Who is Cody Rhodes Father?

Cody Rhodes is an American Professional Wrestler, signed with WWE and wrestles under the RAW brand, as of 2024. The current Universal Champion started his pro wrestling career in WWE and has worked for 10 years during his first run where he was on the mid-card level and was not given a push to the top card. In 2018, Cody left WWE with frustrations over the creative and developed himself as a top wrestler in the industry. In 2019, Cody joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he played a significant role in the establishment and success of the company, as he was the Executive Vice President there.

But due to differences in terms of the contract, he left the company to join WWE, where he has unfinished business to take care of. Since his return, he is solely focused on finishing the story that his father wasn’t able to accomplish. He then won the 2023 Royal Rumble and unsuccessfully challenged Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania. He won the Rumble again the next year and headlined both nights of WrestleMania to finally take down Reigns and finish the story his father started.

Also Read: What is the meaning of Cody Rhodes' tattoos?

Who is Cody Rhodes' Father?

Virgil Riley Runnels Jr., professionally known as “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes is the father of Cody Rhodes. He is an American Professional Wrestler, Booker and Trainer who has worked for National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (WWF/WWE), Jim Crockett Promotions, Professional Wrestling Federation (PWF), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and so on.

Also Read: Cody Rhodes's Mother

Dusty Rhodes’ Professional Wrestling Career

Early Career (1967-1974)

Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. started his pro wrestling career in 1967 in Boston based wrestling promotion Big Time Wrestling without any wrestling experience and was billed as Dusty Runnels. He then moved to World Class Championship Wrestling and changed his name to Dusty Rhodes. He had a heel run teaming up with Don Jardine and managed by Hart, the stable was called The Spoiler. In 1968 Rhodes left Texas and moved to the Kansas City territory of BTW and had a tag team alliance with Dick Murdoch under the team name The Texas Outlaws. The team has its presence in multiple wrestling promotions including NWA Western States Sports in Texas, NWA Detroit, Big Time Wrestling in Texas, National Wrestling Federation (NWF), World Championship Wrestling in Australia, American Wrestling Association (AWA), International Wrestling Enterprise in Japan and so on.

Throughout his career, Rhodes has been criticized for not having the physique of a wrestler. But he compensated with his personality, charisma, and mic skills. Rhodes after being betrayed by his tag team partner Pak Song and his manager Gary Hart, he then turned into a solo wrestler as a face. He claimed himself as “The American Dream” and aligned himself with Eddie Graham. Rhodes worked for World Wide Wrestling Promotion in 1977 which was owned by Vince McMahon and had the occasional appearance and matches till 1983 main event the show a couple of times by challenging for the WWWF Heavyweight Championship. Rhodes then worked for Jim Crockett Promotions as a booker which was purchased and owned by World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

National Wrestling Alliance (1974–1984)

Dusty Rhodes turned into an independent legend in 1974 after being betrayed by his partner Pak Song and Gary Hart (manager) during a match in Florida. This disloyalty prompted Rhodes to embrace the "American Dream" persona, situating himself as a hero close by Eddie Graham. From 1977 to 1983, Rhodes wrestled discontinuously for Vince McMahon, Sr. at WWWF. During this time, he featured Madison Square Garden two times and faced Billy Graham for the WWWF Heavyweight Title. Rhodes dominated their first game using countout however lost the second in Texas by pinfall.

Jim Crockett Wrestling (1985 - 1989)

Rhodes along with Magnum T.A. under the name America’s Team had a long-term feud with Four Horseman and The Russian Team until 1986, unfortunately due to a car accident Magnum’s career ended and Rhodes started a new ally with Nikita Koloff under the name The SuperPowers and opposed The Four Horseman, Road Warriors and others. Rhodes then competed as a single wrestler and won the NWA World Heavyweight Championship thrice.

Rhodes is known for his innovative and creative bookers and had an aggressive competition with WWF, where WWF used Rhodes's real name Virgil for Mike Jones, Ted DiBiase’s bodyguard. Rhodes’ “Dusty Finish” booking was a huge success in the past but fans began hating it later. Rhodes booked a match for the Road Warriors at Starrcade ‘88 where a taboo on-screen bloodletting had caused his job. As Road Warrior Animal pulled a spike out of his shoulder pad and hit on the eyes of Rhodes causing a severe cut. Rhodes was then fired from WCW as JCP was purchased by it.

Professional Wrestling Federation (1989)

Rhodes after WCW acquired JCP, walked to Championship Wrestling Florida (CWF) and was convinced to revive the promotion which was on its decline. They partnered and launched the Professional Wrestling Federation in 1989 to make the promotion as a competitor to WCW and WWF. Shortly after the launch, Vince McMahon reached Rhodes and asked him to bring the PWF under WWF by making it a development territory of WWF. But Cody Rhodes' father declined the offer as he wanted to make this company a competitor for WWF and WCW. However, the PWF lacked funding and the co-founders were not interested in developing the brand further. So Rhodes left PWF and joined WWF as a wrestler.

Also Read: Cody Rhodes Ethnicity

World Wrestling Federation (1989 - 1991)

In May 1989, Rhodes made his debut in an untelevised match as a substitute for Jake Roberts and defeated Ted DiBiase. Rhodes appeared with a yellow Polka-Dotted gear under a “Common Man” Dusty Rhodes gimmick. It was considered as McMahon’s revenge on Rhodes for competing against his company during JCP/WCW days. Dusty Rhodes on his gimmick appeared under different working class roles including a plumber, butcher, gas station attendant, taco cook, pizza delivery man, trash collector, and so on. He competed with The Million Dollar Man on multiple home shows and had a traditional Survivor Series match leading “The Dream Team” against “The Million Dollar Team” where The Undertaker debuted to join Ted DiBiase and made them win. The feud lasted for a long period until Royal Rumble 1991, where Dusty Rhodes teamed up with his son Dustin Rhodes (Goldust) to face Virgil and Ted DiBiase. Rhodes' family was defeated, marking the end of Dusty Rhodes' career as a full-time wrestler. Dusty Rhodes then left WWF for WCW as he got frustrated with the company and the Big Gold Belt Controversy.

Return to WCW (1991 - 2000)

Rhodes returned to WCW as a member of the booking committee in 1991 just 11 days after leaving WWF. He then worked as a manager for Ron Simmons for a couple of years and returned to in-ring action after a year of teaming up with his son Dustin Rhodes to defeat Kim Duk and Masa Saito. He constantly wrestled for house shows with his son Dustin Rhodes and subsequently managed Ron Simmons. He then escorted Dustin to the ring stood in his corner, and even worked on the commentary team.

Extreme Championship Wrestling (2000 - 2001)

In 2000, Dusty Rhodes joined Extreme Championship Wrestling and made his debut at the Guilty As Charged PPV, where he was attacked by the ECW Champion Steve Corino. Which led to a tag team match at ECW on TNN, where he wrestled for the first time in 5 years. Dusty teamed up with Tommy Dreamer and defeated Corino and Raven. Dusty Rhodes wrestled as a singles wrestler and stood undefeated for the next 4 months and lost to Corino at Cyberslam 2000. He then reignited the old feud with Ric Flair and defeated Ric Flair and Jeff Jarrett by teaming up with Dustin Rhodes. After ECW was purchased by WWE, Dusty Rhodes left the company and wrestled in his own wrestling promotions Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, and other independent promotions.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2003 - 2005)

In 2003, Rhodes entered TNA and wrestled for the next two years, where he was initially in a tag team with Jeff Jarret and Vader to feud with AJ Styles, Vince Russo Don and Ron Harris. Rhodes worked as a singles wrestler for months and then became the Director of Authority, head of booker, and writer. Meanwhile, the TNA President asked Rhodes to take a creative team soon after he resigned from his position as a booker and left the company in 2005.

Return to WWE (2005 - 2015)

Dusty Rhodes then signed a contract with WWE as a part of the creative team and was hired as the creative consultant. In 2006, Rhodes released his DVD The American Dream - The Dusty Rhodes Story. In 2007, Cody Rhodes' father Dusty Rhodes was inducted into the Hall of Fame by his sons Dustin and Cody Rhodes. Weeks before, he introduced Cody Rhodes to the WWE Universe, where he got slapped by Orton to promote the first feud of Rhodes. From 2010 to 2015 Cody was the creative head and the director of WWE’s developmental brand NXT.

Also Read: Cody Rhodes Parents

Death and Tribute

Dusty Rhodes was affected by a Kidney Disease and was under medications. However, on June 10, 2015, Dusty Rhodes died at the age of 69 due to kidney failure. WWE paid its tribute to Dusty Rhodes with a ten-bell salute with the entire roster along with McMahon standing silent on the Rampway. Since 2015, WWE has been conducting a Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament and has also created a bronze statue of Dusty Rhodes to honor Rhodes and his contribution to Wrestling.

Cody Rhodes then claimed himself as “The American Nightmare” as being the son of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Cody has been mentioning Dusty Rhodes throughout his segments to fulfill the dream of his dad to capture the World Championship in WWE and finish the story by becoming the first WWE World Champion of his family.

Dusty Rhodes Awards and Achievements

Championships

Hall of Fame

Cody Rhodes' father Dusty Rhodes was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in the Class of 1995, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Class of 1996, WWE Hall of Fame in the Class of 2007, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Class of 2010, NWA Hall of Fame Class of 2011 & NWA Legends Hall of Heroes Class of 2016, George Tragos / Lou Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2017, and NJPW Greatest 18 Club.