Why Did Goldust AKA Dustin Rhodes Leave WWE

Dustin Rhodes, formerly known in WWE as Goldust, is one of the most enigmatic names in pro wrestling. The 56-year-old had a long career at the company that spanned almost two and a half decades, including the breaks he took in between. Here’s why the storied performer departed from WWE in April 2019 and joined AEW.

Dustin Rhodes made an appearance in a December 2019 episode of the Dropkick DiSKussions podcast, where he spoke about leaving the Stamford-based promotion. The former Goldust noted that he was done with WWE and didn’t have anything left to do there. Moreover, he was also thinking about quitting his pro wrestling career.

However, he pointed out that when he moved to the AEW alongside his brother, Cody Rhodes, his passion for wrestling got revived. He also described the fun he had while wrestling the younger Rhodes at the 2019 AEW Double or Nothing. He also stated that the new company had a better schedule, which allowed him to have a healthy work-life balance for the first time in years.

With the WWE, I’d had enough. It was time for me to go. It had been such a long, storied career with the Goldust character and, do you know, I really thought that I was going to retire – and then I got pulled in and my passion got reignited when I wrestled my brother, and we had the match of the last decade, probably, if not the last two decades. It was such a story, a great match. The schedule is a lot different, so it takes some getting used to. We were on the road so much up there that you don’t have any time at home with your family and here, with AEW, I love it, man! The scheduling is great. I leave Tuesday to go to the production meeting, Wednesday’s TV, come home Thursday and whatever else I want to do, I’m free to do – which I did not have that freedom to do anything that I wanted to do outside of wrestling up there. They made it very, very difficult and that’s one of the reasons why I left.

This means that Dustin Rhodes was highly fatigued with the way WWE constantly kept him on the road and provided him little time for his family. This is a priority for several stars, especially when they start reaching their 40s.

Alongside wrestling, Dustin Rhodes has also pursued multiple acting roles following his WWE departure. Moreover, he described that he had a passion for acting right from a very young age.

Dustin Rhodes’ Passion for Acting

Speaking in the same Dropkick DiSKussions podcast episode, the former WWE star noted that he always used to jot script ideas when he was little. He said that he always wanted to be in films and had a camera stuck to his hand. 

He highlighted that the free time he received from AEW’s liberal scheduling allowed him to easily audition for acting roles and balance them with wrestling. Dustin Rhodes said that he is loving the process and the fact that he is finally able to pursue something he harbors a deep passion for.

The former Goldust also stated that he has already worked on several projects and needs to keep moving so that he gets recognized in the industry as a good actor. This showcases that Dustin Rhodes always had more to give to the fans, but he was kept limited to a gimmick that was watered down beyond recognition.

What Was Goldust’s Gimmick in WWE?

Goldust’s WWE debut (Image Credits: WWE’s official YouTube channel)

Dustin Rhodes debuted the Goldust character in WWE on October 22, 1995. On the surface, he was supposed to be a cinemaholic who reminisced about the golden age of films. However, at its core, the character was queer-coded, over-the-top weird, and highly sexually suggestive. 

Vince McMahon pushed this character despite backlash from the ’90s fans of pro wrestling and even put the Intercontinental Championship on him three times. However, when the pressure from fans against the gold-coloured star with a bodysuit and fake hair grew, Mr. McMahon pulled the plug on Goldust.

This came as a creative loss for Dustin Rhodes, who had worked hard to embody his gimmick. The new changes still saw him connected to his love for films, but it didn’t have the same charm. Goldust had a big moment in 2013 when he teamed up with his brother, Cody Rhodes, to win the WWE Tag Team Championship against The Shield.

But the momentum faded fast, with the younger Rhodes leaving for the indies in 2016 to give birth to his American Nightmare persona. While QB1 is back in WWE and is the reigning Undisputed Champion, Dustin Rhodes has decided that he will retire while wrestling for the AEW and not jump ships anymore.

What do you think about Dustin Rhodes’ move to the AEW? Pour your thoughts down in the comments section.