Condolences flood social media over the passing of Dusty Rhodes

Wrestling personalities and friends of the American Dream Dusty Rhodes
expressed their sadness and condolences on their Twitter accounts.
“Saddened to hear the passing of Dusty Rhodes. Legend, teacher, mentor,
friend…Love you Dream,” tweeted Triple H, apparently the first one to
spread the news on Twitter about the Legend’s passing. “#RIPDustyRhodes We
never got to shoot our angle together! Thank you for everything, I Love
You. #HallofFamer #Legend,” Stephanie McMahon tweeted. “My mentor
@WWEDustyRhodes. Much love to your family and more respect than can ever
be measured. Love you Dream,” wrote Ric Flair. “Am so so very sorry to
have to report this. My sincerest condolences to @Goldust and
@StardustWWE,” said Joey Styles who included a link to the WWE.COM
statement. “Godspeed dream. You taught me so much these last few years.
Prayers and love to the family,” wrote Michael Cole, while Cole’s
broadcast partner John Layfield wrote, “Sad to hear about Dusty Rhodes,
there’s only one American Dream. Love you Dusty, thanks for all the laughs
and stories.” The current WWE champion Seth Rollins said he was fortunate
to know him. “I was ever so fortunate to be a friend to this man, to learn
from him as a performer and as a human being. #RIPDusty,” Rollins wrote
along with a picture of Rhodes and Triple H holding up his hand when he
won the NXT title. “My heart goes out the the Runnels family, Dusty Rhodes
was one of the all-time greats. He was a friend, a teacher and a good
man,” wrote Eric Bischoff, who spent a lot of years working with Dusty
down at WCW. “RIP Dusty!! One of the greatest talkers and babyfaces ever!!
You made us all BELIEVE in “The American Dream”. Travel on my friend,”
wrote Gregory Helms who worked for WWE as The Hurricane and in WCW as
Shane Helms. “My hero, the man that made me believe, the reason I took my
name @WWEDustyRhodes I love you & your family,” added Tommy Dreamer.
Fellow ECW alumni Taz called Dusty a true legend. “Super guy & Superstar,
pave the way for so many of us. #RIPDusty,” he wrote. Gerald Brisco, a
long time friend of Dusty wrote, “Words can’t express the sadness and
grief I’m feeling now. The loss of a lifelong friend.“ Brisco also added a
a photo which he took with Dusty this past Thursday. Another long time
friend of Dusty, Gene Okerlund tweeted, “I am absolutely devastated to
hear about the passing of my long time friend Dusty Rhodes. One of the
best ever.” Okerlund added a picture of him interviewing Rhodes at
SummerSlam many years ago. “My children just called with the news that
@WWEDustyRhodes had passed away. I’m crushed. He was a one-of-a-kind
talent with an amazing mind,” added fellow WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley.
“I was so honored to write Dusty Rhodes’ theme song “common man” – the
American Dream and Dusty will live on forever – love ya Dream,” said
another Hall of Famer, Jimmy Hart. Bill DeMott, the former head coach over
at NXT worked with Rhodes at the Performance Center and wrote, “My prayers
are with the Rhodes family. My friend, mentor and teacher made such an
impact in my life and is part of my family #ripdustyrhodes.” Others such
as Kane, Howard Finkel, William Regal, Shawn Michaels, The Miz, Vickie
Guerrero, Jerry Lawler, and many, many others also expressed their
condolences. E!’s Maria Menounos, a big WWE fan, and a big Dusty fan as
well tweeted, “Omg just heard the news about @WWEDustyRhodes …I’m so
sad!!” At this year’s WWE Hall of Fame, Menounos, with Rhodes by her side,
did the famous “hard times” promo in Dusty mode, earning her praise from
wrestling fans around the world. Condolences also came from those within
the UFC. UFC Director of Marketing Ant Evans tweeted, “So sad to learn of
the passing of The Dream, @WWEDustyRhodes. I really wish this was a Dusty
finish. Rest in peace.” Dave Sholler, UFC’s Vice President of Public
Relations wrote, “Wow. RIP to a legend.”