February 11, 2025 • 20 mins
AEW veteran Dustin Rhodes opens up about the next breakout stars in AEW, his potential role in creative, and the dream matches he still wants before retiring. He also reflects on the challenges of being Dusty Rhodes' son and why he signed a multi-year extension to finish his career with AEW. Plus, we talk AEW Dynamite in Austin (Feb 11th & 12th) and AEW: ALL IN Texas (July 12, 2025)!
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📺 Watch AEW Dynamite on TBS & Max!
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🎟️ Get tickets now: AEWTix.com | Ticketmaster
📺 Watch AEW Dynamite on TBS & Max!
LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for more exclusive wrestling interviews!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast. You'll play for a wrestling.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
And exclusive interviews with some of your favorite wrestlers.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Bound podcast, stop it.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
What's up you guys?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Welcome back in to iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, the Battleground Podcast.
And man, it is a very busy week for ae W.
I mean you've got aw Dynamite taking place tonight at
the h EB Center in Austin, of course on Wednesday
night as well.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
You got aw All in Texas in July.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I mean, Texas is a big, big wrestling territory, and
somebody who knows a thing or two about wrestling territories
and wrestling in Texas give it up for our guest,
Dustin Rhodes on the show.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Dustin, how are you doing great? Babe? Man?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It is an honor and a privilege to have you
on the show. We're gonna go ahead and tell you this.
This has been one of those interviews that we have
tried to get for for many years since you came
over to AW We've had your brother on and we've
always said, hey, we want to talk to Dustin, we
want to talk to Dustin, and they're like, oh, dust
is too busy.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
For you little guys down there.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
No never man never glad to be on. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
I was actually at the first double or nothing, so
I was able to see oh yeah, pretty much pretty
much since the beginning, we've been like we gotta get
dusted on that, you know. So yeah, glad to have you.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
So let's kind of let's kind of talk about it
real quick.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
You look at Aw's roster and it is stacked with
young talent, talent that have been around for a while,
that know what's going on. You've been a mentor to
many in the locker room. Who do you see as
that next breakout star?
Speaker 4 (01:51):
God, we got so many, you know. I think Darby
Allen is doing a tremendous job. Daniel Garcia te Kesta
is an unreal talent, you know, little Osprey, all these guys,
they're just they're killing it every single week, doing doing
amazing things in the ring that you know, I could
only wish to do. It's it's some crazy stuff they do,
(02:14):
and they're you know, they're gaining this popularity and I
think that that is definitely the future.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Another one that's been really exciting to say is Harley Cameron.
You know, like we has been incredibly talented, but now
she's getting to kind of showcase that she is.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
And I think this is going to be a big
step for her in Australia with Mercedes. You know, it's
going to be a heck of a match. I'm actually
coaching that match, producing it so very nice as well
as wrestling that night, so it should be a lot
of fun. Always doing an outstanding job.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yeah, she really is speaking of you know, upcoming events
and what's in the news and stuff. You're currently kind
of in a program with MJF at the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
What does it kind of mean for you?
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I guess you're age in your career to kind of
compete with kind of you know, the top dog in
the company and some people say in the whole industry
right now.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Well it's pretty cool. I mean, what has Max been
in the business a minute? And here I am with
thirty seven years? He talks a great game, He's got
a hell of a promo on it, and he gets
under people's skin, and he got under Jeff Jared skin,
and he got under my skin. And you know, here
we are, Austin in my backyard. I'm going to show
(03:28):
him where the double lives. Basically, I lock him JFF. Yeah,
Max Is He's a special character and he is in
every right doing a great job. But you know, when
it comes to somebody that has been there and very
experienced and been through just about everything imaginable, there's nothing
that he could throw that I haven't already faced or
(03:51):
done before. And so that's I've got nothing to lose.
He's got everything to lose.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Of course, AW Dynamite take a place Tonight's and tomorrow
AGB Center in Austin. You can still grab your tickets
aew ticks dot com, that is ae w tix dot com,
and of course you can also grab them at Ticketmaster. Now,
one of the things that you know as wrestling fans
here we talked about this briefly.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
You see a lot of things on the internet.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
You see a lot of reportings, and you know there
was all this desire and trying to figure out where
stuff didn't going next.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
You know, well, you recently announced a.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Multi year extension with AW Express in a desire to
finish your wrestling career with AW. What factors influenced the
decision and what are your aspirations for this next chapter
in AW?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
So my aspirations, and they've always been the number one
thing is, you know, to become world champion. I think
if anybody gets into the business and they don't want
to be world champion, they probably don't belong in the business.
I mean, that's a thing. Man. My brother's the champ
right now. My dad has been world champion. I have not.
That is something that I'm still chasing and still very
(05:00):
much a dream of mine, and that that's kind of
that's kind of where I'm at, man. But to be
with these young kids, it's it's awesome to be able
to hang with them still to stay in shape. And
I think that just just due to me with hard work,
ethic and grit and staying in shape at almost fifty
six years old. And sometimes I don't know what's holding
(05:22):
my body together, but I go out there and I
do it, man, and it's just I could do it blindfold.
It's it's easy for me because I've been around so
long and I love it. I'm just blessed to still
be in it at such a high level and you know,
still chasing that that gold.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Baby, and and you're not holding the world titles. Kind
of one of those like drinking game questions like of
these wrestlers, who hasn't like.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
You would not even like you just assume.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Like, well he did it in WCW, didn't he Like
everyone had the world like it just is one of
those just kind of glaring things like wait a second,
you know what I mean? But you have people know
how wacky wrestling can get. So one thing that I
think really has blown a lot of people's minds is
your trio's team with Von Erics. You know, like just
(06:10):
talk about a legacy team and history and everything. I mean,
it kind of rights itself. I mean, what's that experience been, like,
you know, partnering with them, and I mean, you know,
where do you kind of see that that team going
in the future.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
So I grew up in Austin, and I grew up
watching World Class and Kevin and Carrie and David, you know,
and Fritz and the whole crew. So I've known Kevin
a long time and you know, met the boys, and
this all came together that we were gonna, you know,
win the six man tag team titles, and Kevin was
(06:44):
with us, and that was like we were at East
Sports Arena and Arlington. We did a summer residency there
who did a lot of television tapings, and just to
be in that with them with their dad there was
really special. And I could see it because I had
been there. I've been in the ring with my dad.
I've tagged with him. I've got that honor to do
that so many times. And to see them performing in
(07:07):
front of their father is pretty huge. And I didn't
take that lightly. And I wanted Kevin there especially. And
you know, these boys are lineared up, they're young, they
have a bright future and they're only going to get
better with reps. And like we say, we have a
pretty giant roster and you know, some some outstanding talented individuals,
(07:28):
men and women, and there are two of them and
they're they're doing great and I can't wait to see
where where it takes us next. But right now, we're
still champs. And I know Marshall had a partially torn
peck and that's why they have been away for a
little bit. But he's healed up, ready to go now
and I'm going to see where it takes us, maybe
all in Texas and Dallas, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Nice could you imagine the pop you have Dustin and
Von Eric's come out together, like let me, let me
just let me just put a crystal ball in front
of us for a second. Let's look into the future.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
It happens. It all out. You've got dustin, You've got
the Von Eggs coming out.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Do you have a particular song that you want Tony
to go out and buy the rights to so you
can come out to it?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Absolutely? Stranglehold, I mean that's that song with for them,
as is the song it is. I mean everybody recognizes,
you know, the Ted Nudge and Stranglehold, and it's it's
fun to come out to, really cool.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean I'm getting goosebumps thinking about that right now,
just listening to that that all.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
In in Texas crowd and all of a sudden you hear,
didn't it?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
And just that crowd erupts, and then I could see
you coming out, you know, the face paint on just
fired up righty to roll and you know, kick some
teeth in, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, you know, you you look.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Around at wrestling and uh, there's a lot of synonymous
names when it comes to wrestling.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
With family legacy.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
We just recently talked to Dominant Misterio about that, and
you know, reflecting on your early days in the wrestling business.
You mentioned that, contrary to a lot of popular belief,
your path wasn't easy, you know, despite being Dusty's kid.
Could you share some of those challenges that you faced
and how they shaped your approach to wrestling.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
You know, Dad was pretty simple with me. He said,
I want you to shut up, and I want you
to listen. And these guys, because back in those days,
in the late eighties and early nineties, everybody could wrestle right.
There was no bad apples. They knew what they were doing,
and I just I trusted in them, you know, to
guide me to where I am today. And you know it,
(09:37):
probably five or six years. I didn't say a word.
I just listened and I learned, and I soaked it
up like a sponge. It's very difficult being in front
of your father, who is just this huge figure, very
intimidating and whatnot right, and I can probably assume the
same predominic Kurt Henning, Verry Wendham. You know so many
(09:57):
of the famous you know, Brett Harts and Owen Hart
and you know, just the families in the business. It's tough.
It's because you have this expectation you're a dusty son.
Are you going to be able to handle it? Are
you going to get to that level? Are you going
to follow in this footsteps? And for years I wanted
to do that, but you come to the realization that
(10:18):
you can't. There's only one Dusty Road, there's only one
Ray Mysterio, there's only one black Jack Mulligan, there's you know,
you got to find your own sense shoes, so to speak.
And it does come, and it takes time, and it's
nothing as instant in our business. You know. It's just
like when you're first training to jump into business. It
(10:39):
takes years to really hone your craft. But to be
with my dad as the boss in the early WCW
days was very a lot of pressure, and I put
too much pressure on myself. But I did well and
I earned the respective of you know, a lot of
my peers, and here we are, you know, thirty seven
(11:00):
years later, I've wrestled just about everybody there is to wrestle.
There's one person I never got to actual face that
that is a dream opponent of mine, and that was
Brandy Savage. I've tagged with him and I didn't even
know I tagged with him. So I saw it the
other day. I'd forgotten all about it. I'm like, holy crap,
this is pretty cool. But to work him, you know,
I've worked Hogan, I've worked Flair, I've worked so many
(11:22):
of the guys in the business and just been blessed
to be able to step in there and hang and
grow my brand as Dusty Son. But somebody that's different,
and Sam goes for my brother Cody. You know, we're
all different, we have different styles, and I think we're
doing an outstanding job for our legacy, our family's name,
and that's that's good.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Yeah, for sure, we'll do one more real quick one.
So last year we saw something beautiful of Sting's retirement
and kind of went out on his shield revolution they
he got to win that with his son's president everything.
And of course we're on the John Cena retirement tour
right now. You know, the kind of the legends, so
(12:08):
to speak, are definitely treated better than they might have
been maybe in your dad's time or something like it.
They're definitely kind of rolling up the carpet for that.
I mean, have you thought about how it is ending?
You mentioned your dream upon it was Randy Savage. I
mean you know, if it was to end, you know,
like at the end of this year. I mean, would
would you be able to say, like, Okay, I want
to I want to do the honors with this person
or have you thought about how that ends for you?
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I have, and I keep it close to the best
about my opponent. But I have had this plan the
last couple of years of who kind of want to
finish up with nice? And that's going to take place
in three years, and it's going to be tough to
step away. But you know, I by no means am
(12:51):
I anywhere on stings level. But I want that same
kind of out I do. I think I've earned it,
and I think, you know, to finish shit off on
a pay per view and to cut a very heart
wrenching emotional promo afterwards is what people like. And it's
not it's not like the old days where you know,
you I want to win. I want to win that
(13:12):
last match. I don't want to lose, you know, and
it means a lot to me. So I have been
putting a lot of thought into it, and I would
say probably about three years.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Well, it's plenty of time.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
I mean, things, things change, We'll see where they take us.
I mean, it's hard enough to even say it's almost
time dusting. That's tough because it's been a part of
my life for so so long, right, and it is
going to be very emotional, and I'm going to it's
just like the Undertaker, right, you know, getting out of
the business. It's a big step because you're changing something
(13:45):
that you've done for so long. And what do you do, right?
You just have to find things to do in the interim,
basically to keep your mind right and to keep still
in the business. At some point I'll be coaching and
still producing, which I'm doing right now. Anyways. I love that.
So it's passing on my knowledge to the young kids.
(14:05):
That's the payoff. When I teach them something and they
go out and they do it and it works. You know,
it's not about money. That's the payoff. It's me passing
on my knowledge and my experience to the younger generations.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Absolutely, yeah, absolutely, And you know I gotta say, you know,
I we sit here and I'm listening to you talking about,
you know, the next three years, and that's what you're
gonna do. I can and honestly say, like I've grown
up as a wrestling fan. And I've told this story
numerous times to people, but I remember the first wrestling
event that I ever went to. My dad took me
to Monday Night Raw in Nashville and it was the
(14:40):
night that we saw gold Dust versus Triple H. And
that was also the debut of China when she jumped
over the guardrail. And just following your career, being a
fan of yours all the way up until now. Like again,
I said this at the beginning, I'll say it now.
I'm allowed to do this because it's my show and
I can mark out, but it is an honor to
(15:01):
have you on this show and just following your career
even to the TNA days on the Wednesday night pay
per views here in Nashville at the Asylum, and I
just sit here and think about it, and you know,
the next three years are going to be fun to watch.
And you know, Sin sind Dustin off like the Derek
Jeter Way or the Kobe where you know it's one
(15:21):
of those you have to buy a ticket to ae
W to see Dustin.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
I would sure want that. I mean, that's that's the goal.
I don't know sometimes what's holding my knees together my shoulders.
But something is so I'm still still passionate about it,
and I keep a good grip on reality. You know,
I'm almost fifty six years old, and i know the
time is near. So I'm just trying to work as
hard as I can and do what I need to do,
(15:48):
and you know, we go from there. It's gonna be fun.
It's been a fun ride so far for thirty seven years,
and so many wonderful experiences, getting to see all over
the world, many times over at different places, and a
lot of people don't get that. And it's cool that
when we're going overseas, the kids now they get to
see these things for the first time when I've seen
(16:09):
them twenty times already or whatever. And it's it's it's
good to watch. It's it's fun to watch.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah, absolutely, And I kid you not like you know,
growing up, like I said, growing up watching wrestling. I've
been through the attitude air and everything else. And I've
got two kids now. My eight year old is a
big wrestling fan as well, and so he has like
his little you know, wrestling figures and and and the
rings and everything else. And it's it's really, you know,
(16:35):
really really cool, just to kind of pass my wrestling
down to him and seeing it.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
You know, I was saying, Hey, he watches you wrestling.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
I was like, I remember when he was as gold
Dust and he was wrestling and doing you know this,
and I would get in trouble because I would do
it at school and my dad would slap me in
the back of the head and be like, what the hell.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Are you doing. I was like, I'm doing it.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
That's hard, but it's it's great, and you know, I
know our time is short and real quick. We always
like to have some fun. At the end of the show.
We like to turn to chat GPT. Sometimes it's scary,
and we asked.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Them to ask our guests a question.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Sometimes it's random, sometimes it's off the wall, but yat
GPT wanted to know that. You know, you've portrayed some
of the most unforgettable characters in wrestling history, gold Dust
and Natural, even seven for a brief moment, but we won't.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Talk about that.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
If you had to create one last over the top
persona for yourself, what would it be and how wild
would you.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Go with it? Oh man, that is a terrific question.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
That's the computer for you. That's not us. I'm kind
of jealous of the computer now.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
H god. I mean, I've done so much. I don't
know as far as over the top characters, what would
work right now, how far you want to take it,
you know. But I'm always I'm always wanting to step
over the line and create something. I think it's very
important for the kids today when I tell them, if
(18:04):
you're in your little bubble, you're not going to go
any farther than this. You know it's going to be mediocre.
You have to and you're scared to step outside of
that circle and to create some magic, because that's where
the magic happens, like the gold Dust character or the
seventh character. I created the seventh character, and the you know,
the TBS, they kind of pulled the plug on it
(18:26):
because it was a little too much for the viewers
per se because there was a kid involved and I'm,
you know, the creepy monster character in the kid's windows.
So the standards and practices, you know, came down on
it kind of hard. And I think it had legs.
And that's something that was out of my mind and
was cool. And I got it from Dark City, the
(18:48):
movie Dark City with those guys floating around and things
like that. So I don't know. As far as today,
I kind of just want to have come full circle
and I want to be the natural and I think
on my last match, I want my old thing from
from the WCW days, and I'm trying to purchase the
rights right now for it because it's it's very memorable
(19:11):
music and people remember it for so many years. A
true wrestling fan. But as far as characters man I have,
I really don't know because I'm kind of doing what
I want to do right now, you know, And.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
It's probably the best answer anyways.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
And it's definitely fun to watch.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Well, you know, Dustin again, it's an honor and a
privilege to have you on our show. And I know
you said you got about three more years left, and
we hope to see in that three years that obviously
we want to see you with that aw World Heavyweight Champion,
but we also want to see the Road's name back
in the nw A history books and hopefully you get
that n w A title too.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Well. I mean, that's that's something that I've thought about also.
At the same time, it's the NWA of today is
not the same as it used to be, and I
think it's lost a lot of it's prestige. No, you know,
nothing wrong with NWA, what they're doing and everything. They're
trying to get their platform going, and it's just changed
(20:09):
a lot and it's different. I think the spark has
gone from that, you know, ten pounds of gold. But
that is also something that my brother has had and
my dad and it would be a cool little trios
to all three of us to have that. It would
be historic and no other family has done that, which
would be really cool. Yeah, you never say never.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Man, Absolutely for sure.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Well, Dustin again, it's an honor and a privilege, and
thank you for taking the time out and hanging out
with us today and we look forward to seeing you
very soon.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Again.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
I appreciate you all very much. Thank you, sir,
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast. You'll play for a wrestling.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
And exclusive interviews with some of your favorite wrestlers.
Speaker 1 (00:16):
Bound podcast, stop it.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
What's up you guys?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Welcome back in to iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, the Battleground Podcast.
And man, it is a very busy week for ae W.
I mean you've got aw Dynamite taking place tonight at
the h EB Center in Austin, of course on Wednesday
night as well.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
You got aw All in Texas in July.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
I mean, Texas is a big, big wrestling territory, and
somebody who knows a thing or two about wrestling territories
and wrestling in Texas give it up for our guest,
Dustin Rhodes on the show.
Speaker 4 (00:54):
Dustin, how are you doing great? Babe? Man?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
It is an honor and a privilege to have you
on the show. We're gonna go ahead and tell you this.
This has been one of those interviews that we have
tried to get for for many years since you came
over to AW We've had your brother on and we've
always said, hey, we want to talk to Dustin, we
want to talk to Dustin, and they're like, oh, dust
is too busy.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
For you little guys down there.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
No never man never glad to be on. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
I was actually at the first double or nothing, so
I was able to see oh yeah, pretty much pretty
much since the beginning, we've been like we gotta get
dusted on that, you know. So yeah, glad to have you.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
So let's kind of let's kind of talk about it
real quick.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
You look at Aw's roster and it is stacked with
young talent, talent that have been around for a while,
that know what's going on. You've been a mentor to
many in the locker room. Who do you see as
that next breakout star?
Speaker 4 (01:51):
God, we got so many, you know. I think Darby
Allen is doing a tremendous job. Daniel Garcia te Kesta
is an unreal talent, you know, little Osprey, all these guys,
they're just they're killing it every single week, doing doing
amazing things in the ring that you know, I could
only wish to do. It's it's some crazy stuff they do,
(02:14):
and they're you know, they're gaining this popularity and I
think that that is definitely the future.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Another one that's been really exciting to say is Harley Cameron.
You know, like we has been incredibly talented, but now
she's getting to kind of showcase that she is.
Speaker 4 (02:29):
And I think this is going to be a big
step for her in Australia with Mercedes. You know, it's
going to be a heck of a match. I'm actually
coaching that match, producing it so very nice as well
as wrestling that night, so it should be a lot
of fun. Always doing an outstanding job.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yeah, she really is speaking of you know, upcoming events
and what's in the news and stuff. You're currently kind
of in a program with MJF at the moment.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
What does it kind of mean for you?
Speaker 1 (02:58):
I guess you're age in your career to kind of
compete with kind of you know, the top dog in
the company and some people say in the whole industry
right now.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Well it's pretty cool. I mean, what has Max been
in the business a minute? And here I am with
thirty seven years? He talks a great game, He's got
a hell of a promo on it, and he gets
under people's skin, and he got under Jeff Jared skin,
and he got under my skin. And you know, here
we are, Austin in my backyard. I'm going to show
(03:28):
him where the double lives. Basically, I lock him JFF. Yeah,
Max Is He's a special character and he is in
every right doing a great job. But you know, when
it comes to somebody that has been there and very
experienced and been through just about everything imaginable, there's nothing
that he could throw that I haven't already faced or
(03:51):
done before. And so that's I've got nothing to lose.
He's got everything to lose.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Of course, AW Dynamite take a place Tonight's and tomorrow
AGB Center in Austin. You can still grab your tickets
aew ticks dot com, that is ae w tix dot com,
and of course you can also grab them at Ticketmaster. Now,
one of the things that you know as wrestling fans
here we talked about this briefly.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
You see a lot of things on the internet.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
You see a lot of reportings, and you know there
was all this desire and trying to figure out where
stuff didn't going next.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
You know, well, you recently announced a.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Multi year extension with AW Express in a desire to
finish your wrestling career with AW. What factors influenced the
decision and what are your aspirations for this next chapter
in AW?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
So my aspirations, and they've always been the number one
thing is, you know, to become world champion. I think
if anybody gets into the business and they don't want
to be world champion, they probably don't belong in the business.
I mean, that's a thing. Man. My brother's the champ
right now. My dad has been world champion. I have not.
That is something that I'm still chasing and still very
(05:00):
much a dream of mine, and that that's kind of
that's kind of where I'm at, man. But to be
with these young kids, it's it's awesome to be able
to hang with them still to stay in shape. And
I think that just just due to me with hard work,
ethic and grit and staying in shape at almost fifty
six years old. And sometimes I don't know what's holding
(05:22):
my body together, but I go out there and I
do it, man, and it's just I could do it blindfold.
It's it's easy for me because I've been around so
long and I love it. I'm just blessed to still
be in it at such a high level and you know,
still chasing that that gold.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
Baby, and and you're not holding the world titles. Kind
of one of those like drinking game questions like of
these wrestlers, who hasn't like.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
You would not even like you just assume.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
Like, well he did it in WCW, didn't he Like
everyone had the world like it just is one of
those just kind of glaring things like wait a second,
you know what I mean? But you have people know
how wacky wrestling can get. So one thing that I
think really has blown a lot of people's minds is
your trio's team with Von Erics. You know, like just
(06:10):
talk about a legacy team and history and everything. I mean,
it kind of rights itself. I mean, what's that experience been, like,
you know, partnering with them, and I mean, you know,
where do you kind of see that that team going
in the future.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
So I grew up in Austin, and I grew up
watching World Class and Kevin and Carrie and David, you know,
and Fritz and the whole crew. So I've known Kevin
a long time and you know, met the boys, and
this all came together that we were gonna, you know,
win the six man tag team titles, and Kevin was
(06:44):
with us, and that was like we were at East
Sports Arena and Arlington. We did a summer residency there
who did a lot of television tapings, and just to
be in that with them with their dad there was
really special. And I could see it because I had
been there. I've been in the ring with my dad.
I've tagged with him. I've got that honor to do
that so many times. And to see them performing in
(07:07):
front of their father is pretty huge. And I didn't
take that lightly. And I wanted Kevin there especially. And
you know, these boys are lineared up, they're young, they
have a bright future and they're only going to get
better with reps. And like we say, we have a
pretty giant roster and you know, some some outstanding talented individuals,
(07:28):
men and women, and there are two of them and
they're they're doing great and I can't wait to see
where where it takes us next. But right now, we're
still champs. And I know Marshall had a partially torn
peck and that's why they have been away for a
little bit. But he's healed up, ready to go now
and I'm going to see where it takes us, maybe
all in Texas and Dallas, I don't know.
Speaker 3 (07:51):
Nice could you imagine the pop you have Dustin and
Von Eric's come out together, like let me, let me
just let me just put a crystal ball in front
of us for a second. Let's look into the future.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
It happens. It all out. You've got dustin, You've got
the Von Eggs coming out.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
Do you have a particular song that you want Tony
to go out and buy the rights to so you
can come out to it?
Speaker 4 (08:12):
Absolutely? Stranglehold, I mean that's that song with for them,
as is the song it is. I mean everybody recognizes,
you know, the Ted Nudge and Stranglehold, and it's it's
fun to come out to, really cool.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
Yeah, I mean I'm getting goosebumps thinking about that right now,
just listening to that that all.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
In in Texas crowd and all of a sudden you hear,
didn't it?
Speaker 3 (08:36):
And just that crowd erupts, and then I could see
you coming out, you know, the face paint on just
fired up righty to roll and you know, kick some
teeth in, you know.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
Yeah, you know, you you look.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Around at wrestling and uh, there's a lot of synonymous
names when it comes to wrestling.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
With family legacy.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
We just recently talked to Dominant Misterio about that, and
you know, reflecting on your early days in the wrestling business.
You mentioned that, contrary to a lot of popular belief,
your path wasn't easy, you know, despite being Dusty's kid.
Could you share some of those challenges that you faced
and how they shaped your approach to wrestling.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
You know, Dad was pretty simple with me. He said,
I want you to shut up, and I want you
to listen. And these guys, because back in those days,
in the late eighties and early nineties, everybody could wrestle right.
There was no bad apples. They knew what they were doing,
and I just I trusted in them, you know, to
guide me to where I am today. And you know it,
(09:37):
probably five or six years. I didn't say a word.
I just listened and I learned, and I soaked it
up like a sponge. It's very difficult being in front
of your father, who is just this huge figure, very
intimidating and whatnot right, and I can probably assume the
same predominic Kurt Henning, Verry Wendham. You know so many
(09:57):
of the famous you know, Brett Harts and Owen Hart
and you know, just the families in the business. It's tough.
It's because you have this expectation you're a dusty son.
Are you going to be able to handle it? Are
you going to get to that level? Are you going
to follow in this footsteps? And for years I wanted
to do that, but you come to the realization that
(10:18):
you can't. There's only one Dusty Road, there's only one
Ray Mysterio, there's only one black Jack Mulligan, there's you know,
you got to find your own sense shoes, so to speak.
And it does come, and it takes time, and it's
nothing as instant in our business. You know. It's just
like when you're first training to jump into business. It
(10:39):
takes years to really hone your craft. But to be
with my dad as the boss in the early WCW
days was very a lot of pressure, and I put
too much pressure on myself. But I did well and
I earned the respective of you know, a lot of
my peers, and here we are, you know, thirty seven
(11:00):
years later, I've wrestled just about everybody there is to wrestle.
There's one person I never got to actual face that
that is a dream opponent of mine, and that was
Brandy Savage. I've tagged with him and I didn't even
know I tagged with him. So I saw it the
other day. I'd forgotten all about it. I'm like, holy crap,
this is pretty cool. But to work him, you know,
I've worked Hogan, I've worked Flair, I've worked so many
(11:22):
of the guys in the business and just been blessed
to be able to step in there and hang and
grow my brand as Dusty Son. But somebody that's different,
and Sam goes for my brother Cody. You know, we're
all different, we have different styles, and I think we're
doing an outstanding job for our legacy, our family's name,
and that's that's good.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Yeah, for sure, we'll do one more real quick one.
So last year we saw something beautiful of Sting's retirement
and kind of went out on his shield revolution they
he got to win that with his son's president everything.
And of course we're on the John Cena retirement tour
right now. You know, the kind of the legends, so
(12:08):
to speak, are definitely treated better than they might have
been maybe in your dad's time or something like it.
They're definitely kind of rolling up the carpet for that.
I mean, have you thought about how it is ending?
You mentioned your dream upon it was Randy Savage. I
mean you know, if it was to end, you know,
like at the end of this year. I mean, would
would you be able to say, like, Okay, I want
to I want to do the honors with this person
or have you thought about how that ends for you?
Speaker 4 (12:30):
I have, and I keep it close to the best
about my opponent. But I have had this plan the
last couple of years of who kind of want to
finish up with nice? And that's going to take place
in three years, and it's going to be tough to
step away. But you know, I by no means am
(12:51):
I anywhere on stings level. But I want that same
kind of out I do. I think I've earned it,
and I think, you know, to finish shit off on
a pay per view and to cut a very heart
wrenching emotional promo afterwards is what people like. And it's
not it's not like the old days where you know,
you I want to win. I want to win that
(13:12):
last match. I don't want to lose, you know, and
it means a lot to me. So I have been
putting a lot of thought into it, and I would
say probably about three years.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Well, it's plenty of time.
Speaker 4 (13:22):
I mean, things, things change, We'll see where they take us.
I mean, it's hard enough to even say it's almost
time dusting. That's tough because it's been a part of
my life for so so long, right, and it is
going to be very emotional, and I'm going to it's
just like the Undertaker, right, you know, getting out of
the business. It's a big step because you're changing something
(13:45):
that you've done for so long. And what do you do, right?
You just have to find things to do in the interim,
basically to keep your mind right and to keep still
in the business. At some point I'll be coaching and
still producing, which I'm doing right now. Anyways. I love that.
So it's passing on my knowledge to the young kids.
(14:05):
That's the payoff. When I teach them something and they
go out and they do it and it works. You know,
it's not about money. That's the payoff. It's me passing
on my knowledge and my experience to the younger generations.
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Absolutely, yeah, absolutely, And you know I gotta say, you know,
I we sit here and I'm listening to you talking about,
you know, the next three years, and that's what you're
gonna do. I can and honestly say, like I've grown
up as a wrestling fan. And I've told this story
numerous times to people, but I remember the first wrestling
event that I ever went to. My dad took me
to Monday Night Raw in Nashville and it was the
(14:40):
night that we saw gold Dust versus Triple H. And
that was also the debut of China when she jumped
over the guardrail. And just following your career, being a
fan of yours all the way up until now. Like again,
I said this at the beginning, I'll say it now.
I'm allowed to do this because it's my show and
I can mark out, but it is an honor to
(15:01):
have you on this show and just following your career
even to the TNA days on the Wednesday night pay
per views here in Nashville at the Asylum, and I
just sit here and think about it, and you know,
the next three years are going to be fun to watch.
And you know, Sin sind Dustin off like the Derek
Jeter Way or the Kobe where you know it's one
(15:21):
of those you have to buy a ticket to ae
W to see Dustin.
Speaker 4 (15:26):
I would sure want that. I mean, that's that's the goal.
I don't know sometimes what's holding my knees together my shoulders.
But something is so I'm still still passionate about it,
and I keep a good grip on reality. You know,
I'm almost fifty six years old, and i know the
time is near. So I'm just trying to work as
hard as I can and do what I need to do,
(15:48):
and you know, we go from there. It's gonna be fun.
It's been a fun ride so far for thirty seven years,
and so many wonderful experiences, getting to see all over
the world, many times over at different places, and a
lot of people don't get that. And it's cool that
when we're going overseas, the kids now they get to
see these things for the first time when I've seen
(16:09):
them twenty times already or whatever. And it's it's it's
good to watch. It's it's fun to watch.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Yeah, absolutely, And I kid you not like you know,
growing up, like I said, growing up watching wrestling. I've
been through the attitude air and everything else. And I've
got two kids now. My eight year old is a
big wrestling fan as well, and so he has like
his little you know, wrestling figures and and and the
rings and everything else. And it's it's really, you know,
(16:35):
really really cool, just to kind of pass my wrestling
down to him and seeing it.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
You know, I was saying, Hey, he watches you wrestling.
Speaker 3 (16:43):
I was like, I remember when he was as gold
Dust and he was wrestling and doing you know this,
and I would get in trouble because I would do
it at school and my dad would slap me in
the back of the head and be like, what the hell.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Are you doing. I was like, I'm doing it.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
That's hard, but it's it's great, and you know, I
know our time is short and real quick. We always
like to have some fun. At the end of the show.
We like to turn to chat GPT. Sometimes it's scary,
and we asked.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Them to ask our guests a question.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Sometimes it's random, sometimes it's off the wall, but yat
GPT wanted to know that. You know, you've portrayed some
of the most unforgettable characters in wrestling history, gold Dust
and Natural, even seven for a brief moment, but we won't.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Talk about that.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
If you had to create one last over the top
persona for yourself, what would it be and how wild
would you.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
Go with it? Oh man, that is a terrific question.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
That's the computer for you. That's not us. I'm kind
of jealous of the computer now.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
H god. I mean, I've done so much. I don't
know as far as over the top characters, what would
work right now, how far you want to take it,
you know. But I'm always I'm always wanting to step
over the line and create something. I think it's very
important for the kids today when I tell them, if
(18:04):
you're in your little bubble, you're not going to go
any farther than this. You know it's going to be mediocre.
You have to and you're scared to step outside of
that circle and to create some magic, because that's where
the magic happens, like the gold Dust character or the
seventh character. I created the seventh character, and the you know,
the TBS, they kind of pulled the plug on it
(18:26):
because it was a little too much for the viewers
per se because there was a kid involved and I'm,
you know, the creepy monster character in the kid's windows.
So the standards and practices, you know, came down on
it kind of hard. And I think it had legs.
And that's something that was out of my mind and
was cool. And I got it from Dark City, the
(18:48):
movie Dark City with those guys floating around and things
like that. So I don't know. As far as today,
I kind of just want to have come full circle
and I want to be the natural and I think
on my last match, I want my old thing from
from the WCW days, and I'm trying to purchase the
rights right now for it because it's it's very memorable
(19:11):
music and people remember it for so many years. A
true wrestling fan. But as far as characters man I have,
I really don't know because I'm kind of doing what
I want to do right now, you know, And.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
It's probably the best answer anyways.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
And it's definitely fun to watch.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Well, you know, Dustin again, it's an honor and a
privilege to have you on our show. And I know
you said you got about three more years left, and
we hope to see in that three years that obviously
we want to see you with that aw World Heavyweight Champion,
but we also want to see the Road's name back
in the nw A history books and hopefully you get
that n w A title too.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
Well. I mean, that's that's something that I've thought about also.
At the same time, it's the NWA of today is
not the same as it used to be, and I
think it's lost a lot of it's prestige. No, you know,
nothing wrong with NWA, what they're doing and everything. They're
trying to get their platform going, and it's just changed
(20:09):
a lot and it's different. I think the spark has
gone from that, you know, ten pounds of gold. But
that is also something that my brother has had and
my dad and it would be a cool little trios
to all three of us to have that. It would
be historic and no other family has done that, which
would be really cool. Yeah, you never say never.
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Man, Absolutely for sure.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Well, Dustin again, it's an honor and a privilege, and
thank you for taking the time out and hanging out
with us today and we look forward to seeing you
very soon.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Again.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
I appreciate you all very much. Thank you, sir,
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