Dustin Rhodes Criticizes Scripted Promos – “No Real Emotion In Them”

Dustin Rhodes has spoken out about the use of scripted promos in wrestling, criticizing the lack of emotion, and has shared advice on what to do when handed a script.

As a member of the WWE locker room during the Attitude Era, Dustin would cut unscripted promos live on TV every week.

Working as Goldust, Dustin’s character was ahead of its time in the mid 90’s as WWE looked to move toward more edgy content after losing audiences and talent to WCW.

Vince McMahon brought Vince Russo in as the head writer in 1997, with his role requiring making on-screen storylines more adult-oriented.

Russo and McMahon would oversee the main points for a promo, but it was up to the talent to draw on crowd reaction whilst delivering.

This is why the son of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, feels fans connected with talent, as many of the performances were amped up versions of their real selves.

Dustin was appearing on Sports Guys Talking Wrestling to promote the A&E Biography on his father Dusty Rhodes.

During the interview, Dustin shared how he is concerned by the lack or emotion portrayed in performing a scripted promo, and explained one of the big issues is that talent is not advised on hot to deliver the promo in their own way.

“The problem was scripted promos are they’re scripted.

“They’re not coming from emotion and there’s no real emotion in them. It’s what somebody has written for you. What I didn’t learn is when a scripted promos handed to you, they never told you need to make this your own.

So, if you have a script promo … I’m going to [take those words] and make them my own so that I can bring the emotion, so that I can move somebody sitting at home.”

The grandson of a plumber also discussed his thoughts on his brother Cody Rhodes headlining WrestleMania 39.

Currently performing in AEW, Dustin has been praised for supporting younger talent develop, and feels that the next generation need to focus on developing their promos to ensure fans invest in their stories.

“Very important these days for the youngsters that are getting into the business to focus on not so much that moves, not so much for what you say, but how you move someone sitting at home, casually tuning in for the first time.”

“You want to hook them. You want him to feel it when they’re sitting there and they’re like ‘holy man, that was incredible, I got to watch this next week.'”

H/t to WrestlingInc