411’s WWE’s Greatest Moments Report: Dusty Rhodes

-Written: 6.28.26
-Source: A&E
-Run Time: 30 Minutes (w/ commercials)

-Plug: NXT Takeover Rival

-Time to get Funky like a Monkey!

-Michael Cole is our host and narrator!

10. Feel The Dream
-Jan. 1, 1977

-A Dusty promo about winning a title in Georgia for all his fans. Dusty says he learned that he could talk more people into the building than getting them there by what he was doing in the ring. Hulk Hogan and Cody put over Dusty’s ability to talk people into the building.

9. Bash in The Cage
-Great American Bash 85: July 6, 1985

-This is Tully vs. Dusty in a Lights Out Cage Match. Dusty says he drew the most money against Tully and calls him the ultimate heel. Tully says he loved beating Dusty up and says it was great to work with him. Taker talks about how Dusty could get dirty. Dusty gets the win and is TV Champion. Weird it was lights out and not sanctioned, but the title changed hands.

8. The Common Man
-Spring 1989

-Vignettes of Dusty being a Common Man whether deliver pizza, being a plumber, working as a butcher, or a garbageman. Dusty says he loved the scripts and really enjoyed doing them. Hogan says Dusty spoke from a working man’s perspective. Miz says Dusty could take anything and make a go with it. Truth!

-Commercials!

7. Bringing The Funk
-Nov. 8, 1977

-Dusty cutting a promo in the WWF with Vince next to him in a yellow suit. Steph calls Dusty the best promo off all time. Dusty talks about bringing electrified funk and Jimmy Hart is here to explain that to us squares. Dustin says his father had charisma that was unmatched. This is the “so sweet,” promo. You know the one. He also throws in the “kings and queens” line. Dusty notes that with charisma you either have it or you don’t.

6. The Dream’s Story
-Sept. 26, 1977

-You may have heard of this one. It’s Dusty challenging Billy Graham at MSG for the WWWF Championship. Dusty wins by count-out and he starts celebrating with the WWWF Championship. Of course you can’t win a Title by count-out. Wonder if he has a son to finish the story for him?

-Commercials!

5. American Champion
-Starrcade 87

-It’s Lex vs. Dusty inside a cage for the US Championship. Lex says that working against Dusty helped establish him as a heel. JJ throws a chair into the cage, but Dusty plants Luger on it with a DDT and becomes US Champion. KO says it’s kind of important to have The American Dream win the US Title.

4. Dreams Come True
-Aug. 21, 1979

-This took place in Tampa at the armory that Hogan used to go watch wrestling as a fan. Dusty beats Terry Funk to become NWA World Champion. I loved the old footage they are breaking out for this episode. Dusty says it was a great moment because he was Word Champion in that moment.

3. Planting The Future
-May 17, 2012

-Dusty shows up on NXT and speaks to the fans. He lets them know this is their house. He was the on screen commissioner, but was also the heart and soul of NXT behind the camera. You can tell how much he means to HHH and people like Graves, Rollins, KO, and Bayley (they all spoke here, but you know there are so many more).

-Commercials!

2. Hard Times
-Oct. 29, 1985

-I mean, it’s one of the most famous and most quoted promos of all time. Dusty says he lived hard times and went through it. He says one work led to another and it built and built. Just amazing stuff! Cody says the delivery of it is what makes it a masterpiece. Bruce says Dusty was able to bring it home in one promo and had the fans believing in him because he knew what they were going through at home.

1. On Top of The World
-Great American Bash 86

-It’s Flair vs. Dusty in a cage! Flair says he was the ultimate bad guy and Dusty was the ultimate blue collar guy. Two crazy personalities even if the match weren’t classics, the fans got what they wanted. Dusty chased and chased and finally got the win and World Title that night with a small package. It was Dusty’s 3rd and final reign as World Champion.

-This was fun as it’s Dusty Rhodes and it’s impossible not to be entertained when Dusty Rhodes is talking. I loved the old footage and they nail the top two moments. Thanks for reading!