trademark statements: ?I have wined and dined with kings and queens, and slept in alleys and ate pork-n-beans.?

?(Rhodes) was the epitome of ?the common man? on a stage that was usually reserved for larger-than-life strongmen or other larger-than-life personas. When he talked about being
the son of a plumber and ?hard times,? it gave people everywhere hope that even the most unimpressive starts could end up with the most incredible futures,? Pettis said.

I have referred to pro wrestling as ?a soap opera with sweat.? It?s all about morality plays, stories of good vs. evil. And as an eternal good guy, Rhodes ?was one of the greatest storytellers ? in and out of the ring ? that wrestling has seen or ever will see,? Gough said.

Race sees Rhodes? connection with fans as the enduring legacy of ?The American Dream.?

?What he did, the charisma that he had, and importantly how he connected with the fans, is something that you cannot replicate,? Race wrote. ?His ability to perform on any given
night was second to none. ? I love him, and I am going to miss him.?

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion

Week of Sun 06-21 to Sat: 06-27

06-21 1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
06-21 1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
06-21 2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
06-21 2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-21 2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
06-21 2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
06-21 2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
06-21 2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion
06-22 2005 Phillip def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Title
06-22 2018 Joe Cuedo def. Brock Baker for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-22 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-22 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-22 2025 Billie the Kiid def. Dan Webber for the ASP Heavyweight Title
06-23 1972 Billy Red Lyons def. The Spoiler for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
06-23 1980 Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakurada def. Jose Lothario & Tiger Conway Jr. for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
06-23 1982 Ted DiBiase def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
06-23 1984 Gino Hernandez became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
06-23 1989 The Stud Stable (Robert Fuller & Brian Lee) def. Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
06-23 2001 Big Daddy Moore def. Adam Lacroix for the OPW Oklahoma Television Title
06-23 2001 Grenade became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
06-23 2009 Joshua Michael & Epic became the ACW Tag Team Champions
06-23 2023 Dustin Tibbs def. Thrash for the WFC Prime Title
06-24 1972 Stan Stasiak def. Red Bastien for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
06-24 1974 Bull Ramos def. Rip Tyler for the TSW North American Title
06-24 1977 John Studd became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
06-24 1985 The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
06-24 2000 Great Bolo [2nd] def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
06-24 2000 Ichiban [2nd] became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
06-24 2005 Spoiler 2000 became the NWA-U Television Champion
06-24 2006 Prophet SteVens became the AACW Television Champion
06-24 2007 Matt Garza became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
06-24 2016 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Terry Montana & Mighty Mouse for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
06-24 2016 Seth Angel def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
06-24 2016 Adrian Dell def. Nathan Estrada for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
06-24 2017 Drake Gallows became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
06-24 2017 Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) def. Shawn Hendrix & Aaron Anders (substituting for Anthony Andrews) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
06-24 2017 Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) def. Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Tag Team Titles
06-24 2018 Shawn Sanders def. Chaz Sharpe for the ASP Inter-County Title
06-24 2018 Canadian Red Devil def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Mid-American Title
06-24 2020 Warren Powers def. Giganto for the BPW 365 Title
06-24 2023 Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) became the BCW Tag Team Champions
06-24 2023 C. M. Burnham def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-24 2023 Lunchador def. C. M. Burnham for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
06-25 2011 Sam Stackhouse def. Shane Morbid for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
06-25 2011 The Sons of Ireland (Devan Scott & Shane Scott) def. The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the BYEW Tag Team Titles
06-25 2011 Chris Chaos became the BYEW Caution Champion
06-25 2011 The Future Hall of Famers (John O'Malley & Brad Michaels) def. Bernie D & Aaron Neil (subbing for Max McGuirk) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
06-25 2016 Brian Breaker def. Zakk Sinizter for the UWE Heavyweight Title
06-25 2017 The Cub Scouts (Grizzly Gates & Brock Landers) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
06-26 1961 The Bolos (Great Bolo 1st & Mighty Bolo) became the TSW Southwestern Tag Team Champions
06-26 1987 Frankie Lancaster & Eric Embry def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
06-26 1999 Tarantula def. Original Renegade for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
06-26 2005 Li'l Joe def. Phillip for the ACW Hardcore Title
06-26 2009 Brandon Groom def. The Handsome Spoiler for the TOPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
06-26 2009 Kevin James Sanchez def. Bobby Starr for the BYEW Entertainment Title
06-26 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese) def. Los Loco Moscas (Elijah Sparks & El Greengo Loco) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
06-26 2025 Microman def. Mini Abismo Negro for the EDW Heavyweight Title
06-27 1969 Wahoo McDaniel & Thunderbolt Patterson became the WCCW American Tag Team Champions
06-27 1971 Johnny Valentine def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
06-27 1976 Jose Lothario def. The Mongolian Stomper for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
06-27 2009 Randy Price def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Title
06-27 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion

06-21

Jeff the Ref Jun 21st Today!
Rick Russo Jun 21st Today!
Phantom Star Jun 21st Today!
Milton Winkelman Jun 21st Today!
Super Star Jun 21st Today!
Athena Jun 23rd
Gabe Wilder Jun 24th
Juan Sebastian Jun 24th
Don Kent Jun 24th
Kody Lane Jun 25th
X-Storms Jun 25th
Jax Samuel Jun 26th
Sylvia Richmond Jun 26th
Paul Rodriguez Jun 26th
D. K. Bradley Jun 26th
Jason Kirby Jun 27th
Reckless Jun 27th
Kuda Jun 27th
Ignition Jun 27th
Dan Barnhart Jun 27th
Doc Hearon Jun 28th
John Tidwell Jun 28th
J. J. Blake Jun 28th
Claire Jun 28th
Malico Jun 28th
Kenny Mack Jun 28th
Damian Kincaid Jun 28th
Boris Malenko Jun 28th
Bill Dromo Jun 28th
Voltio Santiago Jun 29th
Barbara Galento Jun 29th
Ed Lewis Jun 30th
Terry Funk Jun 30th
Kenneth Caine Jun 30th
Tim WarCloud Jul 1st
Li'l Joe Jul 1st
Jake Hollister Jul 1st
Sung Yung Kang Jul 1st
Wrangler Rhett Jul 2nd
Rex Andrews Jul 2nd
Dalton Smith Jul 2nd
Crowson D. Calhoun Jul 2nd
Joe Sloan Jul 3rd
Ray the Bae Jul 3rd
Arman Hussein Jul 3rd
Rachael Starz Jul 3rd
Greatest American Bolo Jul 4th
Barry Windham Jul 4th
Bob Sweetan Jul 4th
Blake Wilson Jul 4th
Bree Ann Jul 4th

1982 Junkyard Dog def. Bob Roop for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
1987 Al Perez def. The Dingo Warrior for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
2003 Kitty def. Manservant for the TPW Womens Title
2008 Tim Rockwell def. El Super Colibri for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
2008 Li'l Joe def. Xavior for the GPCW Cruiserweight Title
2014 Buster Cherry def. Havoc for the SWCW All-American Title
2024 Big Sed def. Sam Adonis for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
2025 Dan Webber became the LCW Lionheart Champion

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

All Star Pro

WTF Champion
MLP

Heavyweight Champion: Malik Mayfield
Tag Team Champions: Team Barricade
5-Star Champion: Will Chambers
Livestream Champion: Mitch Onyx

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