Remembering Dusty Rhodes on his birthday.

Today, October 11th, the world of professional wrestling and the AFW community celebrates the birthday of a true legend, Virgil Riley Runnels Jr., better known around the globe as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Born in Austin, Texas, in 1945, Rhodes was the embodiment of the “common man”—a superstar whose incredible charisma and distinct, stammering delivery allowed him to connect deeply with fans from all walks of life. He wasn’t just a great wrestler; he was a cultural phenomenon and a multi-time World Champion.

During his storied career, Rhodes achieved monumental success, becoming a 3-time World Champion and earning inductions into five major Hall of Fames, including the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007. Beyond the ring, Dusty was a revolutionary creative booker, credited with inventing iconic match concepts like WarGames. Even in his later years, he dedicated himself to shaping the future of the industry.

Mentoring rising NXT stars such as Kevin Owens and Becky Lynch. His influence endures today, not only through his wrestling sons, Dustin and Cody Rhodes, but also through the annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, which honors his dedication to the next generation. Though he passed away in 2015, the memory and the dream of the "common man" live on.

Major Accomplishments and Championships:

3-time World Champion

WCW Hall of Fame (1995)

WWE Hall of Fame (2007)

NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit Version)

NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (San Francisco version)

PWI Wrestler of the Year (1977, 1978)

JCP Bunkhouse Stampede Winner (4-time winner)