Dusty Rhodes as a heel

[OLE BIG]

I was reading the thread about the Horsemen's attack on Dusty.  I started wondering why he never made a heel turn.  We had plenty of heels but that could have been so huge.

My only thought is they really didn't have a huge face to take over, but I don't believe that.

Of course the stock answer is that he refused because when he and Murdock broke that kid's neck, it changed his lif for good.

[The Showstoppa]

I was reading the thread about the Horsemen's attack on Dusty.  I started wondering why he never made a heel turn.  We had plenty of heels but that could have been so huge.

My only thought is they really didn't have a huge face to take over, but I don't believe that.

Of course the stock answer is that he refused because when he and Murdock broke that kid's neck, it changed his lif for good.

haha, the Texas Outlaws !!  I wonder if that story is even true.

As far as a heel turn, can you imagine at the height of the Horsemen vs Dusty and friends if Dusty had turned on Magnum TA in a tag match?  and then have the Horsemen turn on Dusty a few months later and break his leg for about the 10th time.... 

[The Showstoppa]

WOW, what timing.....Dusty just did a little heel turn on Smackdown !!

[OLE BIG]

WOW, what timing.....Dusty just did a little heel turn on Smackdown !!

Really?

[The Showstoppa]

Really?

Sho nuff....... he cut an inring promo asking Cody to come out and apologize to Rey.....after Cody apologized and walked off, Dusty shook Rey's hand but wouldn't let go and Cody blasted him.....it was actually pretty good......Cody even did the old-school rubbing Reys face on the metal walkway grates......LOL   Wanna be he comes out next week with a Ricky Morton face burn?

[OLE BIG]

Sho nuff....... he cut an inring promo asking Cody to come out and apologize to Rey.....after Cody apologized and walked off, Dusty shook Rey's hand but wouldn't let go and Cody blasted him.....it was actually pretty good......Cody even did the old-school rubbing Reys face on the metal walkway grates......LOL   Wanna be he comes out next week with a Ricky Morton face burn?

You will never know with his cool mask.

[The Showstoppa]

You will never know with his cool mask.

Cody took his mask off and a couple of refs from the back came out with a towel to cover his face.....

[OLE BIG]

Cody took his mask off and a couple of refs from the back came out with a towel to cover his face.....

I will give him one thing, he has resisted the urge to take it off many times, and probably had to argue to keep it.

A Mil Mascaras he is not though!

[Montague]

Cody took his mask off and a couple of refs from the back came out with a towel to cover his face.....

I'm glad WWE had him keep the mask.
No offense to Mysterio, but I think that mask is almost as important to his character as his ring work.
IMO, it was a tad lame when he wrestled without it in WCW during his "Rey Rey" gimmick.

Dick Beyer was super-protective when it came to his mask.
He ran a radio show for a while and would even go out to dinner in the damn thing.

[The Showstoppa]

I'm glad WWE had him keep the mask.
No offense to Mysterio, but I think that mask is almost as important to his character as his ring work.
IMO, it was a tad lame when he wrestled without it in WCW during his "Rey Rey" gimmick.

Dick Beyer was super-protective when it came to his mask.
He ran a radio show for a while and would even go out to dinner in the damn thing.

I agree, he looked a 12yr old trying to be tough without it in WCW.

A lot of the old-timers were serious about their's....  Masked Superstar and Mr Wrestling II would drive between venues with them on..... hahah, imagine seeing that drinving down the road !!

[Thin Lizzy]

Once again, a veteran shows the young bucks how to cut a promo.

He had a theme "You lost focus" and then wove it through the whole story. Textbook storytelling.

[Montague]

Once again, a veteran shows the young bucks how to cut a promo.

He had a theme "You lost focus" and then wove it through the whole story. Textbook storytelling.

Probably didn't have to use any writers, either.
I wonder how many of today's "stars" even watched the older stuff.
You can learn a lot simply by watching.

I already knew a lot regarding how to work before I began formal training.

Many of the guys today seem clueless, although I suspect many of them can & will improve.

[Playboy]

Dusty has always been the ultimate babyface that can relate to the people. Why creative chose to do that I don't know.

[OLE BIG]

Dusty has always been the ultimate babyface that can relate to the people. Why creative chose to do that I don't know.

That is why I think a big heel turn could have been huge back in the day.

[Playboy]

That is why I think a big heel turn could have been huge back in the day.

Nah...not for Dusty. Money wise I think they did the right thing with him with his fueds with the horsemen. 

[Thin Lizzy]

Dusty has always been the ultimate babyface that can relate to the people. Why creative chose to do that I don't know.

The other option would've been to have Cody attack Dusty, but that wouldn't have made sense as they were trying to set up Cody against Rey, not Cody against Dusty.

[The Showstoppa]

Nah...not for Dusty. Money wise I think they did the right thing with him with his fueds with the horsemen. 

Thats what BIG and I were talking about recently.  They really didn't have anybody to replace Dusty as the top face who was as over as he was.  Magnum would have been, if not for the accident....

[Playboy]

Thats what BIG and I were talking about recently.  They really didn't have anybody to replace Dusty as the top face who was as over as he was.  Magnum would have been, if not for the accident....

Dusty just clicked really well with the people. IMO it would have been very foolish to turn him heel back then. I think they played their cards right on that one. Man, him and Tully Blanchard had some of the best matches I can remember.

[The Showstoppa]

Dusty just clicked really well with the people. IMO it would have been very foolish to turn him heel back then. I think they played their cards right on that one. Man, him and Tully Blanchard had some of the best matches I can remember.

Dusty turning heel during that time would have been on par with Hogan joining the nWo.....probably even more shocking as when Hogan turned, he was already getting a mixed reaction from the WCW crowds.

[Playboy]

Dusty turning heel during that time would have been on par with Hogan joining the nWo.....probably even more shocking as when Hogan turned, he was already getting a mixed reaction from the WCW crowds.

Not usre. When Hogan joined the NWO and turned heel his charactor had already become stale by then. He was litterally getting bood and they had to put out the fake cheers on the speakers. The WCW southern fans didn't particularly like Hogan so the heel turn was perfect at that time.

[The Showstoppa]

Not usre. When Hogan joined the NWO and turned heel his charactor had already become stale by then. He was litterally getting bood and they had to put out the fake cheers on the speakers. The WCW southern fans didn't particularly like Hogan so the heel turn was perfect at that time.

I worded my post badly, I agree with you.  I think the Dusty turn would have been more of shock to fans as Hogan wasn't as over with WCW fans at the time of his turn, as Dusty was in the 80's.

[Playboy]

I worded my post badly, I agree with you.  I think the Dusty turn would have been more of shock to fans as Hogan wasn't as over with WCW fans at the time of his turn, as Dusty was in the 80's.

All good. I remember watching that bash at the beach PPV on Direct TV back then and i was in total shock when it was revealed that Hogan was the third man. Never saw it coming but it was a brilliant move by Bishoff.

[The Showstoppa]

All good. I remember watching that bash at the beach PPV on Direct TV back then and i was in total shock when it was revealed that Hogan was the third man. Never saw it coming but it was a brilliant move by Bishoff.

No doubt.  They played it out very well.  Only problem was during the actual turn he was walking out to the ring, when imo, they should have had him charge in just like normal.....but that is nitpicking.  I will give Bisch some of the credit, but most goes to Hogan who saw a great thing and made sure he was in on it.  Smartest business man in wrestling, bar none.

[Playboy]

No doubt.  They played it out very well.  Only problem was during the actual turn he was walking out to the ring, when imo, they should have had him charge in just like normal.....but that is nitpicking.  I will give Bisch some of the credit, but most goes to Hogan who saw a great thing and made sure he was in on it.  Smartest business man in wrestling, bar none.

Hogan is worth 30 million (and thats after his divorce to the gold digger) and for good reason.

[The Showstoppa]

Hogan is worth 30 million (and thats after his divorce to the gold digger) and for good reason.

Absolutely.  It amazes me that a guy with his lack of formal education, etc... was able to be so savy in a business that has destroyed so many over the years who KNEW better.....  I doubt he would talk about it TOO openly, but it would be great to find out who his info back in the day was from who helped him "get his."  Both in wrestling and out of wrestling.  Does he talk about it in his book?