A WWE Hall of Famer recently spoke about Dusty Rhodes' most embarrassing gimmick. He believes that the American Dream managed to overcome it.
Teddy Long is the latest to comment on Dusty Rhodes. The American Dream was one of the most charismatic individuals to ever step inside the squared circle. He had the talent to address any crowd and get them on his side, making him one of the hottest babyfaces of his era.
Hence, when Vince McMahon was looking to sign a big star, he turned to Dusty to become the WWF Champion. However, the American Dream turned him down. When Rhodes eventually signed with WWF in 1989, he wore polka-dot gear, which became his signature during his WWF run. This led many to believe that Dusty was being punished by Vince for turning down the WWF Championship several years before. Even Cody Rhodes voiced his frustration over his father's gimmick many years later.
Speaking on Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Time Machine with Mac Davis, Teddy Long claimed that Dusty was able to overcome this polka dot gimmick and still get over with the fans.
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"Here's what you got to understand. Even though Vince [McMahon] put him in the polka dots, Dusty [Rhodes] overcame. Dusty was a guy that, 'Hey, I don't care what you do, I will get this over.' Dusty put those polka dots on went out there and got it over, you know what I mean. So, that's playing the game" [3:58 - 4:14]
Glacier on how Dusty Rhodes would've reacted to Cody Rhodes's win at WrestleMania 40
Dusty Rhodes never winning the WWE Title became the basis for Cody Rhodes' story heading into WrestleMania 40. He wanted to be the first one in his family to win the prestigious WWE title, which was the main reason he came back to the company. Cody finally accomplished this feat at WrestleMania 40 and even handed the title to his mother, who celebrated with him in the ring.
Speaking on another episode of Sportskeeda's The Wrestling Time Machine with Mac Davis, WCW veteran Glacier explained how Dusty would've reacted to his son winning the prestigious WWE Championship.
"You know what, just me personally, my opinion on that is, I think Dusty would have just stood there and really took it in. Just took it in, smiled and just took it in and been proud of the moment where he wasn't necessarily the American Dream Dusty Rhodes, he was just a proud father. That's what I see." [3:40 onwards]
It would have been amazing if Dusty Rhodes had been alive to see his son win the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40.
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