Dusty Rhodes

[strobogo]

His best in ring work in my experience is prior to 1980, of which there isn't a ton of easily and readily available stuff. Basically a couple of msg wwwf shows on the network, a couple of NJPW matches on World, and a couple of AJPW matches in the archive of you can track them down 

[elliott]

I think if we had a real picture of the Texas Outlaws he'd be a lock. BUt we don't and he ends up on the borderline for me. The Superstar Graham matches are so good that I feel like I almost have to at least think about him for that alone since Graham was such a dogshit worker. 

The best promo ever. Top 5 announcer too. 

[Justtxyank]

I think Dusty is a good gauge for how you feel about gimmicks and entertainment in the ring. I know a lot people here able to essentially do the old "Turn the announcers off and judge the fight on mute." If you're that type of analyst, obviously Dusty won't rank well.

However, I think in the ring, character work is every bit as important as wrestling skill. Not promos (where Dusty was probably #1 all time for me) but playing your character in the ring, engaging the crowd in what you're doing, making stuff matter. I think Dusty did that stuff very well, better than the majority of wrestlers. Would easily put him in a top 100 list.

I think he would have been served going to the WWF in the early 80s and being that tier below Hogan guy than going to JCP and being the superstar. That burned him out with the fans and really turned the view of him.