Well, today turned out to be a sucky day. Not only have we lost both Ron Moody and Christopher Lee, Paul “Triple H” Levesque announced on Twitter the passing of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes at the age of 69.
One of the most charismatic entertainers of all-time in the industry, Dusty Rhodes (real name Virgil Runnels) dominated the sport of professional wrestling during the 70s and 80s with classic fueds against the likes of Ric Flair. He was a 3-time NWA Champion and a WWE Hall of Famer.
“Runnels became a hero to fans around the world thanks to his work ethic, his impassioned interviews and his indomitable spirit,” the WWE.com website writes. “Moreover, Runnels was a dedicated father to WWE Superstars Goldust (Dustin Runnels) and Stardust (Cody Runnels), a caring husband and a creative visionary who helped shape the landscape of WWE long after his in-ring career had ended.”
Rhodes had been working down at the NXT Performance Center, helping the next generation of WWE superstars improve their in-ring and promo skills.
Saddened to hear the passing of Dusty Rhodes. Legend, teacher, mentor, friend…Love you Dream #BookinAintEasyKid pic.twitter.com/ZxlGSgKB8J
— Triple H (@TripleH) June 11, 2015
We here at Flickering Myth would like to pass on our condolences to the Runnels family. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Originally published June 11, 2015. Updated April 13, 2018.
