On a recent edition of his “Grilling JR” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross discussed Dustin Rhodes joining WWE and evolving into Goldust.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Dustin Rhodes getting hired in WWE: “I’m not sure Dusty had a lot to do with that. Because I think that might have been during a period of time when the relationship between father and son was a little bit frosty. Bruce [Prichard] certainly — Bruce was aware of Dustin’s abilities. We need new characters, we needed new — as I’ve said here many times. Wrestling fans love new things, and they love surprises. So the Goldust personification of that pretty much fi. He was new, he was a surprise. Nobody’s seen anything quite like it since Gorgeous George. It’s funny that Gorgeous George made a phenomenal living based on — what’s the word… well, he was ambiguous. But the problem is that unfortunately for society… he really built a career on homophobia. Yeah. And I think that without saying it, we expected somewhat of a comparable reaction for Goldust.
On Dustin getting the Goldust character over: “I think Vince had kinda’ had the idea to make a character based on what Goldust ended up being. But once Vince got in Dustin’s head and was selling him on the concept, the talent themselves — as they should — took partial ownership through the development of that particular TV persona. So, I think the idea was there. It was pitched, Dustin contributed to it greatly. I mean, he owned that character as time went on. He was innovative, he added things, little nuances and subtleties. How he snapped his teeth, and things like that. But you know, he was unmistakable. You didn’t have to wonder who that was. He didn’t look like anybody else. And again, let’s not forget that he was a hell of a worker. And because he had the aforementioned aptitude, he figured out how to get that character over. And I thought he did a great job with it.”
On his parking lot brawl match with Roddy Piper at WrestleMania 12: “I didn’t think it was cheesy [the OJ footage being spliced in]. I thought it fit the moment. And look again, we’re talking about an androgynous wrestler, six foot six, blond wig, black lips, black ears, black eye makeup. This ain’t normal. I mean as unique in pro wrestling in general, the Goldust character makes it even that much more unique, special.”
On it being one of WWE’s first cinematic matches: “Yeah, absolutely. Pre-taped, edited. And I think as I recall, the editing was somewhat less than one would think. Those guys pulled it off. They knew what they wanted to do, had brainstormed. Had strategized. And now it’s time to execute. And when you have a guy like Roddy Piper, who’s got a spotlight on him at an event called WrestleMania, you know you’re gonna give some good s**t. Same thing for Dustin. WrestleMania, that’s all you have to say.”
Dustin Rhodes, the son of legendary wrestler Dusty Rhodes, made a significant impact on the wrestling industry when he joined WWE and transformed into the character known as Goldust. In a recent episode of his “Grilling JR” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross discussed the evolution of Dustin Rhodes into Goldust and the impact he had on the industry.
During the podcast, Ross mentioned that Dusty Rhodes may not have played a significant role in Dustin’s hiring by WWE. There was a period of time when their relationship was strained, and it was likely other individuals within the company who recognized Dustin’s abilities. Bruce Prichard, in particular, was aware of Dustin’s talent and the need for new characters in wrestling.
The Goldust character was a breath of fresh air for wrestling fans. Ross compared it to the impact made by Gorgeous George, a wrestler from the past who built his career on ambiguity and homophobia. While Goldust was not explicitly portrayed as homosexual, there were expectations of a comparable reaction from the audience.
Vince McMahon, the chairman of WWE, had the initial idea for the Goldust character. However, once he discussed it with Dustin Rhodes and sold him on the concept, Dustin took partial ownership of the character’s development. He added little nuances and subtleties to make Goldust unique and unmistakable. Additionally, Dustin’s in-ring skills played a crucial role in getting the character over with the audience.
One notable match in Goldust’s career was the parking lot brawl with Roddy Piper at WrestleMania 12. The match incorporated footage from O.J. Simpson’s infamous car chase, which some might consider cheesy. However, Ross believed it fit the moment perfectly. The uniqueness of the Goldust character made this match even more special and memorable.
The parking lot brawl between Goldust and Piper can be considered one of WWE’s first cinematic matches. It was pre-taped and edited, showcasing the creativity and planning that went into the match. Both Roddy Piper and Dustin Rhodes understood the significance of performing at WrestleMania and delivered an exceptional performance.
Dustin Rhodes’ transformation into Goldust was a pivotal moment in WWE history. The character brought a new level of creativity and uniqueness to professional wrestling. With his innovative approach and undeniable talent, Dustin successfully got the Goldust character over with the audience. His contributions to the industry will always be remembered, and his impact on the wrestling world continues to be felt to this day.