There are many ways the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes’ memory is kept alive. We see it in those who he helped guide before his passing in 2015. It’s also seen through the career of his sons. A future Hall of Famer Dustin Rhodes and his son Cody Rhodes, who is gearing up to headline two nights of WrestleMania 40.
Outside the ring, a lasting legacy continues to be forged through the Dusty Rhodes Foundation. The nonprofit organization was formed by the family in 2022. Their mission is to assist community organizations geared toward youth sports and initiatives across the country. One of the driving forces behind the endeavor is Rhodes’ daughter Teil Rhodes.
“We saw a need,” she said. “There is such a big gap now for kids are getting priced out of sports. Kids from rural areas, and underserved communities…There is a gap there for a lot of kids as things get more and more expensive. We thought it would be an amazing way to honor my dad because it was something he did privately for years. Buy equipment, help pay travel fees to help kids pay for sports. He was an athlete himself and really believed in the skillset kids learn from playing sports.”
Since its inception, more than $50,000 has been given away to the cause. Funds have been generated through appearances, autograph signings, sales from Pro Wrestling Tees and generous donations. With the Foundation having very little overhead, they can put most of what is raised back into their efforts. Teil says they are looking for corporate sponsors to make a bigger impact.
“It has been a label of love,” she said of the time. “We’ve done everything from giving equipment to the Lahainaluna High School baseball team Maui that lost everything in the fire to wrestling equipment for a team in South Carolina. We’ve had people reach out to us and we’ve reached out to them.”
Through the experience of helping others, the Rhodes family has benefited in strengthening their bond. Lending a hand to someone else can be a powerful conduit.
“My siblings and I and for my mom, it was kind of a healing thing too,” Teil said. “We would ask, ‘How can we make a difference? How can we honor our dad in a way separate from wrestling and the things you see on TV?’ It speaks more to the man he was than the character on TV. Everybody has been involved.
Fans in Downtown Philadelphia at Wrestlecon can contribute to the Foundation in several ways. Dustin Rhodes will be signing on April 5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. with Ricky Starks appearing April 6 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the convention held at the Sheraton Hotel. Proceeds from the signings go toward the Foundation. They’ll also be raffling off a Cody Rhodes weight belt each day and providing a unique opportunity to take a picture with the “American Nightmare” robe he wore for SummerSlam. You’ll also have a chance to receive Dusty Rhodes Foundation bracelets, the perfect accessory to rock at WrestleMania.
Their ultimate goal is to raise $20,000 for the Foundation’s local recipient Beat the Streets Philadelphia. The sports-based nonprofit helps at-risk kids through amateur wrestling and mentor programming. These programs are so important with schools in the area being some of the most underfunded in the country. To the point where certain high schools don’t have weight rooms.
Teil has been touched by how the pro wrestling community mobilizes for important causes. Even with all the talk of fan tribalism.
“I’ve always had a friendly relationship with Tony Khan,” she said. “He has been generous enough to let us use his talent. Yes, Dustin is a board member of the Foundation, but he didn’t have to let us use Ricky or another talent who has signed for us in the past. That’s never been a problem I’ve encountered [with AEW]…When the wrestling community comes together, it’s so powerful. Pro wrestling I feel is the most loyal of all fandoms.”
As one can surmise from her social media, Teil is also a fan. Ironically enough, now more than ever. She attributes this to the changing landscape of the business with old fans even coming back who haven’t watched in years.
“I feel like that is where I was for a while,” Teil said. “I had a younger family then too, so I wasn’t watching too much TV. You’re seeing amazing matches and storylines across pro wrestling. It’s that feeling you don’t want to miss out. You want to tune in every week. It had been a while for me since I felt like I wanted to watch live.”
I’m sure it helps watching brother Cody Rhodes’ journey to finishing his story while headlining his second WrestleMania. Thanks to the Rhodes to the Top reality show, Teil is more of a public figure. That has her build an even stronger connection with fans.
“I felt a strong connection with a lot of wrestling fans after my dad passed,” Teil said. “They wanted to share things with me. Wrestling Twitter for so long. It boosted me at a time when I felt so low…For me, [being on social media] has been much more positive than I’ve seen negative, even now. That’s why I still enjoy interacting that way.
“I think being more public was born out of all the things Cody did and created and getting things going. I had a hand in the back when we were doing All In. I’ve carried that through working with the Foundation. That has been fulfilling with me.”
Teil has also had a blast with her involvement with Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, which has undergone a revival. They just had their first event with a pilot for their show to be watched through the Nightmare Family YouTube page.
“We had a great first event,” Teil, the executive vice president, said. “Right now, we are building out the studio at the Nightmare Factory so we can run Turnbuckle hopefully once a month. We’re still looking at distributing and the best way for fans to view the shows. That’s been exciting. It wasn’t anything I thought I would really do. Indie wrestling is so different now. It’s exciting to have a place where the Nightmare students can hone their craft, but we can also bring in the great indie talent and hopefully a TCW legend from the past for a match each show It’s a family show. Our shows are family-friendly, That is what it was before, so I’m trying to continue that. It’s new but exciting.”
The Rhodes family has not only been at the forefront of the story between Cody Rhodes and The Bloodline. The Rock even made things even more personal by including mom Michelle Rubio in the smack talk.
“I think it’s always assumed the Rhodes family is just an extension of Cody because he talks about us so much. That we are required to participate. With my mom, it’s funny because she is really a private person and shy. Yet she gets drawn into this great storytelling in wrestling,” Teil said. “Cody is so much like her. I think of course we are so proud Dusty was our dad, but we’re really proud Michelle Rubio is our mom.
“Her heart for helping others and the things she has done to build people up in the business, I don’t think people will ever know about. Sometimes I feel bad for her. She is just watching Raw or SmackDown, and here comes The Rock talking about my sweet little mom. It’s a wild time for the Rhodes family.”
Teil also has the family trait of having no fear. Not to mention being someone you don’t want on your bad side. She is also open to being included in the story if necessary going as far as to say, “I’m always there if they need me. I can certainly get ready to go.”
Another Rhodes who fans would fantasy book and hope to appear alongside Cody is Dustin, currently contracted to AEW. Will we see him show up?
Teil answered with an, “I don’t know,” Adding that, “Dustin was there in the suite last year…Of course, your brother is main eventing two nights of the
biggest WrestleMania in history. I think Dustin will be there. Will we see Dustin though? That I don’t know.”
For more information or to donate to the Dusty Rhodes Foundation, visit http://dustyrhodesfoundation.org/.
