Dustin Rhodes Provides Update on Second Memoir, Promises a More Revealing Look at His Extraordinary Wrestling Career
There are certain professional wrestlers whose careers deserve more than a collection of championship statistics and memorable matches.
Dustin Rhodes is undoubtedly one of them.
And apparently, he has considerably more to say about the experiences that shaped his journey through professional wrestling.
Rhodes recently provided an update on his second memoir, confirming that he's actively writing a more comprehensive account of his career. Although he previously discussed plans for another book in December 2024, his October 23 comments offered additional insight into what readers can expect, including his intention to revisit his accomplishments, struggles, and experiences with greater creative freedom.
And there's something particularly interesting about the way Rhodes described the project.
In a social media exchange, Rhodes suggested that his previous autobiography was subject to restrictions while he was working with WWE and that this time he intends to tell his story on his own terms.
That's an intriguing statement.
Because Dustin Rhodes has experienced professional wrestling from perspectives that very few performers ever will.
He's been a second-generation wrestler carrying one of the industry's most recognizable family names. He's competed during dramatically different periods of professional wrestling history, experienced the creative demands of major television promotions, and spent decades adapting to an industry that has changed enormously since his career began.
But perhaps most importantly, he's experienced the complicated relationship between a wrestler's personal identity and the character audiences recognize.
And I think that's where a second memoir could become particularly compelling.
Rhodes released his first autobiography, Cross Rhodes: Goldust, Out of the Darkness, in 2010. The book explored his life and wrestling career, including personal struggles and the experiences surrounding his transformation into Goldust.
But an extraordinary amount has happened since then.
Rhodes continued working for WWE before departing in 2019 and joining AEW, where he became part of another significant chapter in professional wrestling's history.
His career has also involved training, mentoring, and working behind the scenes, providing opportunities to influence performers whose experiences differ considerably from his own.
And that's something I appreciate.
Because there's a difference between telling the story of what happened during your career and explaining what those experiences taught you.
The latter can become incredibly valuable.
Having spent years inside the ring, I know that professional wrestling has a way of teaching lessons you don't necessarily recognize while they're happening. Sometimes you're so focused on the next booking, the next opportunity, or the next obstacle that you don't fully appreciate the significance of an experience until years later.
And sometimes distance allows you to recognize situations differently.
Decisions that once seemed impossible might become easier to understand. Relationships that were complicated at the time might take on new meaning. And experiences that felt like failures can eventually become some of the most important lessons of your career.
That's why I find the idea of Rhodes revisiting his story particularly interesting.
His professional life has included extraordinary successes, personal difficulties, and the challenge of establishing an identity beyond his father's legacy.
And there's no denying that Dusty Rhodes casts an enormous shadow over professional wrestling history.
But Dustin has also spent decades demonstrating that his career deserves recognition on its own merits.
The Goldust character, in particular, required an understanding of presentation, audience psychology, and commitment that I believe deserves considerably more appreciation than it sometimes receives.
Because making an unconventional character believable isn't easy.
You have to commit to the presentation, understand how audiences interpret your actions, and find ways to make people emotionally invest in someone they might not immediately understand.
That's a tremendous skill.
And it's one that Rhodes developed during an era when professional wrestling was experiencing significant changes in both presentation and audience expectations.
But his career hasn't been defined exclusively by Goldust. His later work demonstrated that an experienced wrestler could continue contributing meaningfully to the industry without relying entirely on nostalgia.
And I believe that's an important part of his legacy.
Professional wrestling sometimes treats age as though it automatically diminishes someone's value.
But experience can become an extraordinary asset.
An established performer can help younger wrestlers understand timing, psychology, professionalism, and the importance of protecting the person standing across from them. Those lessons aren't always glamorous. They don't necessarily produce viral moments. But they're essential to preserving the craft.
My interactions with Dustin Rhodes during my trips to WWE were nothing but pleasant and thought provoking. I got really good feedback from him that made me feel great about my in-ring talent, and more importantly, my talent for character development and writing. He gave me his undivided attention and was articulate in his views and advice.
I don't have to tell you, the readers, that influential time like that with people like Dustin doesn't always happen. That's what makes them far more worth the earning. I left that particular WWE loop feeling like I had learned, performed far above expectations, and stood out in a stellar way. It was a great feeling, one that I have not forgotten. And to be honest, I attribute that particular WWE Loop, and my OVW time is what led to my 2015 WWE Tryout...
Rhodes has also experienced significant physical challenges, including double knee replacement surgery in 2025. His return to competition has remained a subject of interest, although the announcement of progress on a new book shouldn't be confused with confirmation of an upcoming match.
And that's another aspect of his story that could be meaningful.
Because professional wrestling careers eventually require performers to consider what their relationship with the industry will look like beyond regular competition. Some become trainers. Some become producers. Others discover new ways to share the experiences they've accumulated.
And writing a memoir can be another opportunity to contribute...
Of course, Rhodes hasn't announced a publication date, final title, or complete list of subjects for the book. And while he's suggested that his earlier project involved creative limitations, the precise circumstances surrounding those restrictions haven't been independently established. That's his account of the experience, and it deserves to be attributed accordingly.
But the central development is clear.
He's actively writing another book, and his latest comments suggest that he intends to provide a more comprehensive version of his story than readers received the first time.
Personally, I hope he takes that opportunity to explore not simply what happened during his career, but what those experiences taught him about professional wrestling. Because championships eventually change hands. Characters evolve. And the industry continues moving forward. But the knowledge accumulated through decades of experience can become something far more lasting.
Dustin Rhodes has spent an extraordinary amount of his life contributing to professional wrestling. Now he has another opportunity to explain what that life has meant to him. And I suspect there's considerably more to Dustin's story than audiences have heard so far...
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