WWE: 10 Most Underrated Wrestlers in Company History

1. Dustin Rhodes/Goldust

Perhaps the most underrated wrestler of all time, Dustin (Rhodes) Runnells, the artist formerly known as Goldust, was a staple of the WWE for many years. Dustin became a household name during his time in World Championship Wrestling. He won the United States Championship twice and the Tag Team Championship in a notable teaming with Barry Windham.

After parting ways with WCW after an incident during the infamous King of the Road match with The Blacktop Bully, Rhodes made his way to the WWF for the first time since a short run in late 1990-early 1991. It was here that Rhodes would first become Goldust, the role that would change his career forever. Dustin wanted to separate himself from his father at the time and it is safe to say that he was successful.

Goldust was one of the most shocking characters to arrive out of the edgy Attitude Era. “The Bizarre One” is hardly enough to describe the flamboyant mystery that is Goldust. Rhodes fully committed to his role and even went as far as to really kiss Ahmed Johnson when he wasn’t meant to. A moment that Johnson said left him fired up.

Goldust shined as the Intercontinental Champion three different times before personal demons led him out of the company in June 1999. He returned to WCW and remained with the company until they were bought out by WWE. Like many other names, Rhodes chose not to return to WWE during the Invasion angle. However, vignettes would begin to hype Goldust’s return for the 2002 Royal Rumble.

During this run with the company, Goldust will best be remembered for his tag team run with Booker T. The odd teaming would be one of the most comical parts of the show and would have a run as Tag Team Champions. It was also during this time that Goldust would be electrocuted at the hands of Evolution’s Randy Orton and Batista that left him with stutter and tick that can show up to this day.

Despite other short memorial returns to WWE, including another surprise Royal Rumble entry, it wasn’t until 2013 that he had his longest run with the company. Goldust returned during The Authority’s reign of dominance to help out his half-brother Cody Rhodes. The two brothers would begin teaming together and picked a memorable tag team championship victory over The Shield with their father Dusty Rhodes at ringside.

The brothers won the tag titles twice together before Cody Rhodes would transform into Stardust which would transform into Cody leaving the company. Dustin would remain with WWE until leaving the company in 2019. In May of the same year, “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes debuted in All Elite Wrestling, where he remains today, to fight against and with his brother Cody once again.

Sadly, Goldust’s days in WWE may be all behind us now and he will be remembered as one of the best to never get to prove himself as exactly that.