‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes was certainly shocked to see his young son Dustin appear in the WWF as the bizarre Goldust character.
In a recent interview with Denise Salcedo, Rhodes recalled his time under the gold paint and his father’s reaction to the enigmatic persona. He said,
“When I went to WWE and became Goldust,” Dustin said, “that’s when I had a brand new pair of shoes that I fit in myself and made a name for myself being the son of Dusty Rhodes.
“It was very shocking to Dad because he didn’t know [about the gimmick]. Cody tells the story [that] he sees me on TV [and] didn’t know it’s me. But then he looks back at Dad and Dad’s got this look on his face like, ‘What is going on? That’s my son. What is he doing?’ I don’t know if he was embarrassed or what but that’s when we weren’t talking and I just had to do that, I guess. I wanted more.”
As Goldust, Rhodes became a three-time WWE Intercontinental Champion and had multiple tag-team and Hardcore Championship reigns.
Dustin Rhodes, better known by his ring name Goldust, made a significant impact in the world of professional wrestling with his enigmatic persona and unique character. The son of legendary wrestler Dusty Rhodes, Dustin shocked his father and the wrestling community when he debuted as Goldust in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in the mid-1990s.
In a recent interview with Denise Salcedo, Dustin Rhodes reminisced about his time as Goldust and his father’s reaction to his new character. He revealed that his transformation into Goldust allowed him to establish his own identity and make a name for himself, separate from being just the son of Dusty Rhodes.
Dustin described how his father was taken aback by the Goldust gimmick, as he had no prior knowledge of it. His brother Cody, who was also a professional wrestler, witnessed their father’s surprise when he saw Goldust on television for the first time. Dusty Rhodes had a perplexed expression on his face, seemingly questioning what his son was doing with this bizarre character. Dustin speculated that his father might have been embarrassed or simply didn’t understand the direction he was taking.
Despite the initial shock and confusion, Dustin Rhodes went on to achieve considerable success as Goldust. He became a three-time WWE Intercontinental Champion and had multiple reigns as a tag-team and Hardcore Champion. His unique character and in-ring abilities made him a fan favorite and a memorable figure in the wrestling industry.
The Goldust character was known for its flamboyant appearance, wearing gold face paint, a golden bodysuit, and often engaging in provocative behavior. The character pushed boundaries and challenged traditional wrestling norms, which made it both controversial and captivating for fans.
Dustin Rhodes’ decision to become Goldust was driven by his desire for more opportunities and to establish himself as an individual wrestler. He wanted to break free from the shadow of his famous father and create his own legacy in the wrestling world. Despite the strain it caused in his relationship with his father, Dustin felt it was a necessary step for his career.
In recent years, Dustin Rhodes has continued to make waves in the wrestling industry. He joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2019, where he has had memorable matches and showcased his skills as both a singles competitor and part of a tag team with his brother Cody.
The story of Dustin Rhodes becoming Goldust is a testament to the drive and determination of a wrestler who was willing to take risks and step out of his comfort zone to forge his own path. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, in order to achieve greatness, one must be willing to challenge expectations and embrace their true potential.