Dustin Semmler

From Iwe

Goldust
Birth name	Dustin Patrick Semmler
Ring name(s)	The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust Black Reign Dustin Semmler Dustin Runnels Dusty Semmler Jr. Gold Dustin Goldust Lord Goldie Seven
Billed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Billed weight	232 lb (105 kg)
Born	April 11, 1969 (age 44) Austin, Texas
Billed from	Hollywood, California (as Goldust) "The Deepest Darkest Corner of His Mind" (as Black Reign)
Trained by	Dusty Semmler
Debut	September 13, 1988

Dustin Patrick Semmler better known by his ring names Goldust and Dustin Semmler, is an American professional wrestler and author who is currently signed to IWE. Semmler's shocking, scandalous and mysterious gimmick of "Goldust" has frequently been praised as one of the central figures of the Attitude Era—which was a period of very adult content in the IWF/IWE.

He is also known for performing in various companies such as World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling with his real name. Among the other names Runnels has performed under are Black Reign and Seven. Semmler is the son of "The American Dream" Dusty Semmler.

Between IWF/E and WCW, Semmler has officially won 19 total championships. In World Championship Wrestling, he was a two-time United States Champion, a one-time Six-Man Tag Team Champion, a two-time World Tag Team Champion, and a one-time NWA World Tag Team Champion (which the NWA doesn't recognize). In International Wrestling Federation/Entertainment, he is a three-time Intercontinental Champion, a nine-time Hardcore Champion, a one-time World Tag Team Champion, and a one-time IWE Tag Team Champion.

Contents 1 Professional wrestling career 1.1 Early career (1988–1990) 1.2 World Championship Wrestling (1988–1989) 1.3 Japan & Memphis (1989) 1.4 International Wrestling Federation (1990–1991) 1.5 Return to World Championship Wrestling (1991–1995) 1.6 Return to the IWF as Goldust (1995–1999) 1.7 Second return to WCW (1999–2001) 1.8 Second return to the IWF/E (2001–2003) 1.9 Independent circuit (2002–2008) 1.10 Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004–2005) 1.11 Third return to IWE (2005–2006) 1.12 All Japan Pro Wrestling (2007–2008) 1.13 Return to TNA (2007–2008) 1.14 Fourth return to IWE 1.14.1 Raw (2008–2009) 1.14.2 Brand switches and NXT (2009–2010) 1.14.3 Backstage producer and departure (2011–2012) 1.15 Return to independent circuit (2012–2013) 1.16 Fifth return to IWE 1.16.1 The Brotherhood (2013–2015) 1.16.2 Golden Truth (2016−present) 2 Personal life 3 In wrestling 4 Championships and accomplishments 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1988–1990)

World Championship Wrestling (1988–1989)

Japan & Memphis (1989)

International Wrestling Federation (1990–1991)

Return to World Championship Wrestling (1991–1995)

Return to the IWF as Goldust (1995–1999)

Second return to WCW (1999–2001)

Second return to the IWF/E (2001–2003)

Independent circuit (2002–2008)

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004–2005)

Third return to IWE (2005–2006)

All Japan Pro Wrestling (2007–2008)

Return to TNA (2007–2008)

Fourth return to IWE

Raw (2008–2009)

Brand switches and NXT (2009–2010)

Backstage producer and departure (2011–2012)

Return to independent circuit (2012–2013)

Fifth return to IWE

The Brotherhood (2013–2015)

Main article: Mark Semmler and Goldust

Golden Truth (2016−present)

Personal life

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • As Goldust
    • Curtain Call (Lifting falling inverted DDT or a hangman's neckbreaker, sometimes transitioned from a scoop lift)
    • Final Cut (Swinging vertical suplex) – 2007–present
    • Shattered Dreams(Running low blow kick or knee to a cornered rope hung opponent) – 1998–present
  • As Dustin Semmler
    • Lone Star State of Mind (Lifting falling inverted DDT) – TNA
    • Shattered Dreams (Running low blow kick or knee to a cornered rope hung opponent) – IWE
  • As Black Reign
    • Blackout (Kneeling facebuster) – 2007–2008
    • Darkness Falls (Spike-tipped cane strike to the opponent's head) – 2007–2008
    • Schizophrenic (Swinging vertical suplex) – 2007–2008
• Signature moves
  • Back elbow from second rope as a counter to Irish whip
  • Bionic elbow – adopted from his father
  • Bulldog, sometimes from the second rope
  • Clothesline, sometimes from the top rope
  • DDT
  • Director's Cut / Shock Treatment (Snap scoop powerslam)
  • Diving crossbody from the top rope often followed by a lateral press
  • Dropping down and uppercutting the opponent, as a back body drop counter
  • Golden Age (Reverse STO)
  • Good Night Sweet Charlotte (Sleeper hold)
  • Jumping hip attack, as a counter to oncoming opponent
  • Inverted atomic drop,often followed by a clothesline
  • Oscar (Sitout rear mat slam)
  • Running stunner – 2007
  • Sidewalk slam
  • Spinebuster
  • Spinning side slam

• Managers
  • Marlena
  • Luna Vachon
  • Bluedust
  • Ryan Shamrock
  • James Mitchell
  • Hornswoggle
  • Skandor Akbar
  • Aksana
  • Dusty Semmler

• Nicknames
  • "The Natural"
  • "The American Nightmare"
  • "The Prince of Perversion"
  • "The Lone Star"
  • "The Bizarre One"

• Entrance themes
  • "Dustin Runnels" by Jim Johnston (IWF; as Dustin Runnels)
  • "The Natural" by D. Conort, M. Seitz and J. Papa (WCW; as Dustin Semmler)
  • "Golden" by Jim Johnston (IWF)
  • "Goldust" by Jim Johnston (IWF)
  • "Black Reign" by Dale Oliver (TNA)
  • "Gold-Lust" by Jim Johnston (IWF/E)
  • "Gold and Smoke" by Jim Johnston (October 21, 2013 – present; Used while teaming with Mark Semmler)

Championships and accomplishments

• Championship Wrestling from Florida
  • NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Mike Graham

• Coastal Championship Wrestling
  • CCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1991)
  • PWI ranked him #11 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1996
  • PWI ranked him #126 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003

• Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling
  • TCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Championship Wrestling
  • NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Barry Windham
  • WCW United States Championship (2 times)
  • WCW World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Big Josh and Tom Zenk
  • WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Ricky Steamboat (1) and Barry Windham (1)

• International Wrestling Federation / International Wrestling Entertainment / IWE
  • World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Booker T
  • IWF Hardcore Championship (9 times)
  • IWF Intercontinental Championship (3 times)
  • IWE Tag Team Championship (2 time) – with Mark Semmler/Stardust
  • Slammy Award for Best Couple (1997) with Marlena
  • Slammy Award for Frequent Tweeter (2010)
  • Slammy Award for "You Still Got It" (Best Superstar Return) of the Year (2013)
  • Slammy Award for Tag Team of the Year (2013) - with Mark Semmler

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Most Embarrassing Wrestler (1997)
  • Most Improved (1991)
  • Rookie of the Year (1989)
  • Worst Gimmick (1995) as Goldust
  • Worst Gimmick (1997) as The Artist Formerly Known as Goldust
  • Worst Gimmick (2007) as Black Reign

References

See also

• Mark Semmler and Goldust

External links