Some of the most notable names in the industry have made the jump to All Elite Wrestling since the company first launched in 2019, and Dustin Rhodes has been with AEW since the beginning.
A fan on social media recently suggested that Dustin should return to WWE as Goldust immediately, but the former Intercontinental Champion made it clear that he has no interest in returning to the company when he posted the following response:
“Nope! I never got a raise there. What, you want me sitting the bench doing nothing? That ain’t me anymore. I have done the best work of my career with @AEW. I love the character Goldust, but he ran its course. I did what I was told and it got me nowhere. No thanks.”
Nope! I never got a raise there. What, you want me sitting the bench doing nothing? That ain't me anymore. I have done the best work of my career with @AEW . I love the character Goldust, but he ran its course. I did what I was told and it got me nowhere. No thanks. https://t.co/dh8p7ua4sW
— Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) February 24, 2026
Rhodes underwent double knee replacement surgery in the summer of 2025, but he confirmed that he is not done with in-ring competition when another fan told him to hang it up.
I would but I am not done. Unlike you who has never done a thing in his life. We call that a #NeverWas https://t.co/F3K7XBBgKH
— Dustin Rhodes (@dustinrhodes) February 24, 2026
Dustin Rhodes last stepped into the ring on the 7/13/25 episode of AEW Collision when he dropped the TNT Championship to Kyle Fletcher. It’s not clear at this point in time when he will be ready to return to action.
Stay tuned for updates.