Godspeed, Dusty Rhodes.
Posted: Jun 11th 2015 By: Adam Pearce
Godspeed, Dusty Rhodes.
I met him in 1999 when I was in Atlanta trying out for World Championship Wrestling. On the second day, he took me into a little production room at WCW?s PowerPlant training
facility. It was me, him, and a camera.
'You?re facing Sid Vicious on Nitro next Monday, and no one thinks you have a chance. Tell me about it. 45 seconds. Go.' I cut my promo and then waited for him to speak.
For what felt like an eternity he said nothing and just looked at me, like he was looking through me.
'You remind me of a young Sting,' he said. 'And you can talk a little. That was good, but let me show you how I?d cut that promo.'
And then Dusty Rhodes cut a promo as me. As me. I was 21 years old and blown away.
Fast-forward almost 14 years later; my first day working as a Guest Coach at the WWE Performance Center. I came back from lunch and opened the office door. There he was.
For what felt like an eternity he said nothing and just looked at me, again like he was looking through me. Finally he smiled.
'Hey Champ,' he said. 'How are ya, good to see you.'
Dusty Rhodes called me 'champ'. I was 35 years old and blown away.
From that point on, I always took the opportunity to sit in and help him in any way I could during his Presentation Skills classes. But truth be told, I always felt like I was
learning just as much as everyone else. And sure, he?d call on me to critique or help or lend my opinion, but moreover I would sit there amazed and trying to absorb the wisdom that would come out of him. Not for me to use, mind you, but for me to pass on to someone else. To future generations. Good God, I wish that time wasn?t now.
I?m glad we had an opportunity to get to know one another beyond the everyday platitudes and 'wrestling' stuff. We both loved our Green Bay Packers and joked about walking
around the office wearing our NWA belts, but mostly we talked about our children, regrets and desires, and everyday life.
I ALWAYS felt like I learned something from him. I?m so incredibly grateful for that.
Dusty Rhodes owed me nothing, yet always gave his insight and experience. I KNEW that he wanted me to succeed, and that means the world to me. During the first WWE match I ever produced on my own, he sat right behind me, over my left shoulder.
As the bell run and the match was over, I thanked the guys in the truck and the referee and I looked back at him.
He nodded his head and smiled. 'You did real good, Champ. Yah, real good.' We had a laugh and then, for shits-and-giggles, we took the selfie you see at the end of this note.
A little later on, away from everything, I went up to him.
'Before I fly home tomorrow, I just wanted to say thank you for your help along the way, Dream. For everything.'
'Thank YOU,' he said. And he gave me a hug.
'Travel safe, Champ, I'll see ya soon. Love ya, kid.'
'Thanks, Dream. Love ya too.'
My heart is so heavy and my thoughts and prayers are with the family and everyone that called him a friend. I wanted so badly for my family to meet him, not for who he was, but
for WHO he WAS. Dream, I?ll never be able to thank you enough for all you gave me that you never had to.
Godspeed, my friend. I'll never ever let you down.
-AP
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
- 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
- 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
- 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
- 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
Week of Sun 11-01 to Sat: 11-07
- 11-01 1960 Tony Jiminez & Jesse Jiminez became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
- 11-01 1981 Ted DiBiase def. Paul Orndorff for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 11-01 1982 Al Madril def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
- 11-01 2008 El Hoto def. Martin Justice for the OECW Southwestern Title
- 11-01 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Matthews III) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
- 11-01 2013 Steven Sterling def. Bobby Starr for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 11-01 2014 Guy Atticus became the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 11-01 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 11-01 2019 Brock Landers def. Tego for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 11-01 2020 Double D became the EPW Heavyweight Champion
- 11-01 2020 Drake Gallows became the EPW All-American Champion
- 11-01 2020 Revan became the EPW Internet Television Champion
- 11-01 2020 The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) became the EPW Tag Team Champions
- 11-01 2020 High Times (Father Padge & Dean Lambert) def. The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
- 11-01 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. The Trendsetters (Andre West & Nelly Rivers) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 11-02 1978 Ray Candy def. Ernie Ladd for the TSW Arkansas Title
- 11-02 2002 Terry Montana def. Shadow of Death for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
- 11-02 2003 Ty Magnus def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 11-02 2003 John O'Malley def. Ty Magnus for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 11-02 2003 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 11-02 2003 Outcast def. X-Cal for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 11-02 2013 Kevin Morgan def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 11-02 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 11-02 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
- 11-02 2014 Les Mayne def. Rick Russo for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 11-02 2019 Clint Poe became the EmpCW All American Champion
- 11-02 2019 War Party (Gorgeous Garcia & Nytronis A’Teo) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the EmpCW Tag Team Titles
- 11-02 2019 Dexter Hardaway def. Double D for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
- 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Naiomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
- 11-02 2019 Unicorn def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
- 11-02 2019 Karnage def. Unicorn for the BPW 365 Title
- 11-02 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
- 11-02 2019 Karnage def. C. M. Burnham for the BPW 365 Title
- 11-02 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
- 11-03 2001 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 11-03 2001 Splash Jackson def. Big Daddy Moore for the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
- 11-03 2012 The Old School Suckas (Randy Price & Bryan Cruize) def. Big Business (Damon Windsor & Kevin Morgan) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 11-03 2012 Erica def. Angel Blue for the IZW Queens Title
- 11-03 2018 Damon Windsor def. Randy Price for the WCR Revolutionary Title
- 11-04 1985 Rick Rude def. King Parsons for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 11-04 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. Jerry Lawler for the WCCW World Title
- 11-04 2005 Beau Dalton & Bobby Dalton became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 11-05 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 11-05 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
- 11-05 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 11-05 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
- 11-05 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 11-05 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 11-05 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
- 11-05 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 11-05 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 11-05 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
- 11-05 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
- 11-06 1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
- 11-06 1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
- 11-06 1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
- 11-06 2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 11-06 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 11-06 2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
- 11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
- 11-06 2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 11-06 2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
- 11-06 2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
- 11-06 2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
- 11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
- 11-06 2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
- 11-06 2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
- 11-06 2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
- 11-06 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
- 11-06 2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
- 11-06 2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
- 11-06 2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
- 11-07 1984 Bill Dundee def. Adrian Street for the MSW Television Title
- 11-07 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MStW Southern Tag Team Titles
- 11-07 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 11-07 2015 The Terror Squad (D Money & Montego Seeka & Marce Lewis, Nytronis A'Teo & MVP) became the IWR Tag Team Champions
- Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th Today!
- David Jason Rose Nov 5th Today!
- Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th Today!
- Chris Chaos Nov 5th Today!
- Bill Decker Nov 5th Today!
- Darin Matthews Nov 6th
- Brian Faith Nov 6th
- Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
- Lu Kim Nov 6th
- Ken Patera Nov 6th
- King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
- Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
- Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
- Keith Watkins Nov 7th
- Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
- Joey Ryan Nov 7th
- Silverado Nov 7th
- Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
- Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
- Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
- Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
- Nick Patrick Nov 9th
- Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
- Lance Osburn Nov 9th
- Kolossus Nov 9th
- Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
- Joyce Grable Nov 9th
- Gil Knutson Nov 9th
- Prince Tapu Nov 10th
- Marshall Von Erich Nov 10th
- Danny Savich Nov 10th
- Kinzer Keel Nov 10th
- Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th
- Brandon Moxley Nov 11th
- Green Dragon Nov 11th
- Luigi Columbo Nov 11th
- Alex Perez Nov 11th
- Little Cloud Nov 11th
- Terrale Tempo Nov 12th
- Vickie Lynn McCoy Nov 12th
- Gary Tool Nov 12th
- Thud Powell Nov 12th
- Varik Vayne Nov 12th
- Ty Thunder Nov 12th
- Austin Tacious Nov 12th
- Brett Taylor Nov 12th
- L. J. McDaniels Nov 13th
- Big Smooth Nov 13th
- Kyle Kelly Nov 14th
- Shane Sanders Nov 14th
- Tiny Bell Nov 14th
- Kirk Castle Nov 14th
- Killer Cross Nov 15th
- Killer Cross Nov 15th
- Armin Syzlack Nov 15th
- Super Beast Nov 15th
- Sean Pearl Nov 15th
- Brieanna Bringle Nov 16th
- Kenny K Nov 17th
- Johnny Graves Nov 17th
- Johnny Weaver Nov 17th
- Drake Gallows Nov 17th
- Snowman Nov 17th
- Josh Hogan Nov 17th
- Chase Bristow Nov 17th
- Kikutaro Nov 17th
- Brent Wall Nov 17th
- Reaper Nov 18th
- Everett Kibbons Nov 18th
- Chris Russo Nov 18th
Most Active Members
- Striker
- Michael York
- The Mayne Event
- cphs_sweethearts
- Talon