The American Dream Goes Extreme: Dusty Rhodes' Run In ECW
Dusty Rhodes is a man synonymous with the legacy of WCW. Whether he was a member of the booking committee, inventing WCW pay-per-view names and gimmicks or attracting crowds as a performer, it isn’t easy to imagine a scenario where The American Dream was left without a promotion to call home.
In late 1999, Rhodes left WCW and still desired to prove his worth, but who would have ever guessed that the American Dream would venture to the land of extreme?
The Mentee Extends a Hand
A 17-year-old photographer named Paul Heyman first caught the attention of Dusty Rhodes when he snuck into a closed-door production meeting to sit under the learning tree of the ‘Super Genius.’ Rather than kick Heyman out, Dusty embraced his passion by allowing him to stay and take notes.
At 23, Dusty Rhodes hired Paul Heyman directly for Superstation TBS.
Just over a decade later, Paul Heyman opened his arms and returned the favour to his mentor Dusty Rhodes by presenting him with an opportunity in Extreme Championship Wrestling. While on the surface, this seemed like unfamiliar territory for Dusty, he was hardcore before the promotion's existence and could endear himself to any audience. Challenge accepted.
The American Dream Arrives In ECW
Steve Corino’s moniker was the “King of Old School,” which made him denounce hardcore wrestling and the ECW fanbase.
During the December 10, 1999 edition of ECW Wrestling, Steve blamed one individual he claimed was stupid enough to start the hardcore revolution, and that man was Dusty Rhodes. Standing in the audience was The Dream.
Corino: “I guess Dusty left his spine in the last place that he killed.”
The fans loudly chanted for Dusty as he entered the ring despite Joey Styles begging him to turn around.
Corino: “The business has changed. This isn’t 1985 anymore, and you’re not the bull of the woods in my territory anymore. I mean, Dusty, you had all those great phrases. Do you have anything to say for yourself? No, I didn’t think so. You see, Dusty, you’re staring into the eyes of the future of professional wrestling. I have no respect for you. I never did. Look at me when I’m talking to you, Dream.”
Pic: WWE Network
Corino then slapped Dusty, and he was met with a Bionic Elbow as a receipt, followed by a body slam.
Dusty took off his jacket, strutted around and landed his elbow drop. Those in attendance proudly chanted his name.
At Guilty As Charged on January 14, 2000, Dusty Rhodes rescued Jerry Lynn as he attacked Steve Corino and company from behind with Bionic Elbows but was jumped by an angry Rhino who laid out the Dream. The locker room cleared to end the uneven odds as the five men put the boots to the legend.
As Steve Corino, Jack Victory, and Rhino dove into the ring to attack Tommy Dreamer during the January 15, 2000 edition of ECW on TNN, Dusty Rhodes emerged from the crowd, taking both men out with simultaneous Bionic Elbows. Rhino clotheslined Rhodes as Dreamer covered his fallen body.
With a Singapore cane and beer in hand, the Sandman evened the odds by cracking Rhino in the head twice as the villainous trio retreated.
Witnessing The American Dream, Tommy Dreamer, and The Sandman in the same ring at the ECW Arena was surreal and equally unexpected.
During ECW on TNN on January 28, 2000, the Rhino & Steve Corino duo was scheduled to face Tommy Dreamer and Josh Wilcox of the New Orleans Saints, who filled in for a dejected Raven.
Wilcox turned on Dreamer by attacking him with a steel chair and aligning with Corino.
Corino called for Dusty, who emerged from the stage wearing a black cowboy hat. The Dream attacked Wilcox and Victory from behind while low-blowing The Savour of ECW.
On February 4, 2000, Dusty Rhodes competed in an ECW ring for the first time in a tag-team featuring Tommy Dreamer match against the formidable duo of Steve Corino and Rhino. This would be Dusty’s first match in 6 years. Steve asked Dreamer to tag the “fat, disgusting man who started hardcore wrestling here in Florida.” As Joey Styles noted, “school is in session, old school that is, Mr. Corino.”
At one point, Dusty locked Rhino in the Figure-Four Leglock while Tommy Dreamer got Jack Victory into submission, with even Francine executing the move on Corino in unison.
While Dusty was noticeably older and slower, he still performed his signature spots and invoked emotion from the audience like few ever could.
The match's conclusion saw Dusty land the Bionic Elbow Drop on Steve Corino for the pinfall victory.
At a Hardcore TV taping on February 4, Dusty Rhodes and Tommy Dreamer teamed again to defeat Jack Victory & Steve Corino in a Street Fight.
During ECW on TNN on February 11, 2000, Dusty Rhodes joined Paul Heyman to check on Raven after the Impact Players viciously dismantled him.
Cyrus entered the ring and wanted Raven removed from the ring. Dusty cut him off to remind him, “it’s about the boys, not the goddamn network!”
Dusty then noted that he came to ECW for one reason, “to see Paul E and got drawn into a situation. I got drawn in as an old man to a situation. I got my ass kicked by the young Turks if you will.”
Rhodes further explained to Cyrus that it’s all about the boys who pay your bills and that he’s not here to go for Mike Awesome’s title, but because for 30 years, the fans gave a shit about what he did.
Steve Corino eventually interrupted, but Dusty noted he was through with him.
Dusty further proclaimed, “somebody’s gotta punch you right in the nose. But I ain’t. To hell, I ain’t!” Dusty would punch Steve and hit Cyrus and Jack Victory with Bionic Elbows until Rhino came to the rescue. Victory choked Rhodes with a bullrope, a sign of things to come.
The Sandman’s music played y to conclude the show.
On March 3, 2000, Steve Corino handpicked Erik Watts as his opponent in a Texas Bullrope match, which was Dusty’s specialty. Instead, they beat up the referee who defended the city of Milwaukee.
Corino asked that Rhodes come out of retirement again and face him in an old-school style bullrope match. He would label The American Dream as a coward along with the individual who put Jim Crockett’s promotion out of business, nearly bankrupted the WWF in 1989 and cut the brake lines on Magnum T.A’s car. That final line received a collective gasp from those in attendance.
Furthermore, once he defeats Dusty, he wants Rhodes to admit that Steve Corino is the new American Dream.
On the March 11, 2000, episode of Hardcore TV, Dusty Rhodes cut a memorable promo from his ranch.
Dusty Rhodes: “No, Cyrus. This is not the Network camera crew if you will. This is Dusty Rhodes’ psychedelic camera crew. ECW’s boys in town. I wanna talk about you for just one minute, Cyrus. I forgot more about television production, about networking, about drawing money than you will ever know. Paul E has also walked down that path. One thing that you do better than we do though when it comes to networking if you will in public is kissing ass. Network’s not going to stop me from my next foray if you will. But come out here in Florida on my ranch, talkin’ bout Dusty Rhodes and bull-roping, Steve Corino dragging your name and your family and putting out all kinds of threats. Making a guy get 58 stitches on television. A bloodletting they said it was. They said it was a bloodletting in public if you will. All on my account. I didn’t come to ECW to stop this thing. I didn’t come here to ‘get over’, I didn’t come here to be World’s Heavyweight Champion. Hell, I’ve already done that. But I’ve got thrown into a situation with some bad hombres. Jacky Victory, Rhino head and young Steve Corino, trying to touch just a little bit of that lightning bolt that crashes so heavily through the sky called Dusty Rhodes. Well, let me tell you something I’ve decided to do. I’ve got my bull rope , it’s in the bag. It’s got a new bell on it because what’s going to happen now is I’m accepting that situation that I’m thrown into. I will be at Living Dangerously, only on Pay Per View. You can’t see it, only but Pay Per View. Dusty Rhodes, The American Dream, strapping on his arm one more time. Hell, I invented hardcore. I was doing bunkhouses, bull ropes, Texas death matches, barbwire, burned somebody’s ass up matches long before you were born, Corino. So yeah, you’ve done got yourself into it now. You better think about how you’re gonna get out. You ain’t gonna get out. Living Dangerously only Pay Per View, Dusty Rhodes, The American Dream, Steve Corino tied off. Think about this, you’re a history buff? Yeah, yeah. You’re a history buff. Think about the history the heads and blood that have been on some of my cowbells. The Harley Race’s, the Flair, the Joe LeDuc, Prince Iaukea. We’re talking about Cowboy Bill Watts. We’re talking about Superstar Billy Graham. First ever bull rope match. We’re talking about the legacy of the Funk’s. Whether it be Dory Funk, Terry Funk, Papa Funk or Mother Funk. It doesn’t matter to me. They’ve all felt the steel of the mighty bull rope. But a new bell is waiting on you and I’m going to bring it to Living Dangerously only on Pay Per View. And when it’s over, you know, I’ve kinda had my ass kicked 3 or 4 times by this Rhino guy and I ain’t said much about him. No, but he’s kind of got my juices up now. Remember this, my friend, I’m in the ball game to stay. Living Dangerously only on Pay Per View, The American Dream and Stevie Corino, Bull Rope. It ain’t gonna get no better than that.
Living Dangerously 2000
In a Texas Bullrope Match, two wrestlers are placed on opposite ends of a rope with a cowbell in the middle.
Dusty Rhodes squared off against Steve Corino in a Texas Bullrope Match at Living Dangerously 2000 on March 12, 2000.
Before the match transpired, Steve grabbed a microphone and berated the audience while explicitly targeting the Sandman’s wife. He shockingly even dragged her over the guardrail.
The Sandman intervened but was taken out by Rhino, who would also put Lori through a table.
Steve Corino returned to the ring and insisted that their match take place right now.
Given his familiarity with the stipulation, Dusty Rhodes gained the early advantage. The Dream almost immediately took the match to the outside of the ring and then into the crowd. Both men would draw blood following stiff shots from the cowbell.
Pic: WWE Network
Jack Victory’s constant interference continued to slow down Dusty’s momentum.
After back-and-forth action, the referee (the same one Steve attacked in Milwaukee) assisted Dusty by taping one of the extra cowbells to Steve Corino’s forehead.
The Dream hit him in the head with a chair for additional damage, flipped the double birds and executed his patented Bionic Elbow Drop for the pinfall victory.
It was a satisfying yet straightforward match, with Dusty exacting revenge over months of taunting.
The Final Chapter
On March 18, 2000, Dusty Rhodes teamed with Danny Doring and Roadkill to defeat Bill Wiles, C.W. Anderson and Erik Watts in a 6-match tag match.
During the conclusion of the April 21, 2000, edition of ECW on TNN, The Network (Steve Corino, Tajiri, Rhino and Jack Victory) had the numbers advantage over Tommy Dreamer, New Jack and The Sandman until a familiar face evened the odds. Dusty Rhodes cleared the ring with Bionic Elbows on each member of The Network.
Dusty Rhodes and Steve Corino faced each other in a rematch at CyberSlam 2000 at the ECW Arena on April 22, 2000. Just as The American Dream was about to put away Steve Corino, Jack Victory hit Rhodes from behind with the cowbell, which allowed the King of Old School to take advantage and score the victory.
Dusty Rhodes appeared on the ECW Wrestlepalooza '00 card teaming with New Jack, The Sandman, and Tommy Dreamer to defeat The Network (Jack Victory, Rhino, Steve Corino and Tajiri) in a 4-on-4 Street Fight.
The American Dream competed in two more matches against Jack Victory before departing from the promotion.
Reflecting On His Run
When other publications reference Dusty’s time in ECW, it’s usually summarized by one match at Living Dangerously 2000, but as discussed earlier, there were several stand-out moments worth revisiting.
What started as a one-off appearance quickly transformed into an entire program with Steve Corino that helped elevate the King of Old School while lending additional credibility to the promotion. He was a little bit older and slower, but charisma never ages.
In a tweet from 2019, Cody Rhodes noted that Dusty’s tenure in ECW changed his career since he was concerned the crowd wouldn’t take to him but ultimately embraced him. It opened his mind to a new world of wrestling he carried with him to other ventures.
While his time with ECW was short-lived, it’s clear that this run left a lasting impression on his life, just as he created one for a generation years earlier. Before hardcore was even a concept, there was The American Dream.
