As the wrestling world evolves, the Rhodes family legacy continues to captivate audiences across promotions. With Cody Rhodes cementing himself as a key figure in WWE, the time may be right for his brother, Dustin Rhodes, to join him for one final chapter. Dustin, currently wrestling in AEW and Ring of Honor (ROH), still delivers compelling performances, but there’s a growing sense that his story would be better told alongside Cody in WWE, where their family legacy began.
Dustin’s Career Beyond Goldust
Dustin Rhodes is most famously remembered for his enigmatic Goldust persona, but his career extends well beyond the bizarre character. After an underrated run in WCW, Dustin’s move to WWE in the 1990s allowed him to step out of his father’s shadow and create something wholly unique. As Goldust, he brought a sense of theatre and intrigue to WWE, even capturing the Intercontinental Championship.
However, despite multiple stints in WWE and iconic moments like his tag team with Booker T, Dustin’s story with his brother Cody never fully materialised in the way it could have. The opportunity for WWE to build a legendary sibling rivalry was missed when Cody was transformed into Stardust, ultimately leading to a lacklustre feud between the two that never lived up to its potential. Their sibling rivalry was placed on a secondary stage, and the fans never got to witness the WrestleMania moment they deserved.
AEW: The Redemption of the Rhodes Rivalry
Where WWE faltered, AEW delivered. After leaving WWE in 2019, Dustin joined AEW, and the promotion seized the chance to craft a narrative that WWE had overlooked. At AEW’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view, Dustin faced Cody in a match that exceeded all expectations. Their battle was brutal, emotional, and left the crowd in awe. It’s a match that will go down in wrestling history, ending with the brothers embracing in a heartfelt moment of reconciliation. This match showed what could have been had WWE handled their story differently.
However, since Cody’s return to WWE in 2022, Dustin’s role in AEW has diminished. He now holds two titles in ROH, a promotion that has become more of a secondary brand under AEW’s umbrella. While his accolades are impressive, ROH lacks the platform to elevate a wrestler of Dustin’s stature. He is now 55, and while he still wrestles at a high level, the opportunities to tell a meaningful story are becoming more limited.
Time for One Last WWE Run
As reports suggest that Dustin Rhodes’ AEW contract is set to expire this autumn, the possibility of him rejoining WWE for one final run becomes more intriguing. Dustin has achieved all he can in AEW, and WWE provides the perfect platform to cap off his career alongside Cody. The American Nightmare, now a top star in WWE, finds himself tangled once again with Roman Reigns and the Bloodline, but after that story reaches its conclusion, Cody will need a fresh direction.
Reuniting with his brother in WWE would not only pay homage to their father, Dusty Rhodes, but it would also allow for a more fitting conclusion to their sibling rivalry. Whether they team up for one last tag team run or face off as adversaries, there are endless storytelling possibilities that WWE can explore. Fans missed out on a proper Rhodes vs. Rhodes feud in WWE, but with the experience they’ve both gained, now could be the perfect time to bring it to life.
2024 could be the year where Goldust returns, not as a gimmick alongside Stardust, but as a respected veteran and a brother to Cody Rhodes, the face of WWE.
