Dusty Rhodes: Profile, Career Stats, Face/Heel Turns, Titles Won & Gimmicks

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Dusty Rhodes, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. was born in Austin, Texas on October 12, 1945.

He died on June 11, 2015 at the age of 69.

Dusty Rhodes was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 as an individual, in the WCW Hall of Fame in 1995, in the NJPW Hall of Fame in 1990 as part of the NJPW Greatest 18 Club wing, in the NWA Hall of Fame in 2011 and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2010 as part of the Modern Era wing.

Dusty Rhodes Profile Index

Profile Info

Gender Male
Real Name Virgil Riley Runnels Jr.
Ring Names
- Dusty Rhodes ( May 28, 1968 - June 12, 2015)
- The Midnight Rider ( January 2, 1983 - September 24, 1984)
- Uvalde Slim ( September 29, 1976 - March 10, 1981)
- Dusty Runnels ( October 16, 1967 - May 12, 1968)
Born October 12, 1945
Died June 11, 2015 (aged 69)
Nationality United States
Birth Place Austin, Texas
Billed From
- Austin, Texas
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight
- 289 lbs (131 kg)
Nicknames The American Dream; The Son of a Plumber; The Common Man

Career History

Roles
- Coach ( May 17, 2012 - June 12, 2015)
- Producer ( January 2, 1985 - June 12, 2015)
- Commissioner ( May 17, 2012 - September 12, 2013)
- Part Time Wrestler ( January 30, 1991 - July 22, 2007)
- Wrestler ( October 16, 1967 - January 29, 1991)

Promotions History

Promotion	from	to
Promotion WWE	September 1, 2005	June 12, 2015
Promotion WWEBrand NXT	May 17, 2012	September 12, 2013
Promotion NWA TNA	January 15, 2003	May 1, 2005
Promotion HUSTLE	January 4, 2004	May 8, 2004
Promotion ECW	January 28, 2000	January 13, 2001
Promotion WCW	January 30, 1991	January 1, 2000
Promotion WWF	May 29, 1989	January 19, 1991
Promotion WCW	November 21, 1988	January 17, 1989
Promotion NWA	January 28, 1968	January 17, 1989
Promotion JCP	January 12, 1984	November 20, 1988
Promotion UWF	June 20, 1987	December 26, 1987
Promotion CWF	March 12, 1987	September 22, 1987
Promotion CSW	November 29, 1985	December 7, 1986
Promotion UWF	March 24, 1986	July 27, 1986
Promotion AWA	June 10, 1984	April 28, 1986
Promotion SLWC	November 29, 1985	January 1, 1986
Promotion CWF	August 6, 1973	November 27, 1985
Promotion MSW	October 9, 1977	July 28, 1985
Promotion GAC	December 26, 1982	November 25, 1983
Promotion GCW	May 17, 1974	November 6, 1983
Promotion JCP	April 30, 1981	February 5, 1983
Promotion CSW, SLWC	April 30, 1982	October 8, 1982
Promotion NJPWBrand Heavyweight	October 26, 1979	April 1, 1982
Promotion SWCW	November 13, 1981	February 26, 1982
Promotion CSW	August 20, 1981	April 29, 1982
Promotion SLWC	May 15, 1981	April 29, 1982
Promotion GAC	June 30, 1978	January 11, 1980
Promotion JCP	May 20, 1979	September 1, 1979
Promotion JCP	February 20, 1975	November 27, 1977
Promotion CWA	April 24, 1977	June 19, 1977
Promotion GAC	November 26, 1976	April 29, 1977
Promotion AJPWBrand Heavyweight	November 14, 1975	December 11, 1975
Promotion AWA	January 8, 1972	September 20, 1975
Promotion IWE	June 18, 1973	July 15, 1973
Promotion BTW DALLAS	December 15, 1970	April 14, 1971
Promotion CWF	September 10, 1970	April 14, 1971
Promotion WSS	September 16, 1969	February 22, 1970
Promotion BTW DALLAS, GAC	May 28, 1968	December 27, 1969
Promotion CSW, SLWC	October 3, 1968	February 28, 1969

Images History

Jan 2003
Aug 1992
May 1989
Jan 1968

Face / Heel Turns

Alignment	from	to
Face	January 2, 2000	June 12, 2015
Heel	January 24, 1998	January 1, 2000
Face	May 14, 1974	January 23, 1998
Heel	October 16, 1967	May 13, 1974

Finishers
- Bionic Elbow - Elbow Drop to the head of a standing oppponent ( January 8, 1972 - July 22, 2007)
Theme Songs
- Theme Song "Common Man Boogie" by Jimmy Hart & J.J. Maguire - Single ( September 1, 2005 - June 12, 2015)
- Theme Song "Leather" by Dale Oliver - Single ( January 15, 2003 - May 1, 2005)
- Theme Song "This is Why (I Sing the Blues)" by Reckless Fortune - Single ( January 28, 2000 - January 13, 2001)
- Theme Song "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" by Bob Seger - Single ( January 30, 1991 - January 1, 2000)
- Theme Song "Rockhouse" by Jimmy Hart e H.Helm - with nWo - Team ( January 24, 1998 - November 30, 1998)
- Theme Song "Common Man Boogie" by Jimmy Hart & J.J. Maguire - Single ( May 29, 1989 - January 19, 1991)
- Theme Song "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" by Bob Seger - Single ( January 2, 1985 - January 17, 1989)
- Theme Song "Midnight Rider" by Willie Nelson - Single ( September 10, 1970 - September 22, 1987)

Titles & Accomplishments

Halls of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2007, Individual
- WCW Hall of Fame - Year 1995, Individual
- NJPW Hall of Fame - Year 1990, NJPW Greatest 18 Club
- NWA Hall of Fame - Year 2011, Individual
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2010, Modern Era
National Wrestling Alliance & Jim Crockett Promotions
- 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
- 3 NWA/NWA World Television Championship
- 1 NWA National Heavyweight Championship
- 2 NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 with Manny Fernandez, 1 with Dick Slater)
National Wrestling Alliance, Jim Crockett Promotions & NWA Mid-America
- 3 NWA World Heavyweight Championship
National Wrestling Alliance
- 1 NWA Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament (1987) (with Nikita Koloff)
50th State Big Time Wrestling
- NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Hawaii version)
Big Time Wrestling
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit Version) (with Dick Murdoch)
Central States Wrestling
- 1 NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship
- 1 NWA North American Tag Team Championship (Central States version) (with Dick Murdoch)
Championship Wrestling from Florida
- 10 NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship
- 2 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version)
- 1 NWA Florida Bahamian Championship
- 1 NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship (with Magnum T.A.)
- 4 NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 with Dick Murdoch, 1 with Dick Slater, 1 with Bobo Brazil, 1 with André the Giant)
- 7 NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship (Florida version)
- 2 NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 with Bugsy McGraw, 1 with Blackjack Mulligan)
Georgia Championship Wrestling
- 1 NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
International Wrestling Alliance (Australia)
- 1 IWA World Tag Team Championship (with Dick Murdoch)
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling / Jim Crockett Promotions
- 1 NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (with Buff Bagwell)
- 2 NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (with The Road Warriors)
NWA Big Time Wrestling
- 2 NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 with Baron Von Raschke, 1 with Dick Murdoch)
- 2 NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version)
NWA Detroit
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit Version) (with Dick Murdoch)
NWA San Francisco
- 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version)
NWA Tri-State
- 1 NWA North American Heavyweight Championship (Tri-State version)
- 1 NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Tri-State version) (with André the Giant)
National Wrestling Federation
- 1 NWF World Tag Team Championship (with Dick Murdoch)
Pro Wrestling Federation (Florida)
- 1 PWF Heavyweight Championship
World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- 1 IWA World Tag Team Championship (with Dick Murdoch)
Other Accomplishments
- WWE Bronze Statue (2016)
- NWA Legends Hall of Heroes induction (class of 2016)
- JCP Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament Winner (1987 - with Nikita Koloff)
- JCP Bunkhouse Stampede Winner (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988)
- NWA Georgia Cadillac Cup Winner (1984)
- NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship Tournament Winner (1978)
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship Tournament Winner (1980 – with Bugsy McGraw)
- George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame induction (class of 2017)
- WWE Slammy Award - "Say What?!" Quote of the Year (2013 - "One stipulation: I'm in my boys' corner and I'll be your huckleberry all night long")
- PWI Wrestler of the Year (1977, 1978)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1978, 1979, 1987)
- PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1987)
- PWI Feud of the Year (1987 - with Nikita Koloff & Road Warriors vs. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, & Lex Luger)
- PWI Match of the Year (1979 - vs. Harley Race 21/08)
- PWI Match of the Year (1986 - vs. Ric Flair, Cage match at NWA The Great American Bash)
- PWI Stanley Weston Award Winner (2013)
- 11° in PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
- WON Best Babyface (1980)
- WON Most Charismatic (1982 - tied with Ric Flair)
- WON Best Booker (1986)
- WON Biggest Shock of the Year (1989 - for joining WWF)