Geekscape Remembers “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes

There are two ways to feel about the passing of Dusty “The American Dream” Rhodes. One way to feel about it is, well, sad. Grieving the loss of one of the greatest men to ever enter the squared circle. The other feeling is confused; “Who is Dusty Rhodes?” Until three years ago, I’d have been that second feeling.

As a child I was a WWE kid. I was a Hulkamaniac, I loved Bret Hart, I had my Ultimate Warrior and Rowdy Piper toys. Then one day I just stopped liking wrestling. I genuinely don’t remember what made me walk away, but I did.

I missed the entire Attitude era. My friends were wrestling fans so I was aware of the characters through No Mercy on the Nintendo 64 and Saturday morning wrestling on a trampoline. It was Dusty Rhodes that got me back into wrestling… or more so, an impression of Dusty Rhodes.

Being from Philly I’ve been a fan of Kidd Chris from the second he hit the Philadelphia airwaves. Over the years he bounced from city to city and I’ve followed him every step of the way. It was in his newest (and current home) WEBN that his new co-host Meat began impersonating Dusty Rhodes. If you haven’t heard the impression, it’s hilarious, spot-on, but also an impression that can only exist from a passionate fan playing an homage (never has it seemed to be a mockery of The American Dream).

I loved the impression so much that I began to research Dusty and watching his promos and his matches. I realized the appeal almost immediately. Hulkamania ran wild for the little Hulkamaniacs, Ric Flair would style and profile his high class lifestyle but Dusty was the every-man. The Son of Plumber.

That’s what made Dusty the jive-talker with a lisp a hero to countless wrestling fans. He existed beyond his gimmicks. It didn’t matter if he was wearing polka-dots or dancing around the ring, when he opened his mouth you listened. Every word was important, uplifting and powerful. I’m sure every posting about Dusty Rhodes has ended with this Hard Times promo, but there’s a reason for it. It is the best promo in wrestling history, bar none.

Hard Times is the type of speech every writer dreams of writing and every speaker dreams of speaking. In the promo Dusty begins thanking people showing his humbleness and genuine love of his fans. Immediately he begins cutting into Ric Flair and begins speaking to people’s fears and struggles. The message is clear. Ric Flair doesn’t understand your struggles… but Dusty does. He understands that sometimes you’ll get a watch, a kick in the butt, and your job given to a computer.

Dusty didn’t have the body of a wrestler, he wasn’t an attractive man. He had a bad lisp and was frequently forced to wear outrageous outfits. But he could talk. No one has and no one ever will speak with more authority, passion and sincerity like The American Dream Dusty Rhodes. He will be missed.