WWE legend left with shattered dreams, but also great pride, after dog competes at Crufts
A WWE legend swapped the squared circle for the parade ring after entering his prized Mastiff at the country's biggest dog show.
Dustin Rhodes brought his 114kg pooch, named Beast, to the NEC for Crufts and watched as the colossal canine finished third in the working group open category, which is for dogs traditionally bred for guarding property, protecting people, or pulling sledges/carts.
The 56-year-old, who made his name as Goldust for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and is the son of icon Dusty Rhodes and former WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, has made an unexpected career U-turn in the past two years.
While still an active wrestler for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), he enters Beast at dog shows across America and the four-legged giant has become the number one-ranked Mastiff in the country.
Rhodes says Beast likes to feast and the 250-pound giant eats $250 of food each month, with eight cups a day of dry food, chicken, rice and steak, and said that while he was disappointed that Beast didn't win in Birmingham, he was still proud of his friend.
He said: “I thought our dog was the best and I am biased but I thought our dog was amazing, it is a once-in-a-decade dog.
“Beast is perfect in my eyes, he weighs more than I do and he thinks he is a lap dog.
“He just jumps on you and he is the best dog in the world. I would never own another breed.
“I can’t wait to go and see him again, I gave him a hug after he finished third.
"He did well, I am very pleased and happy to be over here and honoured to be at Crufts, the world’s greatest dog show.”
Rhodes also said he is not done wrestling just yet and is due back on tour in three weeks after six months out following double knee surgery and admitted that he had to be lively on his feet at the NEC and keep out of sight while Beast competed, as the dog gets over-excited when it sees him.
He said: “The day has been long, I have not seen my dog in four months.
"Beast is really good with seeing somebody who has high blood pressure or low blood pressure, and we’ll go check them out. He’s a very smart dog.
"Mastiffs are amazing, amazing animals and I would never own another breed besides a Mastiff.
"I’ve had all kinds of dogs over my life and Mastiffs are just everything as they are pure, loyal, loving, just crawling on your lap, hurt your bones."
