Cody Rhodes on Why Goldust Deserves a Hall of Fame Spot
Cody Rhodes may have finished his story at WrestleMania 40, but an essential figure in his journey, his older brother, Dustin Rhodes, was notably absent from the final chapters. As the American Nightmare is forging his legacy as Undisputed WWE Champion, Dusty’s oldest first-born son remains an active competitor in AEW and Ring of Honor.
Dustin has taken on various personas throughout his decades-long career, but it’s his work as the iconic Goldust character that Cody believers will secure his spot among wrestling’s legends.
“I think I was 14 years old when Goldust was really hitting his stride on WWE television,” Cody tells The Schmo. “I can certainly say that it was a unique thing to see. My friends had a lot of feelings about what Goldust was doing.”
At a time when many wrestlers leaned into their family legacies, Dustin defied expectations. He went all-in with Goldust—an androgynous, gold-painted character who had opponents reeling from mind games before the bell even rang.
“Knowing how much he had subverted expectations, knowing how much he didn’t want to just be a Rhodes, he wanted to be his own thing. I was very proud of Dustin throughout that whole run, what he did, and the lengths he went to do it.”
As the mid-90s gave way to the late-90s and society embraced Jerry Springer-style shock value, Goldust stayed at the forefront, pushing boundaries every step of the way. The portrayal of Goldust, in Cody’s view, stands as a testament Dustin’s creative genius deserving of wrestling’s highest honor.
“Goldust was an underrated part of the Attitude Era, certainly somebody worthy of the Hall of Fame.”
