UPDATEDx4: Dusty Rhodes Passes Away

UPDATE 4: TMZ reports that Dusty Rhodes was focused on improving his health as recently as last week. Jerry Brisco told the site that he hung out with Rhodes in Orlando last Thursday and that Rhodes was talking about how he had been going to the doctor regularly. The late WWE/NWA legend told Brisco that he needed to bring his blood pressure down and that his weight loss was helping with that.

Brisco said that he and Rhodes were planning to go to event tonight night in Tampa, Florida in order to raise money for a wrestling “wall of fame.” Brisco is still attending so that he can get together with wrestlers and fans to share Dusty stories, even if it won’t be the same without him there.

UPDATE x3: The Wrestling Observer (via Wrestlezone) reports that WWE shut down filming of Tough Enough at the Performance Center in Orlando after it was announced that Dusty Rhodes passed away. Rhodes was heavily involved with WWE and NXT. Many of the NXT talents considered Rhodes a mentor and friend.

UPDATE x2: TMZ has an update on the death of Dusty Rhodes and what might have caused it. EMTs responded to Rhodes’ home in Orlando, Florida at 5:56 AM yesterday morning after getting a call that he suffered a fall. Rhodes was taken to a nearby hospital where he ultimately passed away. It’s believed he suffered “numerous complications” through the night. His immediate family rushed to the hospital when they found out what happened.

UPDATED: The wrestling world is currently in mourning. Here are posts from several people in WWE:

Saddened to hear the passing of Dusty Rhodes. Legend, teacher, mentor, friend…Love you Dream #BookinAintEasyKid pic.twitter.com/ZxlGSgKB8J

— Triple H (@TripleH) June 11, 2015

#RIPDustyRhodes We never got to shoot our angle together! Thank you for everything, I Love You. #HallofFamer #Legend pic.twitter.com/rN2YeVNv5b

— Stephanie McMahon (@StephMcMahon) June 11, 2015

Extremely saddened to hear of the passing of my friend Dusty Rhodes today. There will never,ever be another one like The Dream!! RIP…

— Howard Finkel (@howardfinkel) June 11, 2015

I am absolutely devastated to hear about the passing of my long time friend Dusty Rhodes. One of the best ever. GO pic.twitter.com/e0BolBDNZj

— Gene Okerlund (@TheGeneOkerlund) June 11, 2015

"I've wined and dined with kings and queens… And I've slept in alleys and ate pork and beans!" ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VKnSXU2Qpl

— Charlotte Flair (@MsCharlotteWWE) June 11, 2015

I was ever so fortunate to be a friend to this man, to learn from him as a performer and as a human being. #RIPDusty pic.twitter.com/GH0e1isGxw

— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) June 11, 2015

https://twitter.com/JoeyStyles/status/609056269610180610

So saddened by the passing of the #AmericanDream @WWEDustyRhodes – He was an amazing person with an amazing mind! He made #NXT so great!

— Buddy Matthews (@SNM_Buddy) June 11, 2015

https://twitter.com/wwemarcuslouis/status/609058198155329536

I'm speechless hearing about the passing of @WWEDustyRhodes he has been an amazing mentor to me, and was an unbelievable person to be around

— Corbin (@BaronCorbinWWE) June 11, 2015

@WWEDustyRhodes Im going to miss u so much. My mentor & my biggest advocate… Words can't express how I feel. Just Thank you.

— REAL1 (FKA Enzo Amore) (@real1) June 11, 2015

https://twitter.com/ScottDawsonWWE/status/609059988821159937

https://twitter.com/FightOwensFight/status/609061416335757312

https://twitter.com/SFulton_WWE/status/609058054647103488

Original: WWE.com has reported the tragic news that Dusty Rhodes (Virgil Runnels) has passed away at the age of 69.

Rhodes was one of the biggest names to come from NWA and is a three time champion of that promotion. He started wrestling in the 1970s and wrestled for a little over thirty years. He’s also the father to WWE stars Goldust (Dustin Runnels) and Stardust (Cody Runnels).

411 would like to give our condolences to his family, friends and fans.