Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr., better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler, booker/writer, and trainer who most notably worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, NWA Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), and WWE. Rhodes is considered one of the greatest wrestlers and talkers in the history of professional wrestling. Rhodes was a three-time NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, and during his time in Jim Crockett Promotions' Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, later known as World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he was a NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, and multi-time NWA World Television, NWA Tag Team and NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion. He also won many regional championships, and is one of seven men inducted into each of the WWE, WCW, Professional Wrestling, and Wrestling Observer Newsletter Halls of Fame. His sons, Dustin and Cody, both pursued careers in professional wrestling, performing for WWE and AEW. Following his retirement from wrestling, he made occasional on-air appearances on WWE television and pay-per-views and worked as a backstage booker/writer and producer in WWE's NXT developmental territory. Billed as "the son of a plumber", Rhodes did not have a typical wrestler's physique; his character was that of the "common man", known for the personality exhibited in his interviews. WWE chairman Vince McMahon remarked that no wrestler "personified the essence of charisma quite like Dusty Rhodes".

Filmography

• WWE Rivals — Dusty Rhodes
• Biography: WWE Legends
• 2018Randy Savage Unreleased: The Unseen Matches of The Macho Man
• 2017WWE Unreleased: 1986-1995
• 2016Scooby-Doo! and WWE: Curse of the Speed Demon — Dusty Rhodes (voice)
• 2016TNA: Best of the Asylum Years, Vol 2 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2016WWE: The U.S. Championship: A Legacy of Greatness — Dusty Rhodes (archive footage)
• 2015Dusty Rhodes: Celebrating the Dream
• 2015ECW - Unreleased Vol. 3 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2015Sting: Into the Light — Dusty Rhodes
• 2014WCW'S Greatest Pay-Per-View Matches Volume 1 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2014WWE Tribute to the Troops 2014 — Executive Producer
• 2014WWE United We Slam: The Best of The Great American Bash — Dusty Rhodes
• Wrestlemania Rewind — Dusty Rhodes
• 2013Legends of Mid-South Wrestling — Dusty Rhodes
• 2013WCW War Games: WCW's Most Notorious Matches — Dusty Rhodes, Executive Consultant
• 2013WWE Battleground 2013 — Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
• 2013WWE WrestleMania 29 Kickoff — "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• 2012ROH: Ring of Hardcore — Dusty Rhodes
• 2012The Best of WCW Clash of the Champions — Dusty Rhodes
• The JBL and Cole Show — Dusty Rhodes
• 2012WWE: Starrcade - The Essential Collection — Dusty Rhodes
• 2012WWE: The Attitude Era — Dusty
• 2012nWo: The Revolution
• WWE NXT — Writer
• 2010WWE: Top 50 Superstars of All Time — "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• 2009Jeff Jarrett: King of the Mountain — Dusty Rhodes
• 2009Macho Madness - The Randy Savage Ultimate Collection
• 2009The Rise & Fall of WCW — Dusty Rhodes
• 2009WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event — Dusty Rhodes
• 2008Nature Boy Ric Flair - The Definitive Collection — Dusty Rhodes
• 2007Life In The Fast Lane
• 2007Mid-South Wrestling Giants, Midgets, Heroes & Villains vol. 1 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2007Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen — Dusty Rhodes
• 2007WWE Hall of Fame 2007 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2007WWE Royal Rumble 2007 — Writer
• 2007WWE The Great American Bash 2007 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2006The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story — Dusty Rhodes
• 2006WWE Cyber Sunday 2006 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2006WWE Royal Rumble 2006 — Writer
• 2006WWE Survivor Series 2006 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2006WWE: 20 Years Too Soon - The Superstar Billy Graham Story — Dusty Rhodes
• 2006WWE: Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology — Dusty Rhodes
• 2005TNA Against All Odds 2005 — Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• 2005TNA Destination X 2005 — Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.), Writer
• 2005TNA Final Resolution 2005 — Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• 2005TNA Lockdown 2005 — Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• 2005TNA Wrestling: Enigma - The Best of Jeff Hardy — Dusty Rhodes
• 2004HUSTLE-3 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2004NEW Renegades Rampage — Dusty Rhodes
• 2004TNA Turning Point 2004 — Dusty Rhodes (TNA D.O.A.)
• 2004TNA Victory Road 2004 — Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
• TNA iMPACT! — Dusty Rhodes., Producer
• 2004WWE: The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection — Dusty Rhodes
• 20033PW Legends Collide
• 2003FIP Return Of The Dream — Dusty Rhodes
• Major League Wrestling: Underground TV
• 2003ROH: The Epic Encounter — Dusty Rhodes
• 2002MLW King of Kings — Dusty Rhodes
• 2001WCW Greed — Dusty Rhodes
• 2000ECW Hardcore Heaven 2000 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2000ECW Living Dangerously 2000 — Dusty Rhodes
• 2000ECW Wrestlepalooza 2000 — Dusty Rhodes (Appearance)
• ECW on TNN — Dusty Rhodes
• 1999WCW Bash at the Beach 1999 — Writer
• 1999WCW Road Wild 1999 — Writer
• 1999WCW Slamboree 1999 — Writer
• 1999WCW Souled Out 1999 — Writer
• 1999WCW Spring Stampede 1999 — Writer
• 1999WCW SuperBrawl IX — Writer
• 1999WCW The Great American Bash 1999 — Writer
• 1999WCW Uncensored 1999 — Writer
• WWE Friday Night SmackDown
• 1998The Unreal Story Of Pro Wrestling — Dusty Rhodes
• 1998WCW Bash at the Beach 1998 — Writer
• 1998WCW Fall Brawl 1998 — Writer
• 1998WCW Halloween Havoc 1998 — Writer
• 1998WCW Road Wild 1998 — Writer
• 1998WCW Slamboree 1998 — Writer
• 1998WCW Souled Out 1998 — Dusty Rhodes (Ringside), Writer
• 1998WCW Spring Stampede 1998 — Writer
• 1998WCW Starrcade 1998 — Writer
• 1998WCW SuperBrawl VIII — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1998WCW The Great American Bash 1998 — Writer
• WCW Thunder — Dusty Rhodes
• 1998WCW Uncensored 1998 — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1998WCW World War 3 1998 — Writer
• 1997WCW Bash at the Beach 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW Clash of The Champions XXXIV — Writer
• 1997WCW Clash of The Champions XXXV — Writer
• 1997WCW Fall Brawl 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW Halloween Havoc 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW Road Wild 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW Slamboree 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW Spring Stampede 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW Starrcade 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW SuperBrawl VII — Writer
• 1997WCW The Great American Bash 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW Uncensored 1997 — Writer
• 1997WCW World War 3 1997 — Writer
• 1997nWo Souled Out 1997 — Writer
• 1996WCW Bash at the Beach 1996 — Writer
• 1996WCW Clash of The Champions XXXII — Writer
• 1996WCW Clash of The Champions XXXIII — Writer
• 1996WCW Fall Brawl 1996 — Writer
• 1996WCW Halloween Havoc 1996 — Writer
• 1996WCW Hog Wild 1996 — Writer
• 1996WCW Slamboree 1996 — Writer
• 1996WCW Starrcade 1996 — Writer
• 1996WCW SuperBrawl VI — Writer
• 1996WCW The Great American Bash 1996 — Writer
• 1996WCW Uncensored 1996 — Writer
• 1996WCW World War 3 1996 — Writer
• 1995WCW All Nighter 1995 — Writer
• 1995WCW Bash at the Beach 1995 — Writer
• 1995WCW Clash of The Champions XXX — Writer
• 1995WCW Clash of The Champions XXXI — Writer
• 1995WCW Fall Brawl 1995 — Writer
• 1995WCW Halloween Havoc 1995 — Writer
• WCW Monday Nitro — Dusty Rhodes
• 1995WCW Slamboree 1995 — Writer
• 1995WCW Starrcade 1995 — Writer
• 1995WCW The Great American Bash 1995 — Writer
• 1995WCW Uncensored 1995 — Writer
• 1995WCW World War 3 1995 — Writer
• 1995WCW: Ric Flair - 2 Decades of Excellence — Dusty Rhodes
• Burke's Law — Archie 'Mad Dog' McCray
• 1994WCW Bash at the Beach 1994 — Writer
• 1994WCW Clash of The Champions XXIX — Writer
• 1994WCW Clash of The Champions XXVI — Writer
• 1994WCW Clash of The Champions XXVII — Writer
• 1994WCW Clash of the Champions XXVIII — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1994WCW Fall Brawl 1994 — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1994WCW Slamboree 1994 — Writer
• 1994WCW Spring Stampede 1994 — Writer
• 1994WCW Starrcade 1994 — Writer
• 1994WCW SuperBrawl IV — Writer
• ECW Hardcore TV
• Raw — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1993WCW BattleBowl — Writer
• 1993WCW Beach Blast 1993 — Writer
• 1993WCW Clash of The Champions XXII — Writer
• 1993WCW Clash of The Champions XXIII — Writer
• 1993WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV — Writer
• 1993WCW Clash of the Champions XXV — Dusty Rhodes (Ringside), Writer
• 1993WCW Fall Brawl 1993 — Writer
• 1993WCW Halloween Havoc 1993 — Writer
• 1993WCW Slamboree 1993 — Writer
• 1993WCW Starrcade 1993 — Writer
• 1993WCW SuperBrawl III — Writer
• 1992Paradise Park — Deputy Johnny Morton
• 1992WCW Beach Blast — Writer
• 1992WCW Clash of The Champions XIX — Writer
• 1992WCW Clash of The Champions XVIII — Writer
• 1992WCW Clash of The Champions XXI — Writer
• 1992WCW Halloween Havoc 1992 — Writer
• 1992WCW Starrcade 1992 — Writer
• 1992WCW SuperBrawl II — Writer
• 1992WCW The Great American Bash 1992 — Writer
• 1992WCW WrestleWar 1992 — Writer
• 1992WCW/New Japan Supershow II — Dusty Rhodes
• 1991WCW Clash of The Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite — Writer
• 1991WCW Clash of The Champions XVI: Fall Brawl '91 — Writer
• 1991WCW Clash of The Champions XVII — Writer
• 1991WCW Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA — Writer
• 1991WCW Halloween Havoc 1991 — Dusty Rhodes (Cornerman), Writer
• 1991WCW Starrcade 1991 — Writer
• 1991WCW SuperBrawl 1 — Dusty Rhodes (Commentator), Writer
• 1991WCW WrestleWar 1991 — Dusty Rhodes (Commentator), Producer's Assistant
• 1991WWE Royal Rumble 1991 — Dusty Rhodes
• 1990Battle of the WWE Superstars — Dusty Rhodes
• 1990WWE Hottest Matches — Dusty Rhodes
• 1990WWE Maple Leaf Wrestling: June '90 — Dusty Rhodes
• 1990WWE Royal Rumble 1990 — Dusty Rhodes
• 1990WWE SummerSlam 1990 — "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
• 1990WWE Survivor Series 1990 — Dusty Rhodes
• 1990WWE The Ultimate Challenge Special: The March to WrestleMania VI — "The Common Man" Dusty Rhodes
• 1990WWE WrestleMania VI — Dusty Rhodes
• 1989Fan Favorites
• 1989PWF Homecoming — "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Writer, Director
• 1989WWE Survivor Series 1989 — Dusty Rhodes
• 1989WWE Survivor Series Showdown '89 — Dusty Rhodes (Ringside)
• Clash of the Champions — Dusty Rhodes, Dusty Rhodes (Ringside), Writer
• 1988NWA Bunkhouse Stampede — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1988NWA Clash of The Champions III: Fall Brawl '88 — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1988NWA Clash of The Champions IV: Season's Beatings — Dusty Rhodes
• 1988NWA Clash of the Champions — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1988NWA Clash of the Champions II: Miami Mayhem — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1988NWA Starrcade 1988 — Dusty Rhodes
• 1988NWA The Great American Bash 1988 — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1988NWA The Great American Bash 1988: Greensboro — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1988The Third Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament — The Midnight Rider, Writer
• 1987NWA Starrcade 1987 — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1987NWA Super Towns on The SuperStation — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1987NWA The Great American Bash '87: War Games — Dusty Rhodes
• 1987NWA Wrestling The Danger Zone
• 1987The Second Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament — "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1986NWA Battle of The Belts II — Writer
• 1986NWA Starrcade 1986 — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1986NWA Superstars on The SuperStation — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1986NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Charlotte — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1986NWA The Great American Bash '86 Tour: Greensboro — "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1986NWA The Great American Bash '86: Livin' in the Promise Land — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1986The First Annual NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• WWF Superstars — "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes
• WWF Wrestling Challenge — Dusty Rhodes
• 1985AWA/NWA Night of Champions II — Dusty Rhodes
• 1985Mid-South WrestleFest '85 — Dusty Rhodes
• 1985NWA Starrcade 1985 — "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1985NWA The Great American Bash 1985 — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• NWA World Championship Wrestling — "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Midnight Rider, Producer
• 1985Pro Wrestling USA Star Wars: December 1984 — Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Saturday Night's Main Event — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1984NWA Boogie Jam — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1984NWA Lords of The Ring — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1984NWA Night of Champions — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1984NWA Starrcade 1984 — Dusty Rhodes, Director, Writer
• 1983NWA Starrcade 1983 — Writer
• WCW Arena Shows — Dusty Rhodes
• 1982Gold Raiders
• 1982NWA Sam Muchnick Retirement Show — Dusty Rhodes
• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling — Dusty Rhodes
• Mid-South Wrestling — Dusty Rhodes, 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes
• 1980NWA The Last Tangle in Tampa — Dusty Rhodes, Writer
• 1978The Super Bowl of Wrestling — Dusty Rhodes
• WWF All-Star Wrestling — Dusty Rhodes
• 1974The Wrestler — Dusty Rhodes
• WWE Old School — Dusty Rhodes

Appearances as themselves (11)

• 2024Bray Wyatt: Becoming Immortal — Self
• 2023American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes — Self (Archival Footage)
• 2020A Future WWE: The FCW Story — Himself
• 2020You Cannot Kill David Arquette — Self (archive footage)
• 2017Fight Owens Fight: The Kevin Owens Story — Self
• 2017Nature Boy — Self (archive footage)
• WWE Rivalries — Self
• 2005The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the '80s — Self
• WWE Hall of Fame — Self
• 1989WWE SummerSlam 1989 — Himself
• 1985I Like To Hurt People — Self