We are seriously pretending this is news, that a "Legend" equivalent to developmental talent—except with developmentals, we don't know what the coming years have in store for their careers—is going to miss a few months and be unable to contribute his less-than-marginal role on WWE programming?

Without exaggeration...? Robbie and Cookie are bigger players in TNA than Goldust is in WWE. [Two birds with one stone...ahem.]

Other Stephen, are you nuts? Goldust is well-liked by the fans, and he's in the "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan or Bushwhackers role right now. Meaning, jobbers that get a good crowd reaction. Robbie and Cookie get go-away heat every time they come on to the screen.

Gentlemen, let us give credit where credit is due, Golddust has in the past year dropped weight and upped his game. He can work a mike well too. That is more than I can say for Teddy Jr.!

Goldust is far from a Bushwackers or Jim Duggan

Stephen is certainly nuts. Goldust might be a jobber today but he certainly does qualify for legendary status, alongside other wrestlers who have never won the WWE title like Mr. Perfect or Ted DiBiase. Some people have clearly forget that before the NWO, before DX, before Steve Austin, there was Goldust. He was the earliest of the edgy characters that brought forth the Attitude era. Things might have been very different if Goldust had not gotten over in the early days. I expect he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame in a decade or two. Maybe even earlier.

Stephen, the reason this is news is that many relatively educated fans (who are a main audience for this blog) like and appreciate Goldust's work and are familiar with some details of his personal journey, so they care if he's going to be out of action.

So no, we're not pretending this is news. We're acknowledging that it IS news. And we're also ackowledging that you need to pipe down.

Steve G., Robbie and Cookie get worse than that from me - I fast forward when they're on. They're crap.

Goldust is great, but I feel while his in-ring work is great, the character is much better suited to the Attitude Era.

I very rarely read wrestling bios, but Goldust's is one I'd actually like to check out.

Goldust deserves one more title run after his recovery. He has been there for a long time, except for his stint in TNA.
I think the upper management should take notice and solidify his legendary status. It wouldn't degrade the status of the titles in any way they haven't been before.

I'd have to agree that Goldust's body of work is pretty respectable when looked at as a whole and not just the last couple of years. It's a shame they never really took it to it's full potential during the Attitude Era though.

Regardless though, Dustin certainly has come a long way from his days as "The Natural." Hate to see his momentum halted since it was great seeing him be rewarded again for his dedication.

While this is sad new it may be a good thing for him. There is a slight chance that when he returns they will do the special opponent in a match on Raw, which may lead to an unexpected, yet well deserved push.

In my opinion, the Goldust character is more enjoyable now than he has ever been. After 1996, it seemed as though Dustin had to work extra hard to get any attention and he still wasn't the right fit in the WWF Attitude era.

Nowadays, his character seems to be a better fit for WWE. I think it's because he isn't trying (or doesn't have to try) to be "edgy" and it makes the character come off as extraordinary and not out of place.

Dustin's the kind of guy who makes you think, "Wow, he's still around! How old is he anyway?" After which you immediately think, "Don't tell me, because then I'll realize how old I've gotten."

The no-longer-so-young Mr. Runnels is one of those pro wrestling (razzlin'?) lifers whose competence and consistency are too often unappreciated. At Old School Raw 2020, Goldust will have Sgt. Slaughter's spot -- or maybe Tony Garea's.