There are a number of wrestling schools operating across the country, but when Dustin Rhodes introduced The Rhodes Wrestling Academy, it understandably drew attention. Rhodes is a thirty-year-plus veteran of the business. He’s one of the very few wrestlers to have had substantial runs in WWE, WCW, TNA, and AEW, and a respected in-ring performer and promo man in each of these contexts.

Related: 10 Things Fans Forget About Dustin Rhodes' WCW Career

That’s on top of him being the son of the iconic American Dream Dusty Rhodes, not to mention the big brother to Cody. With all that in mind, it’s understandable that Dustin's training facility has become a coveted destination for wrestling prospects.

10 It Costs About $3000 To Train At The Rhodes Wrestling Academy

One commonality in the stories of veteran wrestlers who weren’t second or third-generation in the business is the discussion of not knowing how to get into the wrestling business and having to figure out who might be a credible trainer and how to access them. The combination of shifts in wrestling culture—with kayfabe no longer the stuff of secrets—and the Internet making information more accessible has made the business more accessible than ever. That includes an institution like The Rhodes Wrestling Academy being very transparent about its costs, currently listed at $3,300 up front or $3,600 on a three-month payment plan.

9 The Rhodes Wrestling Academy Has A 12-Week Curriculum

In contrast to old school, and even renowned wrestling trainers who might be intentionally vague about how long their training would take or more haphazard in how they chose to train their pupils, Dustin Rhodes has a more clearly defined twelve-week course of study.

Related: 10 WWE Attitude Era Wrestlers: Who Were They Trained By?

Whether that’s the right amount of time for any given trainee may be up for debate or subject to individual experiences, but it does at least imply a thought-out design and clearer sense of what trainees are getting into when they report to camp.

8 Promo Class Is A Part Of The Rhodes Wrestling Academy

Dusty Rhodes famously led promo class at the WWE Performance Center for a period of years. It’s hard to imagine a better source to learn from than The American Dream, whose status as a wrestling icon is largely rooted in his mic skills (with Hard Times still revered by many as the greatest wrestling promo of all time) . While his son Dustin isn’t as synonymous with greatness on the mic, he’s certainly skilled and richly experienced in his own right, not to mention that his work under the Goldust persona in particular made him a credible voice to discuss character development in wrestling.

7 The Rhodes Wrestling Academy Is In Leander, Texas

The Rhodes Wrestling Academy is situated in Leander, Texas. Non-natives would probably have to Google where that is, but it is considered a part of the Austin metropolitan area, which places it in proximity to a major city known for its off-beat culture, live music scene, and more. Being entrenched in a major arts and entertainment community with a substantial population nearby only benefit the school.

6 The Rhodes Wrestling Academy Is Gender-Inclusive

One interesting detail for the online application form for The Rhodes Wrestling Academy is that it includes a space to enter gender, with options of male, female, or other. That might not seem like a huge deal given the cultural climate in the US nowadays, but in the wrestling business, it is progressive to acknowledge some applicants maybe transgender or non-binary in their gender identity. It’s also befitting Dustin Rhodes’s famously androgynous Goldust character, not to mention that he has a transgender stepson in real life.

5 The Rhodes Wrestling Academy Has Broadcasted Showcase Events

One relatively unique aspect of the Rhodes Wrestling Academy is that, in addition to being a wrestling school, it’s also a promotion of sorts, having run multiple Showcase events broadcasted out to the world online. There are even RWA titles in the mix, setting up a legitimate basis for there to be fans of the brand who follow their champions and storylines.

4 The Rhodes Wrestling Academy Includes Financial And Contract Matters In Its Curriculum

There are infamous stories about how wrestlers from previous generations felt about their first experiences training to enter the business. One of the lesser known details about The Undertaker, Steve Austin, and other major names is that they had less than complimentary things to say about teachers who didn’t necessarily seem that invested in their students, or who were more explicitly swindling cash from youngsters who didn’t know any better. It’s more difficult to hide in the modern word with Internet and social media word of mouth, but rather than trying to take advantage of his students, Dustin Rhodes seems committed to the contrary—including lessons about the business of the wrestling business—how to read contracts, how to take care of money matters, and more.

Related: Signing A Guaranteed Contract Doomed Marc Mero's WWE Career

The Rhodes Wrestling Academy explicitly advertises these lessons and that they’ll be applicable to life outside wrestling too. Whether this is a marketing strategy, an ethical choice, or just good pedagogy, it does set Rhodes apart.

3 Dustin Rhodes Personally Called Everyone Accepted To His First “Camp”

In interviews, Dustin Rhodes told the story that he personally called all twelve parties he admitted to his first training class or “camp.” He cited getting very emotional responses from a number of them, which reinforces the familial culture he seems committed to, forming an immediate bond with his young prospects for sharing this potentially life-changing conversation.

2 Tessa Blanchard Stopped By The Rhodes Wrestling Academy

A number of famous parties have swung by the Rhodes Wrestling Academy, and one of the more noteworthy names to pass through was former Impact Wrestling Champion Tessa Blanchard. Blanchard posted to social media a photo of herself and other wrestlers at the facility, thanking Dustin Rhodes for the workout. At the time, this choice fueled rumors she might be AEW-bound, but that speculation quickly fizzled as a deal never materialized and the general consensus was AEW had come far enough to no longer need her.

1 Abadon Debuted The Abbidust Character To Main Event A Rhodes Wrestling Academy Showcase

Under-utilized AEW women’s star Abadon worked the main event of one Rhodes Wrestling Academy Showcase event, challenging RWA Women’s Champion Shawna Reed as part of a Triple Threat match. In a twist, Abadon worked under the gimmick of Abbidust a very clear homage to Dustin Rhodes’s famous alter-ego, Goldust.