The Rhodes Brothers: The Next Tag Team Champions?

[Jack-Hammer]

Just before the Raw's main event last night, all three Shield members were attacked by what initially looked to be a couple of random fans who'd jumped over the security railing. After a few seconds, upon getting a look at the back of the head of the blonde attacker, I realized that it was Dustin Rhodes, AKA Goldust, and Cody Rhodes.

I thought that they did a really nice job of making this look like a random moment. The security guards actions of being right there almost immediately added to the feel since Cody & Dustin are no longer "employed" by WWE. They both showed great intensity as well, especially Cody, and this angle may have brought out that certain something that he's been missing since his babyface turn.

As of last week, there have been reports of WWE officials considering a six man tag bout featuring The Shield against The Rhodes Family, including WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. The "return" of Cody & Dustin last night suggest that the match MIGHT go forward or that they could return as babyface challengers for The Shield's tag titles in the near future.

As of right now, WWE could go either way. Dean Ambrose has a US title match against Dolph Ziggler on this week's SmackDown! rather than at Battleground. This could free up Ambrose so that The Shield is able to be in the six man tag match. However, The Usos earned a title shot against Rollins & Reigns. Unless the match goes down on next week's TV tapings, it'll probably be part of Battleground.

As far as Goldust & Cody Rhodes as tag champs, it could be interesting. Goldust has shown that he's still got the stuff inside the ring and, as I alluded to, this angle has brought out an intensity that Cody needed in my opinion. It's been a very long time since brothers held the tag titles in WWE and it'd make for a genuine feel good moment, especially if Dusty is by their side if it went down.

 

[Fabulous Freebirds]

I think the Rhodes family are hurting Cody more than helping him. It's Cody's job to get over on his own. Dusty Rhodes cutting great promos doesn't help Cody get over; it just reminds people how awesome Dusty was back in the day.

I have never been a fan of Dustin Rhodes. Outside of his Goldust persona, he's never been able to get over himself.


Cody Rhodes was awesome when he was Dashing Cody Rhodes and when he was teaming up with Damian Sandow. He developed his own personality and did not need his father.

Now, he is taking a few steps back for Dusty and Dustin.

 

[Spencesc11]

I love this idea as the Rhodes brothers would be a nice face team to feud with the Shield. They have had one dull feud after another with the jobber teams in the WWE.

 

[MINISTRYrising]

as long as its Cody and Dustin and not Cody and Goldust, then I would love to see this happen and if dusty was to join them ringside, then I believe that they could be a very good team and one that I could see taking the Tag titles off The Shield.

 

[Mustang Sally]

It's difficult to see the Rhodes boys coming out of this mini-program as tag champions, especially since they're not technically employed by the company.....and while Cody's separation from the company is a function of the storyline, we don't know if there are plans to hire Dustin again for real. If that happens......maybe they take the belts. After the fine match Dustin worked with Randy Orton, I think he can still contribute.

On the other hand, for storyline purposes, last night's segment was terrific because it crosses up the kayfabe plans of the McMahon family. They can apply whatever sanctions they wish to their employees, but what do they do when non-employees stick their noses in, outside of having them arrested?

As to other comments made in this topic, it's true that Dustin was never able to get over under any persona except Goldust. That's why we were treated to the unusual sight of the Goldust facial make-up along with normal clothing. Can't remember ever seeing that before. Looked weird, no?

As for Cody, I can't see that he was ever able to get over by himself. He's been fortunate enough to be a mid-carder who has had multiple programs written for him. The company has tried every way possible to get him over, but nothing has really worked. I wouldn't mind seeing him find some success working as a good guy with his brother at his side.

 

[Eyebrows]

I have never been a fan of Dustin Rhodes. Outside of his Goldust persona, he's never been able to get over himself.

I don't get this. He's been Goldust for years and years and he's done it successfully. He managed to get himself over with a completely ridiculous gimmick which could have failed if given to anyone else because he put everything into it. Kane never got over before he was Kane. Dustin has had the Goldust gimmick for nearly fifteen years and done it successfully. Who cares that he didn't get over outside of Goldust...he didn't have to.

I think the Rhodes brothers would be an excellent choice to defeat The Shield. I think the Rhodes are believable challengers whereas the Usos and PTP never look like they were on The Shield's level. If this leads to Goldust/Cody at 'Mania then even better. I like Cody but he was getting a bit bland. This angle will help him immensely. Whether he continues to get himself over will remain to be seen. He has the tools, as seen during his 'Phantom of the Opera' type run but it all depends if they give him the stuff to work with.

I don't see a problem with using Dusty or Goldust to help get him over. People have been using older guys for years to get a rub whether by associating with them because they're friends or family or by fighting against them.

 

[Dagger Dias]

I'd rather not see that happen, honestly, but I will give it a chance if it does. Cody should be moving on to bigger and better things instead of having yet another random tag team. He's been in tag teams with Hardcore Holly, Ted Dibiase, Drew McIntyre, and then Damien Sandow. Now we're going to add Goldust to that list? At least his previous partners (other than Hardcore Holly) made good teams. I'm not interested in a Goldust return at all, let alone forming a tag team with Cody on a more longterm basis. If they make it a family thing by having Cody and Goldust facing Trips' stable with Dusty in their corner then I do not mind that. Tag Team Champions is a whole other story.

The Shield have been on such a tremendous role. It is going to take an amazing team in order to believably defeat them for the giant pennies at this point. Cody and Goldust do not come off as a team on that level. Then again, I would take The Rhodes Brothers in a heartbeat over the Usos. WWE need to think hard about who will be the next tag team champions and build them up properly. If it's going to be the Rhodes Brothers then they need to be built up A LOT. Last night was a step in the right direction. They have to make the fans care about the team.

 

[AmneonX]

I don't get this. He's been Goldust for years and years and he's done it successfully. He managed to get himself over with a completely ridiculous gimmick which could have failed if given to anyone else because he put everything into it. Kane never got over before he was Kane. Dustin has had the Goldust gimmick for nearly fifteen years and done it successfully. Who cares that he didn't get over outside of Goldust...he didn't have to.

I think the Rhodes brothers would be an excellent choice to defeat The Shield. I think the Rhodes are believable challengers whereas the Usos and PTP never look like they were on The Shield's level. If this leads to Goldust/Cody at 'Mania then even better. I like Cody but he was getting a bit bland. This angle will help him immensely. Whether he continues to get himself over will remain to be seen. He has the tools, as seen during his 'Phantom of the Opera' type run but it all depends if they give him the stuff to work with.

I don't see a problem with using Dusty or Goldust to help get him over. People have been using older guys for years to get a rub whether by associating with them because they're friends or family or by fighting against them.

Eyebrows, I have to respectfully disagree with you on the Uso's not being on The Shields level. In my opinion, they are a very tandem tag team, and have proved it in recent weeks.

However, even though I would rather see Cody vs. Goldust at Wrestlemania, maybe this could set it up. I think that they would be a very good tag team, seeing as Cody and Dusty use some of the same moves.

 

[MCMG]

The attack on Raw was done superbly, I love how Goldust even painted his face for it. Ambrose/Ziggler on Smackdown does suggest that Ambrose and hopefully Rollins and Reigns will be free for Battleground. A 6-man tag is something I really want to see.

As for Dustin and Cody being tag-team champions, I am strongly against it. Maybe one title match at Hell in a Cell but that is it. They are building Cody well so to waste him on the tag-team titles would be ridiculous. Cody should be competing for one of the World Titles and, if Orton and Sandow are champs, there is an easy way to book for that. Cody is above the tag-titles and Goldust shouldn't really be coming back full-time either.

 

[Jacjac]

I agree that last nights attack brought intensity to Cody's character but it also brought back an intensity that's been lacking in Dustin since he began the Golddust character. I remember Dustin as "the Natural", teaming with Barry Windham. Although he reached national stardom as Golddust as a young man he was very passionate and intense.

I think the storyline should focus on keeping this intensity going and not putting the brothers in line for the titles. The tag team division has a lot of strong teams yet still no one has taken the stage as STARS. I say, give those people a chance to rise and eventually throw the Rhodes Boys into the mix.

 

[lowandmighty]

I'm not sure they'll make them tag team champions or having Dusty in a match, he's too old for that to put it bluntly.

However I can see them as allies for Daniel Bryan against the shield and "coo" triple H and "whats best for business".

I don't see them becoming tag team champions, not because of Cody Rhodes but because of Goldust.

Not because Goldust isn't any good but because he has a history of being under used and not allowed to show his full potential.
Dustin Runnels is both one of the best in and out of ring performers there has ever been. Some people might disagree but those people obviously don't remember the things I do.
He made Big Van Vader look good and probably gave him his best match back in the wcw days. This was shortly before departing to WWF where he became Goldust.

The truth is, I hated the Goldust character when I first saw it because I thought that Goldust had just become a.. well that word beginning with F you're not allowed to write on this website.
Unfortunately I think thats the view many people still have of him, but he can be the creepiest bastard in the universe when he tries and they let him and that makes for very entertaining television and an eerie disgusted feeling in a live audience.

I actually think screw Cody Rhodes' push, give Goldust one last hoorah, he only has about 2 years left of being a great in ring performer before he couldn't physically do it anymore. I want to see him finally grab the WWE championship by its hairy balls and look like he enjoys it and creep the crap out of all comers, maybe even finally be put out to pasture by his little brother.
Its a fitting end for Goldust that he deserves but surely won't get.

 

[MWRedskins]

no, i wouldnt want to see that. for me, i would rather see Cody, Goldust and Dusty in a tag match vs. the Shield and have Cody come in, and beat the Shield and pin Reigns (who is appearantly not pinned often) and have the ruling be that if the Rhodes family wins, they get jobs in WWE and then move Cody to bigger things. have him win some type of battle royal to get a shot vs. Del Rio, then move him to Del Rio and have him win the title only to get beat down (by whoever) and then have Sandow cash in to beat his former tag team partner and set up another feud that seemed to start up, but end out of nowhere.

 

[IT Factor]

So far WWE's best storyline has been the Cody Rhodes angle. I liked how they involved Dustin & Dusty but my only complaint thus far was this past Monday when the brothers attacked and Dustin was sporting his Goldust paint. Like he walks around 24/7 wearing the paint? Kind of unrealistic and it would have seemed more legit if he had been out of Goldust character and been there as a Rhodes kicking ass for his father. But otherwise this has been intriguing to watch each week and I was impressed by Dusty's promo 2 weeks ago and thought it was the highlight of that week's RAW. I just hope WWE can manage to keep the momentum going and make Cody Rhodes a huge main event star from this storyline. He is great in-ring and if given a better character, he has all the potential to be their next big star and future company face. Knowing how uncreative WWE has been lately, within two weeks of Cody's "official" return he'll be right back where he was before this started. Guess time will tell....

 

[TheLastHorsemen]

I love this angle and think it's elevating Cody in a way that couldn't have been done any other way.

My issue is what to do with Dustin/Goldust. Goldust is a character who's legendary and ridiculously over, but in a nostalgic sense. Younger fans who don't remember the Attitude Era cheer for Goldust because of his legend. Goldust cannot add to his legend today. After this feud, he'd have a few good mid-card matches, but he'll inevitability be a Zack Ryder/Khali/Hornswoggle type, where he's put in comedy and fed to the next big monster heel (Ryback, Wyatt, etc.).

If he were to go "Natural" and become Dustin for this battle (since Kayfabe is pretty dead anyway and over the top gimmicks aren't over anymore unless you're the Undertaker), I think the tag team could be effective and Dustin could be a great soldier in the war against the Front Office. He could team with guys like Bryan, Cody, Ziggler, and put on great matches. He can be an upper-midcard face, not really contend for titles, but just be a helping hand while this plays out. Eventually, he'll get taken out or fade out, and then be able to cameo as Goldust on rare occasions, playing to the nostalgia of the old school fans, and having already won over the younger fans.

Regardless, I love that we're taking Rhodes vs. McMahons in 2013 and would love to see it continue. The Rhodes Family won't rest until the regime is toppled, and they can be the ones to take out the Shield (sorry Usos, it's not time yet. Wait for the Matadores to debut so we can have Hardys/E&C type spectacles).

Cody can benefit, Dustin can be a factor, and Dusty on TV is always good!

 

[The Eighties]

There's only a week to Battleground so I'd hold off on any Rhodes vs Shield match until HIAC and have them continue as Outlaw's, maybe have them cost Rollins & Reigns the tag titles against the Usos at Battleground.

At HIAC I'd do the six man with Cody, Dustin & Dusty vs The Shield to get Cody's job back, and then have them on opposite teams at Survivor Series. Then I'd cap off the year with The Shield, The Rhodes and The Usos in a Ladder or TLC match for the tag titles at the TLC PPV in December. Whether I'd make Cody and Goldust champions will depend on how over they are come December.

 

[Joker Ambrose]

I honestly don't want to see a tag run from them. I would love it but I think while the iron is hot they need to strike. Cody is red hot right now with crowd behind him. He has not been this relevant since his dashing and masked gimmicks. They need to push Rhodes as singles guy along with Bryan. Pairing him with Bryan in minor role where he helps Bryan and feuds with McMahon family will definitely help him get more over and established and make his long awaited jump to main event.