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

— Triple H (@TripleH) June 11, 2015

A professional wrestler living to the age of 69 isn’t unheard of, but it’s pretty damn rare. Then again, everything about Virgil Runnels, known to the world as Dusty Rhodes, was rare. He was famously known as the son of a plumber, but his legacy in the world of professional wrestling will always be as one of the all time greats. Dusty Rhodes entered professional wrestling in the late 60’s and early 70’s and has remained an important figure both in and out of the ring ever since. He resonated with the crowd as a popular baby face because we could identify with him. He wasn’t ‘stylin’ and profilin’ like Ric Flair. He was an average guy with a below average body who worked hard to get what he earned. Fans could relate to ‘The Dream’, and in a sense, we could see ourselves as him. Of course, it wasn’t that easy, and no one could ever be Dusty Rhodes. He had a natural charisma that to this day is pretty much unrivaled. Teaching a wrestling student about how to deliver a great promo? Watch his legendary ‘Hard Times’ promo. Or this promo from the 1988 Great American Bash. Or this one in response to Jim Cornette. Feel like selling 10,000 seats to a wrestling show? Put a microphone in front of Dusty Rhodes and watch the magic happen. He was one of a kind, and his coaching and mentoring down at NXT will be greatly missed. RIP to The American Dream, and condolences to Dustin, Cody and the rest of the Runnels family.

– Ryan