WWE Hall Of Famer Offers Insight On Dusty Rhodes’ Controversial Polka Dots Gimmick

In the most recent episode of “Everybody’s Got a Pod,” WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase shared his perspective on the infamous makeover of wrestling icon Dusty Rhodes during his late 1980s WWE tenure. The transformation, which saw the “American Dream” donning polka dot attire, has been a topic of heated debate among wrestling enthusiasts and industry professionals for decades.

Ted DiBiase, renowned for his “Million Dollar Man” character, expressed uncertainty regarding Vince McMahon’s motives behind Rhodes’ drastic image change.

I don’t know what Vince’s deal was. But you know, they put Dusty in this ridiculous-looking outfit. But I’m going to tell you what — and it’s to Dusty’s credit. Dusty said, ‘Okay, I’m going to take this ball and run with it.’ And he did. He got over.

Addressing speculation that the makeover was intended to humiliate Dusty Rhodes, DiBiase offered a different point of view. He suggested that while the initial intention might have been ambiguous, McMahon ultimately realised Rhodes’ success with the gimmick. DiBiase also highlighted McMahon’s background in promoting different kinds of pro-wrestling characters.

Vince was never a wrestler. Vince’s gift was marketing. And now he’s marketing all of these characters, and he’s marketing them to a younger audience.

The WWE Hall of Famer speculated that the polka dot attire might have been McMahon’s way of testing Rhodes’ adaptability and marketability.

It may have been Vince’s way, I don’t know, of testing Dusty.

Interestingly, DiBiase and Dusty Rhodes shared significant in-ring history during this period. Some of Rhodes’ earliest matches in his 1989 WWE run were against DiBiase. Their rivalry came full circle when Rhodes wrestled his final match of that run against DiBiase in a tag team bout at the 1991 Royal Rumble event.

Jim Cornette On Dusty Rhodes Playing A Bigger Part In The WWE’s 1980s Expansion

Jim Cornette has spoken about the wrestlers who he thinks may have had a chance at replicating Hulk Hogan’s massive success with WWE in the 80s. Naming Dusty Rhodes as a potential candidate.

H/t to 411mania.com