Dusty Rhodes was one of the greatest wrestling stars of all time. With the simple gimmick of being a hardworking American, he would use his natural charisma and knack for storytelling to create many of pro wrestling's greatest promos and feuds. Dusty's impact can still be seen all over wrestling today, and many current stars cite him as a key influence on their success.

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While often remembered for his fiery promos, Dusty's in-ring ability was never something to scoff at. Never hesitant to brawl with the best, or step inside a steel cage, Dusty had dozens of noteworthy matches. Here are the top 10 matches of his career.

10 Dusty Rhodes Vs Billy Graham (WWWF 1977)

Billy Graham Strangling Dusty Rhodes

Dusty would meet current WWWF champion "Superstar" Billy Graham at Madison Square garden, in a Texas Death-match for the title. Dusty dominated most of the match, with a hot crowd hanging on his every move.

After a series of spots that take out both men, Dusty covers Graham for what would have been a three-count, but is stopped when the referee sees his feet on the ropes. Graham manages to sneak a win, and retain his title. This led to Dusty giving him a series of elbows before launching him out of the ring, just to prove a point.

9 Dusty Rhodes VS Harley Race (NWA 1979)

One of Dusty's biggest rivals in all of wrestling was Harley Race. The WWE hall of famer was two years into a National Wrestling Alliance championship run when he met Dusty in Tampa, Florida.

The story of the match was one of the dominant champion throwing gaining control of the match with an eye poke, and then doing everything in his power to keep Dusty down. The "American Dream" would power through, and a bloodied Dusty would drop a series of elbows to claim his first NWA championship to a massive reaction from the crowd.

8 Dusty Rhodes & Ole Anderson Vs The Assassins (GCW 1980)

While it wasn't one of his finest matches from a wrestling perspective, it was one of the biggest moments in Georgia Championship Wrestling, and is still considered one of the greatest heel turns of all time. Being the culmination of a heated feud, the match was inside a steel cage at the Omni, and both teams were allowed to bring their own special referee.

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The Assassins chose Anderson's former partner, Ivan Koloff, and Dusty chose Gene Anderson. Right after the match got underway, all five men attacked Dusty. The crowd was outraged as our hero was demolished by the five men, and the angle would never be forgotten.

7 Dusty Rhodes Vs Dory Funk Jr. (FCW 1981)

During the height of Florida Championship Wrestling, Dusty was constantly feuding with the Funks, Terry and Dory Jr. This particular match was a West Texas Brawl that came about after a fired up Dusty demanded Dory Jr. fight him.

The bout involved run-in after run-in as wrestlers came to the aid of both men, until the entire ring was packed. The match lived up to its name as it was one big brawl, resulting in the two wrestlers that started it coming to a bloody draw among the chaos.

6 Dusty Rhodes Vs Harley Race II (NWA 1981)

Two years after their first bout, the two NWA legends met for another historic title match. Race entered again as champion. This time, after a heated match, Dusty would hit Race with a big cross body to win the gold.

Unlike his first reign, where he lost the belt back to Race less than a week later, this time, Dusty would hold onto the belt for a notable 88 day run. A run that wouldn't come to an end until he defended the belt against the man that would become his worst enemy, Ric Flair.

5 Dusty Rhodes Vs Ric Flair (Starcade 1985)

This is the feud that would dominate the latter of Dusty's career, and will dominate the latter of this list, would be the feud with Ric Flair. The two would go on to have a blood feud that many consider the greatest in all of pro wrestling. They had many list-worthy matches together, but the first one that really stands out, is from Starrcade 85.

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The two men had a disappointing match at Starrcade one year earlier, and were looking to rectify it. The match would have Dusty win, only for it to be reversed after the match, leading to more chaos between the two.

4 Dusty Rhodes Vs Ric Flair (Great American Bash 1986)

Dusty and Flair would meet again the next year, for what is often considered the best match of their feud. Again, the NWA title was up for grabs, but this time, it would be a steel cage match.

With Flair unable to get support from the outside, the two would wrestle a brutal but straightforward match. Finally, with the crowd behind him, and a legacy on the line, Dusty would finally defeat Flair, and take his title.

3 Dusty Rhodes Vs Lex Luger (Starrcade 1987)

After Dusty's feud with Flair had dissipated, he would continue to feud with Flair's cohort. In this instance he set his eyes on capturing the United Stares Championship. Another iconic cage match, this one would see Dusty trying to take the title from Luger.

The match was hard fought, with Dusty looking dominate until Luger used cheap tactics to get the upper hand. Luger had a chair thrown in to him, but before he could pick it up, Dusty would find the strength to deliver a big DDT onto the chair for the victory.

2 Dusty Rhodes Vs Tully Blanchard (Great American Bash 1987)

Dusty Rhodes Vs Tully Blanchard

Stemming from their feud, Dusty would go on to have a series of heated matches with all of the members of Ric Flair's "Four Horsemen" stable.

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Dusty and Blanchard would have multiple hardcore matches, but the match in Charlotte would be the one remembered as their best. $100,000 was suspended above a ring surrounded by barbed wire, and while both men ended up bloody, only Dusty ended up victorious.

1 War Games (1987)

One of the most legendary match types in wrestling history, and a match invented by Dusty himself, the first war games match is a prime example of pro wrestling perfection.

As the climax of Dusty's feud with Flair and the "Four Horsemen," Dusty would unite the team of "The Road Warriors" Hawk and Animal, Paul Ellering, Nikita Koloff, and himself to take on the team of Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, J.J. Dillon, and Tully Blanchard. The match is an extreme tale of good guys vs bad guys, and comes to a brilliantly satisfying conclusion when a bloodied Dusty leads his team to victory.

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