Dustin Rhodes SHOOTS On His Personal Issues After Black Reign In TNA!

Dustin Rhodes talked exclusively to Inside The Ropes at a live show in 2019 about his personal issues after portraying Black Reign in TNA Wrestling. Subscribe to the channel for more clips of our live shows and interviews, and don't forget to like and comment too!
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#dustinrhodes #wwe #tna

[@InsideTheRopes]

Is Dustin Rhodes one of wrestling’s most underrated performers? Let us know in the comments below!

[@joshellison85]

Yes, he is.

[@davidedemurodominijanni9889]

Oh damn... of course he is! I dunno why there can be somebody who didn't like Goldust. The character was absolutely perfect... it was entertaining, the promos were always on spot and as much awkward as you could expect from a character like that and still get caught off guard and at the end of the day were even smart either. Besides.... not only the gimmick with the promos and the video editing, which was sorta AAA Hollywood quality, but inside the ropes either and that's where he was underrated most... man... his was and absolutely fire, for me the "fastest looking" I've ever seen and he still does them just like that. Listen... There are 5 moves I consider the Top 5: _RKO,_ Baron's _End Of Days_ and _Deep Six,_ and Dustin's _Powerslam,_ with Steve's _Stunner_ as 5th. Period. What he did in AEW so far demonstrated the level of this man. What he's been trough was unfair, he had tears in his eyes telling about those day, trying to. I know what it means being burnout and I feel like in my darkest place now but I've never fallen into drugs or alcohol so I don't even try to imagine how worse than me he could possibly feel back in those days and Consider inspiring what he did accomplish getting out of such a devastating tunnel. Massive respect from me to Dustin, for the whole Rhodes legendary trio. I'm 50, started watching at age of 8 back in 1982, sitting with my grandma watching together with her laughing her socks off from start to end, and I've seen it all since back then so it cannot be any other way. Watching Cody managing to draw the lines between him and what both Dustin but also Dusty have gone through and now doing his own thing today just brings me great joy... and yet I only wish things went differently for the most magically cosmic of all Tag-Team in history: Goldust and Stardust should have got a push straight to the moon in my opinion. All they needed were victories and having WWE backing them up to make them look as credible as they were and right inside the ropes was the place all the glittering promos left space to the rollercoaster of reactions and the jumps off the seat. I dunno what other Pro Wrestling Entertainment fans think about'em and at the end of the day who cares... I'm not the guy who easily gets enthusiast with everything WWE and others wrestlers do and as a matter of fact I'm supercritical and even loud with things I find wrong or uninteresting, but when talents shine and things are so well crafted I point the spotlight on them. Hence I can say Goldust and Startdust were electrifying to me... and both Dustin and Cody still are. So again... _underrated!???_ That's an understatement!

[@joshellison85]

@@davidedemurodominijanni9889 Awesome, way to give him some props 👏

[@roxydog2004]

His gimmick sucked as Golddust , he could have done better with out it ,guess he was tying to hang on to the family name some how just like American nightmare ,hell Rick Flair wanted to be Ricky Rhodes and he wasn't even blood, but he took a different path unlike Golddust who at 54 now will never find his place in the ring

[@astroknight2828]

Dustin is a missed opportunity for sure.Mastered his craft in a way where he even surpassed alot of his elders at a time.He's fun and energetic in the ring to a point where he could have been a World Champ at least once.I'm speaking about his performances.I see that he teaches his students well.

[@N3gativeR3FLUX]

That was rough. Could tell he was struggling. Major props for having the courage to just lay it out like that. Walking Legend.

[@mjk06]

Easily one of the most underated guys ever. So smooth in the ring even as he got older, he never missed a beat. Always loved his work as Goldust. Always felt he deserved a run as World Champion somewhere.

[@Stormyano]

I get you but Dustin's career and legacy will be faaaaaar greater than a lot of world title holders.

[@stephenlydon7071]

As a recovering drug addict. Thank you Dustin for telling us ur story and speaking on it. I've been a gold dust fan back in the day

[@joelmaqueira4851]

Say strong.

[@albany-saratogacomicmoviea4108]

By far the oldest under rated wrestler. He should if won the strap in 96 I strongly believe. Before goldust his wcw matches were amazing. Also very looked over.

[@pinkribbonskies5731]

In 96? Please explain. 🙏

[@nationofmasturbation4052]

This is why the fans should not be bookers

[@JJChannelName]

@@pinkribbonskies5731you’ve got the whole worlds knowledge at the tip of your fingers LOOK IT UP

[@vampirascoffin870]

as over and new he was but cmon goldust over hbk??? in 1996???? maybe he could have had a main event but not champ

[@soulofanerd9364]

I don't know about WWE especially as Goldust but to me he should have been a WCW world champ had he stayed there in 95/96

[@ryderstrong3899]

Sad to hear how bad his life was at that point but I still loved the Black Reign character on TNA.

[@mikem10481]

Like the OSW guys tried to point across, some fans wanted to see the dark side of Goldust, a more sinister, psychotic side to the character. But it's understandable why Dustin hates it.

[@vampirascoffin870]

​@coldsnap5742loll facts

[@Bale4Bond]

That's back when they weren't AEW personal rim-job artists.

[@mikem10481]

@coldsnap5742 I know. He blocked the OSW guys as well.

[@standardofexcellence]

Muaw muaw muaw muaw muaw

[@fried_tacos1587]

​@coldsnap5742tbf to him, I'd also not want to relive a really dark part of my life. Ultimately you gotta just respect his wishes, he clearly does not like that part of his career and doesn't want it to be brought up. Can't blame him coming from someone who also has dealt with their fair share of substance abuse, those are dark days you don't want to remember

[@soulofanerd9364]

It's fascinating hearing him say this about Black Reign...I was a grown ass man in my 30s at the time he did that character and as someone who had seen him since 1989 in the early WCW all the way to that point I can honestly say that character disturbed me psychologically and spiritually. I guess in some way I was sensing how real his darkness was.... I remember really wondering why he would do such a character after Goldust who I didn't care for either (the original Goldust that is). Didn't realize at the time Russo was involved behind the scenes either which now makes sense.

[@adamsifford6228]

Dustin Rhodes or what ever you want to call him , he is a fucking Legend . He's been in this game along time. I was watching him wrestle inw WCW and 43 odd years he's still there.

[@lindsayschultz3816]

Easily underrated!!! Amazing wrestler, perforner, creative - the list goes on... so talented. No matter what or with who - Dustin worked hard and gave 10000000%

[@MrPerfect2000Z]

The idea behind Black Reign is really strong. Just wish that he could have done it at a better time in his life

[@ericdravenX00X]

Out of all the different guys that Inside the Ropes interviews. Dustin is my Favorite too listen too. Keep em coming if you have em..

[@antivenom56]

HE is right in any company not just WWE but in TNA, AEW, Ring Of Honor..

[@kayare7]

This was definitely from 2019... When AEW was still a quickly forming concept... I think he is spot on for the point in time he is talking about, but the landscape has changed quite alot nowadays. I am not sure if it's just AEW\ROH, but even TNA has been on a bit of a rise, the NWA was doing well to grow until October's snafu... It feels like people are not afraid to lose their spot in WWE. It's awesome to see as a fan.

[@wildwine6400]

MYAH MYAH MYAH!

[@michaelpilgrim8131]

Bobcat Goldthwait

[@Spekor]

you watch this man on AEW today and he's just taken all those characters he's been and he's taken parts from every single one and combined them with his core self. it's beautiful and here's to the hope he gets the champ run he deserves

[@johnytwotimes4072]

I liked him since he was The Natural but he got an almost impossible gimmick way over as Goldust

[@DonaldMeyers-v8c]

Give him a title run in AEW. Call it a life long achievement or whatever but dude can go. And he has a ton of equity with the fans. They would support him no doubt

[@lindsayschultz3816]

I agree

[@AnArchyRulzz]

Yuck, participation championships are the worst... Someone can be appreciated as a talent without being world champion

[@MrAresxy07]

He is too old now

[@mikemiken1963]

​@AnArchyRulzz I don't think you know what a participation award is. It's the opposite, it's for all the shit he did accomplish.

[@DonaldMeyers-v8c]

@@AnArchyRulzz its definitely not a participation award.......lifetime achievement is much much much different

[@garetheverett3895]

He has very good point there, hang in it will come. Mark Henry is the ultimate example of that, guy ended up with the strap and one of the very best swerves after years of trash and is now HOF

[@richie9308]

That hall of pain was great until they had him lose the belt to big show.

[@alexaweisbarth3950]

He should have had a world title run, he was more than capable and was way over with the crowd. Loved Goldust. If anyone else were to do that character, it would have failed

[@joeholtster1891]

Wish they made a Black Reign figure

[@donnythedreamer1508]

Glad he was able to turn things around but I actually dug the black reign character

[@lukethomas6900]

You could just tell that he was going through a rough time during his TNA run as Black Reign. Glad he's overcome his demons and is doing much better for himself today.

[@Kappadon1226]

Bro his matches are some of the best ever he is hardcore man. Tough mofo salute

[@matthewdaub]

The fact that he is able to regret his black reign character is great. He couldn't have never gotten sober and ended up as just another tale of wrestlers who lost it all and never recovered. Its better to live to regret something, than to never stop and it consume you.

[@Tim_Dunkin]

I feel what he's saying about RAW. H/e he said it himself, him as a 15yr vet at the time was frustrated w/ the creative, his position & his treatment in WWE & he handled it about as poorly as a person could. So imagine how the younger talent feels, who are just lucky to get plucked out of NXT & not have to change everything they did when they get to the main roster only to get squadhed or some 💩. Or imagine a vet that was in his position. Yeah you gotta speak up but it's a luck, time & place aspect to it or you'll just be off tv or punished on tv. Golddust felt like that & it was way more creative freedom back then & room to speak up. Get on the ppl who write the show ITS THEIR DAMN JOB. Triple H is changing things but Vinces system & ppl are still in place so it'll take time

[@SledgeTanner45]

Goldust is one of the most over characters ever. Lasted decades. Nobody else could have ever pulled that off. He should be proud

[@ripemall4548]

Any tips on what kinda chairs these big guys use? I break every chair I sit in, so these big wrestlers must have an in on strong chairs! 💪😁🤘

[@willglenn-bl9gm]

That black reign literally gave me nightmares when i was a lad, i also didnt believe it was dustin for the longest time cause of how chunky he was then, glad to see he cleaned uo and is doing well now

[@Jarekx2007]

Vince gone, Trips in charge, talent able to be outside of the box, the product is at its best in a decade, Cody staying the path and ending up with a championship... Dustin was right about so many things.

[@NicolasBowling]

6:05 reign talk

[@georgemunro9640]

So that's why he hates talking about Black Reign because Black Reign is almost a representation and personification of a very dark time in his life with drug use so Black Reign personifies that glad he's clean and sober it's fucking hard

[@themartamationgartlowe4870]

He did doing some pretty hardcore shit in TNA that I never seen Dustin like that before. But now I learning what was the gimmick.

[@garyyoung3367]

Considering this was 4 yeas ago, I would love to see his updated opinions.

[@mairey19]

OS’DUB!

[@chasesutley7277]

The Golddust character was one of the first good characters to spark the attitude era. Mankind followed soon after.

[@ducklife420]

glad dude is sober

[@rickm6949]

Where can you watch these whole interviews

[@robaxl3088]

Those bags under his eyes tell it all

[@Footy_Fan]

I have always been a fan of this man. They could put him in a freaking Barney the Dinosaur costume, and I would still watch him. He absolutely IS and WAS grotesquely underrated, underappreciated, and underutilized. After seeing these interviews, he has moved up into my all-time favorites.

[@JBZ13]

If he was in TNA with how is in now on AEW, would've been a solid world champion for them. Dustin being himself on the mic as a heel champion would've been killer.

[@ScreamqueenarmyBlogspot666]

Dustin SHOULD'VE been World Heavyweight Champion

[@Sparkledash1]

OH ME MYAH

[@presntnow]

Awesome Dustin Rhodes!

[@Harbardsen]

Im a bit late on this... but I always had this booking idea that I wish WWE did, or even close to it... but Goldust would win the world title, almost entirely due to help from Booker T, and become infatuated with it, almost falling in love with the gold in the belt, as if it were a living thing... this would ignite a drive in Goldust that caused him to wrestle harder, fight dirtier, and ultimately... revert back to something close to the 90's Goldust heel, turning on Booker and leading to them having a big PPV match. WWE truly missed the mark with the later Goldust character, who legit has always been one of my favorite characters.

[@lassi1203]

I love dustin so much hes my hero

[@Jacktrack7]

Watch out dude, he's going to block you on Xitter.

[@peterjohn2473]

My opinion he is one of the top three wrestlers and entertainers of all time and the other two are two and three .

[@michaelkeller5927]

Myah myah myah myah!

[@texaschainsawmass]

Goldust is genius gimmick and ahead of its time once in a lifetime but if it is done today maybe it’s not effective as it was back then I have so much respect for Dustin and what he contribute to the business I wished he become world champion back then

[@wispa1a]

I actually love the goldust character.

[@yespleasevicar]

MYAH MYAH MYahhhhhh

[@TheHannibalTV]

👍

[@themartamationgartlowe4870]

He deserve a push. He would.

[@HITMANPegas]

@2:17 He's right Tyler Breeze & Fandango grabbed the gold ring and they got themselves over and went to the top right? They should not be afraid of getting fired.

[@Kaynos]

Winning championship is not as important as leaving a legacy. When I think of 90's and early 00's WWE, Goldust is right there. I don't care he didn't win the championship.

[@TomBradyisGOAT.]

So true, but to them it’s important

[@kristopherknapp1707]

Fact goldist actually does his own makeup

[@BATM_Media]

I did not appreciate gold dust. When I was a kid good comma but going back now I appreciate it a lot more and also I appreciate dustin in general, a lot more and the longevity he's had in the wrestling business as well.

[@TonyThompson1981]

The old big gold heavyweight championship belt would have looked so damn good around Golddust's waste.

[@richie9308]

It's true though. If you think outside of the box, you will get ruined by wwe in the end. Look at Zack Ryder, the guy got himself over with his youtube channel but rather than just run with it, wwe completely buried him and as a result, he never reached that height again when he was with wwe. But with Triple H in charge, I hope he can encourage the wrestlers to think outside the box because so far, he has done a good job.

[@Wolfgangster182]

Wish it could happen but idk probably not..but it would be awesome if after the Continental Classic, Dustin holds the AEW/ROH/NJPW Triple Crown at one point, to prove he's still got it and add more of the Rhodes Legacy to those titles 🤔🤷🏽‍♂️😏😁🤷🏽‍♂️

[@thegunslinger8806]

Black reign, Goldust, The natural, it didn't matter Dusting Rhodes was and always will be one of the best personalities and the absolute best wrestler, I mean the guy was the complete package! Size, speed, agility and personality and the goldust gimmick is still far too overlooked for what it actually ended up doing, no Razor vs Goldust no attitude era.

[@adamweger40]

Just so everyone knows this was from 2019

[@timevans4942]

Dustin is great

[@SuperFriday]

Seven and Black Reign could've been used by someone else. He had some really cool characters that he just threw away

[@starvinforGarvin]

They don't think it's impossible to tell a story in 3 minutes. They think it's impossible to do all of their moves in 3 minutes. They don't give a crap about the story.

[@PYahWeh]

Should’ve asked him how he felt being Brian Pillman’s last feud?

[@christianvoorhees69]

Still my favorite Rhodes. I'm living kayfabe but i enjoy the fuck outta any shoot interview with Dustin

[@Son-of-Anarchy]

I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks Dustin is a way in ring worker and more charismatic worker than Cody. But somehow always over looked and very underrated. If I was Tony I’d have out TNT title on him and later the work Title, of course as a heel because honestly he’s been performing for decades and hasn’t missed a beat and he has added Canadian Destroyer to his moves lately. He looks in a great shape. Why not.

[@cklambo]

My god! Its Seven!

[@Paul-wu7xd]

"The Natural"

[@LBTheeGoat]

Messed up to say gold dust rn could be champion in 2023 the character would fit in this generation

[@shawn55648]

I know deep down in my cockles that he was underappreciated.

[@SylentEcho]

Why does Dustin have such an emo af vibe?

[@knightshousegames]

I think Dustin's point about the younger kids in WWE being afraid in 2019 to step outside of the box makes sense in retrospect, since in 2019, there was no viable competition, so being fired was something they actually had to be afraid of. You either did exactly what the writers said, or you didn't make money in the wrestling business. Ironically, AEW helped WWE get better in this regard, since taking risks on your character is less of a "Risk" than it used to be. Getting fired from WWE for doing something that gets you over just guarantees you a paycheck in AEW, so the risk is worth it.

[@TheOldMPClub]

Way too many people on both the WWE and AEW rosters are still generic as hell. Shawn Michaels cares far more about character work than Triple H or Tony Khan do.

[@knightshousegames]

@@TheOldMPClub Well, I think part of that is just the evolution of the modern wrestling fan. Big, over the top characters just don't get over like they used to. They still happen, guys like Orange Cassidy, MJF, and LA Knight exist and are over, but a lot of the character work is more subtle and grounded in reality now. You have guys like Cody Rhodes and Eddie Kingston, who do great character work, it's just less ranting and raving like Macho Man, and more of a subtle, reality based presentation that might make sense in a sports interview or press conference, where it tries to blur the lines more, and those guys get a bigger reaction.

[@joeriveracomedy]

Goldust was a world title level gimmick if the bosses got behind it. Kane, Taker & Bray are the only gimmicks who got the title I can think of.

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

This is where wrestling misses the territories. Back in the old days, the talent had time to work on their characters and develop the so that when they got to the big time they knew what worked and what didn’t

[@nikobellic8627]

I agree. Brock is great

[@mrnugaplaying]

BRING BACK BLACK REIGN AT AEW

[@davidjonmoxleyskipp230]

black reign bring it back plsss

[@ymd2516]

If everyone says someone is underrated, are they actually underrated?

[@alg7752]

Let’s see what the man says after he eventually finishes his time at AEW…

[@kevinsims2876]

🗣🎶🎶 Meow Meow Meow

[@TheRiderInBlack85]

If you pay attention, he’s giving advice based off with history! Steve Austin the best example of this!

[@royshirley7222]

Remember seven

[@Kshinelawyer]

Gold dust is a legend. F who has the fake belts. Gold dust is a HOFer.

[@MilMaska]

"Vince Russo is the only booker that doesn't get people over. He gets them under" - Jim Cornette

[@ChrisP-in8qr]

Val Venis says hold my beer

[@poppycock31185]

I don't like to focus on or comment on the political side of wrestling too much because it takes away from the suspension of disbelief and everyone has an opinion on who should have done this and who shouldn't have done that but I will say that I believe that the companies willingness to focus all of their eggs on John Cena for a long period of time meant that so much potential elsewhere went down the drain.

[@robkramer4089]

A few years ago .I talk to Mr.Runnels on Facebook live. He was the rudest S.O.B. I've ever had a chase 2 talk 2. For no reason at all he call me out bye my name live on facebook live and delete me.

[@bb-gc2tx]

he was not happy with that black reign question

[@memeshort5515]

Golddust needs one last WWE run,

[@GillBoldberg]

The problem with today’s product is zero bigger than life stars and on the actual wrestling side no one knows how to sell or tell a story in the ring. It’s all about memorizing an acrobat routine to get a star rating.

[@JonKorpi-o9w]

Dustin issue was the sins of the father fall to the son it sucks but I believe this is what happened with Dustin they tried with Cody but he was like not me not my family again

[@johnnymedrano7081]

Goth Goldust. Or BlackDust.

[@thatboybear]

I’d say Cena and Reigns proved that they CAN do it for you. And it’s kinda hard to tell somebody they shouldn’t be afraid of losing their job when it’s been real clear that they can definitely lose their job. How many times has going against Vince worked? And who’s gonna pay your bills when it doesn’t? I’m not saying he’s wrong; not at all. I’m just saying it’s been proven to not be quite as easy as he’s presenting it.

[@standardofexcellence]

Talk about 7

[@Spicey1990]

Dustin at least needed a transitional title reign...

[@TomBradyisGOAT.]

True. I always thought Goldust was transgender.

[@Spicey1990]

@@TomBradyisGOAT. lol. Nice

[@boocackeedquackhead8454]

Austin comparison not even close.

[@keithrock1569]

Nepotism baby

[@ADAM_COLLECTS]

as tall as the rock, could work like the best, second generation….. but could not get past the mid card