Why is Dustin Rhodes struggling in his current ROH tag team run?

The ROH tag team run with Sammy Guevara highlights a clash of styles, as Dustin relies on structured psychology while Guevara prioritizes high spots and adrenaline. This difference frequently results in timing issues and poor positioning during matches, making the partnership a tactical mismatch for the veteran performer.

How does Dustin Rhodes compensate for his physical decline in the ring?

At 55, Dustin relies on elite ring positioning and tactical brilliance instead of pure athleticism. He expertly controls the pace by walking opponents into positions rather than rushing, and he utilizes his vast experience to exploit his opponents' blind spots, such as tracking their footwork while running the ropes to land strikes effectively.

Why does the author believe Dustin Rhodes should limit his current workload?

The article suggests that Dustin’s current schedule—which includes television tapings, taking stiff bumps on the apron, and working weekend indie dates—is wearing him thin. At 55 years old, the physical toll of these matches is becoming increasingly evident, making this heavy workload unsustainable and potentially dangerous for his long-term health.

What makes Dustin Rhodes' powerslam technique stand out?

Dustin continues to execute the cleanest scoop powerslam in the wrestling business by masterfully using his opponent's momentum. He hooks the thigh tightly and rotates his hips during the maneuver, which not only ensures a clean delivery but also effectively protects his own lower back during the impact.

How does Dustin Rhodes' ring style contrast with modern AEW pacing?

Dustin prefers a structured, psychology-based approach to matches, often slowing the pace by using sequences like wristlocks and hammerlocks to control the flow. Conversely, modern AEW matches frequently rush to high-intensity dive sequences by the third minute, creating a noticeable clash in style and approach between Rhodes and his younger, faster opponents.

Dustin Rhodes is leaving AEW and his next move is obvious

The bump card is almost full

Dustin Rhodes is slowing down. You can see it in how he shifts his weight before locking in a side headlock. At 55 years old, the natural elasticity in his knees is gone.

He compensates for this physical decline with elite ring positioning. Watch his recent matches on Rampage or Collision. He never runs into the corners anymore. He walks his opponents into them.

As PWInsider reported today, Rhodes' status is heavily under the microscope. His contract situation has been a lingering question for months. Tony Khan has kept him busy in Ring of Honor, but the workload is telling.

Rhodes has been working a schedule that a man his age frankly should avoid. He is doing television tapings, taking stiff bumps on the apron, and occasionally working weekend indie dates. It is wearing him thin.

Surviving on ring IQ alone

Let us look at the tape. Take his 2022 Dynamite match against CM Punk. Dustin controlled the opening six minutes without taking a single flat back bump.

He used a basic wristlock sequence, transitioning into a hammerlock, and forced Punk to work from underneath. It was a masterclass in pacing. Modern AEW matches often rush to the dive sequence by minute three. Dustin refuses to play that game.

His signature drop-down uppercut is a perfect example of his tactical brilliance. He doesn't just drop to the mat blindly. He waits for the opponent to hit the opposite ropes, watches their footwork, and drops exactly a half-second before they cross the center of the ring.

Most young wrestlers stare at the mat when they run the ropes. Dustin exploits that blind spot. By the time they look up, his fist is already under their chin.

Then there is the powerslam. He still throws the cleanest scoop powerslam in the business. He uses the opponent's momentum entirely, hooking the thigh tight and rotating his hips to protect his own lower back.

The glaring problem with his ROH run

But we have to be honest about his current output. The Ring of Honor tag team run alongside Sammy Guevara has been a tactical mess.

Dustin thrives in structured, Memphis-style psychology. Guevara is an athlete who operates strictly on high spots and adrenaline. Their styles clash horribly in the ring.

During a recent title defense against The Dark Order, Dustin was visibly out of position twice trying to set up Guevara's dives. The timing was completely off.

He ended up taking a sloppy enzuigiri from Evil Uno because he hesitated, waiting for Guevara to clear the top rope. You could see the frustration on his face. The current AEW/ROH style demands a level of frantic coordination that Dustin simply cannot safely maintain.

Worse still, his offensive output has become predictable. Opponents know he will go for the Canadian Destroyer late in the match. The setup takes too long. When he hit it on Nick Wayne a few months ago, Wayne had to stand bent over for a full three seconds waiting for Dustin to find his footing.

It breaks the immersion. A veteran of his caliber should know when to retire a move that his body can no longer smoothly execute.

Predicting the final chapter

So what happens next? The writing is on the wall.

Dustin is not going to sign another multi-year deal to wrestle in front of half-empty arenas in Arlington for the ROH brand. He has nothing left to prove in the ring. His match with Cody at Double or Nothing 2019 was his masterpiece.

He bled buckets, told a perfect story of sibling rivalry, and cemented his legacy. Everything since then has been a victory lap.

Here is the prediction. Dustin Rhodes drops the ROH tag titles within the next four weeks. The Undisputed Kingdom is the most logical choice to take them, likely through heavy interference from Roderick Strong.

After dropping the belts, Dustin will take the pinfall, effectively writing him off television. He will let his AEW contract expire at the end of the year.

He drops the ROH belts to The Undisputed Kingdom.
He takes a clean pinfall loss to write him off TV.
He exits AEW quietly when his deal expires.

The WWE return is inevitable

Once he is a free agent, the phone will ring. Paul Levesque knows the value of the Rhodes name right now. Cody Rhodes is the biggest babyface in the industry.

Dustin returning to WWE on a Legends deal makes too much sense. He won't be brought in to wrestle full-time. He will be brought in for the pop, the merchandise, and the Hall of Fame.

I am predicting an entry in the 2025 Royal Rumble. Entrant number 15. The gold lights hit, the classic Goldust theme plays, and he gets a massive ovation in a stadium.

He hits a few inverted atomic drops, delivers the signature powerslam to a midcard heel like Austin Theory, and then gets eliminated safely by a monster like Bronson Reed.

It requires minimal bumping. It gives Cody a massive emotional backstage segment. Most importantly, it gets Dustin out of the grueling AEW schedule.

Why AEW cannot keep him

AEW's roster is bloated. They have zero need for a 55-year-old midcard act, even one as respected as Dustin. Tony Khan has repeatedly struggled to book veteran talent consistently.

Look at how they handled Christian Cage—it worked because Christian became a diabolical heel. Dustin is too universally beloved to turn heel. He is stuck in the "respected elder statesman" role.

That role limits him to random multi-man tags on Rampage. It is a waste of his mind. If he wants to transition into coaching, the WWE Performance Center offers a much more structured environment than AEW's chaotic backstage setup.

The PWInsider report signals the beginning of the end. Watch his next three matches closely. Watch how carefully he protects his neck on suplexes. Watch how he dictates the pace to slow the match down to a crawl.

He is preserving his body for one final run in the other company. He knows the timeline. We know the timeline. The natural conclusion is a Hall of Fame ring and a hug with his brother on the biggest stage.

Take the bet. He drops the ROH gold by next month, vanishes from AEW programming, and shows up on a WWE premium live event early next year. The tactical setup for his exit is already in motion.