Dustin Rhodes discusses his own in-ring future as well.
All Elite Wrestling is going to be taping their 2/12 episode of Dynamite on 2/11. Afterwards, talents and staff will be flying to Australia for their Grand Slam show in the city of Brisbane. The matches and segments from that show will air on Saturday, February 15th.
One of the matches scheduled is Australia’s own Harley Cameron challenging Mercedes Moné for the TBS Championship. While guest appearing on the Battleground Podcast, Dustin Rhodes revealed that he’ll be the producer for that match.
She is (Harley Cameron is getting to showcase what she can do) and I think this is gonna be a big step for her and in Australia with Mercedes (Moné). It’s gonna be a heck of a match. I’m actually coaching that match, producing it so — as well as wrestling that night so, it should be a lot of fun. Harley’s doing an outstanding job.
Speaking about his own future in AEW, in December, Rhodes revealed that he signed a new multi-year contract with the company. He is planning to end his career there and reflected on the decision to re-up.
So, my aspirations and they’ve always been — the number one is, you know, to become world champion. I think if anybody gets into the business and they don’t wanna be world champion, they probably don’t belong in the business. I mean, that’s a thing. My brother’s the champ right now, my dad has been world champion. I have not. That is something that I’m still chasing and it’s still very much a dream of mine, and that’s kind of where I’m at but to be with these young kids, it’s awesome. To be able to hang with them still, to stay in shape and I think that that’s just due to me with the hard work ethic and grit and staying in shape at almost 56 years old and sometimes, I don’t know what’s holding my body together. But I go out there and I do it and I could do it blindfolded. It’s easy for me because I’ve been around so long and I’m just blessed to still be in it at such a high level and you know, still chasing that gold baby.
He further elaborated on that and said his in-ring career should wrap in ‘probably’ three years. He added that he wants to win his last match.
Rhodes said he’s in the process of trying to purchase the rights for his WCW theme to use for when it comes time for his final match.
I have (thought about how I want to end my career) and I keep it close to the vest about my opponent. But, I have had this planned the last couple years of who, kind of, (I) want to finish up with and that’s gonna take place in three years and it’s gonna be tough to step away but, you know, by no means am I anywhere on Sting’s level but I want that same kind of out. I do. I think I’ve earned it and I think, you know, to finish it off on a pay-per-view and to cut a very heart-wrenching, emotional promo afterwards is what people like, and it’s not like the old days where, you know — I wanna win. I want to win that last match. I don’t wanna lose. It means a lot to me so I have been putting a lot of thought into it and I would say probably about three years. Things change. We’ll see where they take us. I mean, it’s hard enough to even say it’s almost time, Dustin. That’s tough because it’s been a part of my life for so, so long, right? And it is gonna be very emotional and I’m gonna — this is like The Undertaker, right? Getting out of the business, it’s a big step because you’re changing something that you’ve done for so long and what do you do, right? You just have to find things to do in the interim, basically. To keep your mind right and to keep — you’re still in the business at some point. I’ll be coaching and still producing, which I’m doing right now anyways. I love that. So, passing on my knowledge to the young kids, that’s the payoff. When I teach them something and they go out and they do it and it works. You know, it’s not about money. That’s the payoff. It’s me passing on my knowledge and my experience to the younger generations.
And I think on my last match, I want my old theme from the WCW days and I’m trying to purchase the rights right now for it, because it’s very memorable music and people remember it. For so many years, the true wrestling fan.
Rhodes is going to be in action at the 2/11 AEW Dynamite taping. He’ll be going one-on-one with MJF.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit the Battleground Podcast with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
