Former WWE star reflects on huge support from Dusty Rhodes

WWE Hall of Famer "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes helped mold many young professional wrestlers. Apparently, Dusty was a fan of this young star on the rise in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW).

During his time in OVW, Aron Stevens (formerly Damien Sandow) worked closely with the legendary wrestler before moving to WWE's main roster. Stevens retired from in-ring competition but has been signed to the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) since 2019, where he serves as an on-screen manager.

In an interview with Bryan Asbury on Developmentally Speaking, Aron Stevens admitted he is very grateful to have worked with Dusty Rhodes. He also revealed that every time he got into trouble for something or the other, the late legend was always there for him:

"But truly, Dusty [Rhodes], to be able to work with him. I'd always known Dusty, and Dusty had been a fan and supporter of mine, but, to get to know Dusty a little bit more on that level," Stevens recalled. "You know, he's another one. When the going got tough, every single time my a** was on the line, Dusty was there." [From 54:32 to 55:10]

Aron Stevens was released by WWE in 2016. Up until that point, he was a promising star in the company, working under the ring name Damien Sandow. He is a former Money in the Bank winner.

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Aron Stevens on working with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes

One of the better days of his run in WWE was when he got to work with Cody Rhodes. The two were a tag team first called Rhodes Scholars, but then Damien Sandow turned on The American Nightmare in order to secure the Money in the Bank win.

Looking back at their time together as a tag team on Insight with Chris Van Vliet earlier this year, Aron Stevens called them an "underrated tag team" despite not having won the titles together.

"Cody and I, we were I would say like in terms of the totality of wrestling, we were a very underrated tag team. If you look at what we did in the matches we've had with various people. And we tagged for a minute. And like, We travelled together and stuff, [did you win the titles?] I don't think we did. I think Miz and I did. But no, Cody."

Stevens also praised The American Nightmare for the latter's determination to stay in the game, motivated as ever. When asked if a WWE return is possible for him, though, the former Money in the Bank winner shut down the notion. But in the wrestling business, as he reminded, it is always never say never.

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If you use the first quote, please credit Developmentally Speaking and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.