Bob Caudle: Ladies and gentlemen, you all know that Dusty Rhodes has been injured. Well, we wanna welcome back tonight Dusty Rhodes for his first interview since his injury. Here is "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, and Dusty, your fans welcome you back, man!
Dusty Rhodes: First of all, I would to thank the many, many fans throughout this country that wrote cards and letters to Dusty Rhodes, "The American Dream", while I was down. Secondly, I want to thank Jim Crockett Promotions for waiting and taking the time 'cause I know how important it was, Starrcade '85 it is to the wrestling fans, it is to Jim Crockett Promotions, and Dusty Rhodes, "The American Dream". With that wait, I got what I wanted, Ric Flair, the World's Heavyweight Champion. I don't have to say a whole lot more about the way I feel about Ric Flair; no respect, no honor. There is no honor amongst thieves in the first place!
He put hard times on Dusty Rhodes and his family. You don't know what hard times are, daddy! Hard times are when the textile workers around this country are out of work, they got four or five kids and can't pay their wages, can't buy their food. Hard times are when the auto workers are out of work and they tell 'em "go home". And hard times are when a man has worked at a job for 30 years. 30 YEARS! And they give him a watch, kick him in the butt and say "Hey a computer took your place, daddy!" That’s hard times! That’s hard times! And Ric Flair, you put hard times on this country by takin' Dusty Rhodes out, that’s hard times. And we all had hard times together. And I admit, I don't look like the athlete of the day supposed to look. My belly's just a little big, my hiney's a little big, but brother, I am bad. And they know I'm bad.
There were two bad people... One was John Wayne and he's dead, brother; and the other’s right here. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, the World's Heavyweight Title belongs to these people. Imma reach out right now, I want you at home to know my hand is touching your hand for this gathering of the biggest body of people in this country, in this universe, all over the world now, reaching out. Because the love that was given me and this time I will repay you now, because I will be the next World's Heavyweight Champion on this Hard Time blues. Dusty Rhodes Tour, '85.
And Ric Flair, "Nature Boy"... Let me leave you with this: One way to hurt Ric Flair, is to take what he cherishes more than anything in the world: That’s the World’s Heavyweight title. I'm gonna take it, I been there twice. This time when I take it daddy, I'm gonna take it for you. Let's gather for it. Don't let me down now, 'cause I came back for you, for that man up there that died 10—12 years ago and never got the opportunity to see a real World's Champion. And I'm proud of you, thank God I have you, and I love you. I LOVE YOU!
Bob Caudle: "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, fans.
Dusty Rhodes: First of all, I would to thank the many, many fans throughout this country that wrote cards and letters to Dusty Rhodes, "The American Dream", while I was down. Secondly, I want to thank Jim Crockett Promotions for waiting and taking the time 'cause I know how important it was, Starrcade '85 it is to the wrestling fans, it is to Jim Crockett Promotions, and Dusty Rhodes, "The American Dream". With that wait, I got what I wanted, Ric Flair, the World's Heavyweight Champion. I don't have to say a whole lot more about the way I feel about Ric Flair; no respect, no honor. There is no honor amongst thieves in the first place!
He put hard times on Dusty Rhodes and his family. You don't know what hard times are, daddy! Hard times are when the textile workers around this country are out of work, they got four or five kids and can't pay their wages, can't buy their food. Hard times are when the auto workers are out of work and they tell 'em "go home". And hard times are when a man has worked at a job for 30 years. 30 YEARS! And they give him a watch, kick him in the butt and say "Hey a computer took your place, daddy!" That’s hard times! That’s hard times! And Ric Flair, you put hard times on this country by takin' Dusty Rhodes out, that’s hard times. And we all had hard times together. And I admit, I don't look like the athlete of the day supposed to look. My belly's just a little big, my hiney's a little big, but brother, I am bad. And they know I'm bad.
There were two bad people... One was John Wayne and he's dead, brother; and the other’s right here. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, the World's Heavyweight Title belongs to these people. Imma reach out right now, I want you at home to know my hand is touching your hand for this gathering of the biggest body of people in this country, in this universe, all over the world now, reaching out. Because the love that was given me and this time I will repay you now, because I will be the next World's Heavyweight Champion on this Hard Time blues. Dusty Rhodes Tour, '85.
And Ric Flair, "Nature Boy"... Let me leave you with this: One way to hurt Ric Flair, is to take what he cherishes more than anything in the world: That’s the World’s Heavyweight title. I'm gonna take it, I been there twice. This time when I take it daddy, I'm gonna take it for you. Let's gather for it. Don't let me down now, 'cause I came back for you, for that man up there that died 10—12 years ago and never got the opportunity to see a real World's Champion. And I'm proud of you, thank God I have you, and I love you. I LOVE YOU!
Bob Caudle: "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, fans.
—Dusty's famous "Hard Times" promo, Mid Atlantic Wrestling, October 29, 1985
"Don't do shit you do not know how to do."
— Dusty Rhodes admonishing Big Bubba Rogers backstage after Bubba accidentally knocked a jobber out while trying a new move.
