Dustin Rhodes Pens Second Biographical Book

The veteran wrestler is working on a new book documenting his entire professional wrestling career.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Wrestling

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a worn wrestling boot on a ring post, capturing the career history of a veteran wrestler.
Professional wrestler Dustin Rhodes is currently authoring a second biographical book to document his multi-decade career across WWE and AEW. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Professional wrestler Dustin Rhodes is currently writing a second biographical book covering his extensive career history. This project follows his initial 2010 release, which detailed his time in the industry up to that point.

Why it matters

The upcoming book promises a comprehensive look at a career that has spanned multiple major promotions. It offers fans a deeper perspective on the evolution of his persona across both WWE and AEW.

Rhodes published his first memoir, Cross Rhodes: Goldust, Out of the Darkness, in 2010 through Gallery Books and WWE. This upcoming second volume intends to encapsulate his full career history following his subsequent transition to AEW.

The players

Dustin Rhodes

He is a long-time professional wrestler who has competed in major promotions including WWE and AEW.

WWE

This is a global professional wrestling promotion that previously published the first biographical book by Dustin Rhodes.

AEW

This is a professional wrestling promotion where Dustin Rhodes has competed following his departure from WWE.

Gallery Books

This is a publishing division of Simon & Schuster that partnered to release the first biography of Dustin Rhodes.

The details

Rhodes is documenting his life story after a career shift that saw him leave WWE to join AEW. He has remained off television and out of the ring since undergoing double knee replacement surgery in August 2026.

Timeline

  1. The first biographical book, Cross Rhodes: Goldust, Out of the Darkness, was published in 2010.

  2. Rhodes reported being close to being cleared for competition in June 2026.

  3. The wrestler underwent double knee replacement surgery in August 2026.

  4. As of October 2026, Rhodes has not returned to AEW television.

Season Trajectory

The announcement of a second book follows the 2010 release of Cross Rhodes: Goldust, Out of the Darkness, representing a comprehensive update to his professional record. This project provides a retrospective on a legacy that has continued to evolve long after the publication of his first memoir.

With Rhodes absent from AEW television and the ring since his August 2026 surgery, the book serves as his primary public engagement. Fans waiting for his return to competition will find this writing project to be his current focus while he remains inactive from active roster duties.

The takeaway

Writing a second book allows veteran performers to control the narrative of their later career years and physical recovery. This approach provides a blueprint for athletes documenting their post-operative transitions and industry legacies.

Further reading

For more on the latest developments in the industry, visit the Wrestling section.

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Do you enjoy reading personal memoirs from professional athletes about their careers?