In professional wrestling, a Dusty Finish refers to a specific scripted ending to a match named after wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes. During his tenure as a booker in several promotions, he was known to have used this finish so often that it has since been indelibly linked to him. The finish itself is typically claimed to have been invented by Florida promoter Eddie Graham. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A booker, as the term is used in professional wrestling, is a person who puts matches together and determines basics about their content, such as relative overall length, who the eventual victor will be, and many of the moves which will be made during the match; in other words, the... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The archetypical scenario starts with a ref bump, in which the referee is knocked unconscious as a result of some action by one of the wrestlers. A second official is brought in to continue the match. A bump occurs whenever a wrestler hits the mat or the arena floor after receiving a move from his/her opponent. ...

From here there are two distinct variations on the theme. In the first possibility the substitute official will have declared a clean win (pinfall or submission), usually by the wrestler who is not responsible for the original ref bump. However, in the meantime, the first official will regain consciousness and overturn the substitute official's decision, usually declaring that the original infraction caused a disqualification. This is especially important in title matches, as the standard rules of pro wrestling state that a title cannot change hands on a disqualification (except in federations such as World Class or TNA in which titles do change hands on a disqualification). World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), also called the World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA), was a popular regional professional wrestling promotion run out of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. ... Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett in May 2002. ...

The second variation also involves the original referee regaining consciousness, but doing so just before a pinfall occurs. The pinfall will be one where both wrestlers can be considered "down." One referee will be on one side of the wrestlers and the other on almost the exact opposite providing them with two different viewpoints. Both referees will make a three count and signal for the bell to be rung, but award the match to differing wrestlers.

A third situation can occur which some people consider to be a Dusty Finish where a match's result is declared void because of some obscure stipulation or infraction, e.g., use of the piledriver, which was largely outlawed in 1981 and never officially rescinded, so the wrestler who used the piledriver would be disqualified. This can (and has) also be applied retroactively to overturn a decision, such as the case when The Rockers were stripped of their title because the top rope broke, yet the match continued. A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his/her opponent, turns him/her upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponents head into the mat. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

In modern years, most pro wrestling associations also have onscreen authority figures capable of overturning a decision on a variety of technicalities. When two or more officials are involved it can lead to various kinds of trouble, including the holding up of a title that was on the line or forcing a match to continue to a second fall. // This is a list of authority figures, people who have (kayfabe) power, in selective professional wrestling promotions or brands within North America. ...

There are two basic reasons behind the use of the Dusty Finish. The first is to put over the idea of a wrestler winning the big match, without actually letting him win and thus ending the chase. Theoretically, in this situation the fans leave convinced that the hero should have won and has been screwed leading to a revenge match and heightening the atmosphere of a rematch. This ending can have the opposite effect however, reinforcing the fans' belief that title changes will never occur unexpectedly without being revoked in some way. In professional wrestling a screwjob occurs when a match ends in a controversial finish, often involving cheating or outside interference. ...

The second reason to use a Dusty Finish can be to force a title off of someone without having them actually drop it. Many times the aftermatch of a Dusty Finish will involve the two wrestlers having some kind of "best of" series, especially when there's a title on the line.

Overuse of tactics like the Dusty Finish can create a fanbase that fails to react to even the most seemingly-exciting match-ups unless they're taking place on pay-per-view or a similarly high profile event. Pay-per-view is the name given to a system by which television viewers can call and order events to be seen on TV and pay for the private telecast of that event to their homes later. ...

Notable Dusty Finishes

The Dusty finish was twice used in the American Wrestling Association in the 1980s to overturn the title victories of the popular Hulk Hogan, leading to rioting among the fans. These decisions were officially overturned in April 2005, making Hogan a two time AWA World Heavyweight Champion (and thus making him the first man to hold three different prominent recognized world titles per Pro Wrestling Illustrated, the second being The Big Show). This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ... Terrence Terry Gene Bollea (born on August 11, 1953) is an American actor and semi-retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan. ... April 2005 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December - → Hamas and Islamic Jihad have declared, in principle, their intention to join the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). ... The AWA World Heavyweight Championship belt. ... Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) is a professional wrestling magazine. ... Paul Randall Wight, Jr. ...

The Dusty Finish was also used to overturn a title victory by The Road Warriors against the Four Horsemen in the Warriors' hometown of Chicago at Starrcade '87. The grounds were that the Horsemen had clotheslined their opponents over the top rope, which was declared illegal. This too almost caused rioting, and angered fans enough that the NWA did not hold further events in Chicago for a long time. This article is about the professional wrestling team, for otheruses see Road warrior The Road Warriors were a professional wrestling tag team famously comprised of Michael Hawk Hegstrand and Joseph Animal Laurinaitis, though other members were added later. ... The Four Horsemen (also spelled IV Horsemen) is a legendary professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. ... Flag Seal Nickname: The Windy City Motto: Urbs In Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location Location in Chicagoland and northern Illinois Coordinates , Government Country State Counties United States Illinois Cook, DuPage Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Geographical characteristics Area     City 606. ...

A 1987 match between Gentleman Chris Adams and World Class heavyweight champion Al Perez ended in a Dusty-finish-style controversial fashion. Adams was about to finish Perez off with his superkick when Perez shoved referee John Alexander Keaton into Adams' kick. With Keaton out, Adams executed a sunset flip on Perez, and backup referee Bronco Lubich made the 3-count, awarding the match and the World Class title to Adams. As Adams and all of the Sportatorium fans were celebrating, Keaton reversed the decision and DQed Adams, not realizing that it was Perez who pushed Keaton into Adams to begin with. The title was held up for a short time, and upon further review, Lubich's decision was null and void, and Keaton's decision stood. Adams would never regain the World Class title again, but did win the Atlanta-based Southern Championship Wrestling title in 1988 and the Global Wrestling Federation North American heavyweight title in 1993. Christopher Adams (also known as Christopher Loofboro) (February 10, 1955 – October 7, 2001) was a professional wrestler, wrestling promoter, trainer and judoka. ... World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), also called the World Class Wrestling Association (WCWA), was a popular regional professional wrestling promotion run out of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. ... Al Perez Al Perez was a professional wrestler. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Global Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion based in Dallas, Texas. ...

A 1987 steel cage match televised on Saturday Night's Main Event between Hulk Hogan and Paul Orndorff for Hogan's WWF World Heavyweight Championship also ended in a Dusty-finish-style fashion when both competitors climbed and exited the steel cage and touched the arena floor at the same time. WWF referee Dave Hebner, who saw Hogan's feet touch the floor, declared Hogan the winner. Meanwhile, Danny Davis, who saw Orndorff's feet touch the floor, declared Orndorff the winner and the new champion. After a commercial break, a simultaneous instant replay of both wrestlers' feet touching the floor was shown, and it was declared that both wrestlers touched the floor at the same time. WWF president Jack Tunney, who came down to ringside due to the controversy, informed Hogan, Orndorff, Hebner, and announcer Howard Finkel that the match would continue. Hogan eventually won the match and retained the title. Kurt Angle and John Cena in a cage match, showing the current WWE Steel Cage. ... Saturday Nights Main Event was a professional wrestling program occasionally aired between 1985-1991 on the NBC television network and twice in 1992 on FOX. As such it was a rare example of professional wrestling being broadcast on an over-the-air commercial television network after the 1950s, and... Terrence Terry Gene Bollea (born on August 11, 1953) is an American actor and semi-retired professional wrestler better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan. ... Paul Orndorff (born October 29, 1949 in Brandon, Florida) is a former National Football League player and former professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation throughout the 1980s as Mr. ... The WWE Championship belt, April 11 2005 – August 20, 2006; September 18, 2006 – present The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Championship is a professional wrestling title. ... Dave Hebner (born May 17, 1949 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American professional wrestling authority figure, promoter, road agent and referee. ... Danny Davis Dan Marsh was a professional wrestling referee and a professional wrestler most famous as Danny Davis of the World Wrestling Federation. ... For other uses of the term Instant replay, see Instant replay (disambiguation). ... Jack Tunney (b. ... Howard Finkel Howard Finkel (born June 7, 1957) is a professional wrestling ring announcer. ...

The Rockers apparently won the WWF Tag Team Championships from The Hart Foundation during a TV taping. The switch came because Jim Neidhart was scheduled to be released from his contract. Before the match aired, Neidhart's release was cancelled, so the planned title switch was ignored and never aired. Jack Tunney filmed a short promo which aired on the local station broadcast of the syndicated WWF shows, in which he said the match had been declared void because of a rope breaking midway through the bout. This story was then covered by the Apter mags, several of which had gone to press with the title switch before it was dropped. The Hart Foundation was a collective name used by various stables in the World Wrestling Federation. ...

In 1991, a Dusty finish was used in Japan, where such endings were being discouraged. In a match for New Japan Pro Wrestling pitting NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair against IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Tatsumi Fujinami, the main NWA referee Bill Alfonso was (kayfabe) knocked out during the match and replaced by NJPW referee Masao "Tiger" Hattori, who eventually gave the victory to Fujinami. This was done to prevent a riot by Japanese fans who had begun to dislike American-style "screwjob endings". The NWA recognized Fujinami as champion but Flair kept physical possession of the belt, which was seen as he arrived at the Japanese airport for a flight back home. To work it into the storyline, it was announced in Japan that Flair's defeat of Fujinami at Superbrawl earned him back the NWA title when in America it was simply billed as a Flair title defense. Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... New Japan Pro Wrestling (新日本プロレス, shin nihon puroresu) is a major professional wrestling federation in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in 1972. ... NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1973 – 1986, 1993 – Present) The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship is the primary professional wrestling title in the NWA. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidts 1905 title and Frank Gotchs... Ric Flair (born February 25, 1949 [1] and named Richard Morgan Fliehr upon his adoption several weeks later), is an iconic American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment on its RAW brand. ... The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship is the top singles title in New Japan Pro Wrestling. ... Tatsumi Fujinami (Fujinami Tatsumi, 藤波辰巳) is a Japanese professional wrestler who is famous for his gimmick as The Dragon. He is the one who is credited for inventing the Dragon Sleeper and the Dragon Suplex. ... William Matthew Alfonso (born August 11, 1957 in Tampa, Florida) better known as Bill Alfonso is a former professional wrestling referee and professional wrestling manager. ... This article needs additional references or sources to facilitate its verification. ... This article is about the professional wrestling pay-per-view event. ...

Chris Benoit and Booker T have had two title matches end in Dusty Finishes (one in WCW, and the other in the WWE) both resulting in a title being held up and a best-of-seven series ensuing. In 1998, Chris Benoit challenged for Booker T's WCW Television Championship. Benoit managed to lock on the Crippler Crossface, and as Booker reached for the ropes, he appeared to tap out. The referee signalled that Booker had not tapped and he eventually defeated Benoit by pinfall. Before Booker could grant a rematch to Benoit, he lost the title to Fit Finlay, causing the two competitors to compete in a best of seven series to decide the number one contender. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... Booker Robert Tio Huffman (born March 1, 1965), better known by his wrestling persona Booker T, is an American professional wrestler. ... World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ...

At the WWF In Your House: Beware of Dog pay-per-view in May 1996, referee Earl Hebner had been knocked out of the ring by The British Bulldog, during a match with Shawn Michaels for the WWF championship. Referee Mike Chioda ran into the ring to replace Hebner. Michaels German suplexed the Bulldog and held him down in a pinning combination. Chioda, noticing that Michaels' shoulders were on the mat, counted him down for a three count and awarded the match and championship to the British Bulldog. Meanwhile, Hebner had since regained his senses and noticed from outside of the ring that the Bulldog's shoulders were also on the mat and counted him down for a three count; slapping the mat at the same time as Chioda. Both officials declared each wrestler the winner of the match and the Federation champion. WWF president Gorilla Monsoon entered the ring and declared the match a draw, ordering a rematch for the King of the Ring pay-per-view event. This was billed as first for the World Wrestling Federation. In Your House Logo For the song In Your House by The Cure, see Seventeen Seconds In Your House was a pay-per-view series created by the World Wrestling Federation. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... David Davey Boy Smith (November 27, 1962 – May 18, 2002) was a British professional wrestler. ... Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965) is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Shawn Michaels. ... Michael Jason Chioda, born August 1 in New Jersey is a senior referee that is currently signed to the World Wrestling Entertainment to referee on the Raw brand. ... A German suplex is performed when a wrestler gains control of the opponent from behind in a standing position with both arms around the waist, then lifting the opponent off the ground, arching their back rearward, and dropping the opponent on their head/neck/shoulders without their own upper body... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... King of the Ring logo (1999-present) King of the Ring is an annual World Wrestling Entertainment tournament first held in 1985. ...

Chris Jericho and Chyna had a WWF Intercontinental Title match on SmackDown! that ended in a Dusty Finish. Jericho, the defending champion, performed a back suplex on Chyna onto a steel chair. However, both had their arms placed across the other (indicating both were in the process of pinning their opponent) with two referees present. Both referees counted three at the same time and the result of the match was disputed. Eventually it was determined that both Jericho and Chyna were to be considered champions (meaning this is the first time in WWF/E history that two wrestlers held a singles title at the same time). The title was stripped after the dispute then awarded back to the two, meaning Jericho got an extra title reign out of the whole deal. Christopher Keith Irvine (born on November 9, 1970), better known by the ring name Chris Jericho, is a Canadian-American actor, radio host, rock musician, and inactive professional wrestler. ... Joan Marie Joanie Laurer (born December 27, 1969) is an American actress and retired professional wrestler. ... The WWE Intercontinental Championship belt The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling championship. ...

Chris Jericho suffered a Dusty Finish in April 2000 in the WWF. He was in a match with Triple H for the WWF Championship when the original referee was knocked out in the course of the match. Earl Hebner ran out to officiate the rest of it (he was also in the middle of a feud with Triple H at the time). When Triple H went to argue (both verbally and physically) with Hebner about a call, Jericho managed to hit a series of moves then covered Triple H for the pin. Hebner, in anger, proceeded to fast-count Triple H seemingly awarding Jericho the Championship. Fifteen minutes later the call was reversed after Triple H brought Hebner back out to the stage and bullied him into declaring Jericho's win to be null and void. The title was awarded back to Triple H and Jericho's title win was stricken from the record books. Christopher Keith Irvine (born on November 9, 1970), better known by the ring name Chris Jericho, is a Canadian-American actor, radio host, rock musician, and inactive professional wrestler. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The WWE Championship belt, April 11 2005 – August 20, 2006; September 18, 2006 – present The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Championship is a professional wrestling title. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

At the inter-promotional January 2005 Royal Rumble, John Cena and Batista went over the top rope and hit the floor at the same time. As a result the SmackDown! officials awarded the victory to Cena while the officials from RAW awarded the match to Batista. The match was then restarted by Mr. McMahon with Cena and Batista as the only competitors. Batista eventually won the match. Promotional poster of Royal Rumble 2005, featuring RAW and SmackDown! superstars dressed in a West Side Story parody. ... John Felix Anthony Cena, Jr. ... David Michael Bautista, Jr. ... WWE Friday Night SmackDown! is a professional wrestling television program for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and is the flagship broadcast of the SmackDown! brand. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 25, 1945) is an American wrestling promoter, occasional professional wrestler, on-screen personality, former play-by-play announcer, and film producer. ...

There is at least one example of a false Dusty finish. At ECW One Night Stand 2006, John Cena defended the WWE Championship against Rob Van Dam. During the match, Edge attacked Cena by spearing him through a table, then knocked out referee Nick Patrick, who stepped in after Cena knocked out an ECW official. Van Dam nailed Cena with his Five-Star Frog Splash, and ECW Representative Paul Heyman ran in and counted the fall, and Rob Van Dam was declared the WWE Champion. At first, the finish was disputed, but Heyman declared the following night that since the match was under "Extreme Rules," the victory stood. Otherwise, Van Dam's victory would've been a Dusty finish. One Night Stand is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment. ... John Felix Anthony Cena, Jr. ... The WWE Championship belt, April 11 2005 – August 20, 2006; September 18, 2006 – present The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Championship is a professional wrestling title. ... Robert Alexander Rob Szatkowski (born December 18, 1970), is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Rob Van Dam (abbreviated to RVD). ... Adam Joseph Copeland (born October 30, 1973), is a Canadian professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, under the ring name Edge, wrestling on its SmackDown! brand where he is the current World Heavyweight Champion. ... Nick Patrick is a British actor, most famous for playing the part of SRO Julian JT Tavell, in the ITV Soap opera The Bill. ... Paul Buster Heyman (born September 11, 1965) is a professional wrestling manager, on-air talent, and former promoter. ...

Another example is that of a match between Edge, Randy Orton and Shawn Michaels that happened in April 2007 for #1 contendership for the WWE Championship at Backlash. Earlier in the match, Michaels had accidentally superkicked the referee while aiming for Orton, and proceeded to knock him unconscious. Later on, after Michaels and Orton traded their respective finishers, Michaels delivered a second of Sweet Chin Music to Orton, and fell into such a position where he was covering Orton's shoulders, but also had his own shoulders pinned to the mat. It is notable that all three wrestlers "earned" the #1 contender spot; the match at Backlash would be a fatal four way for the championship. Adam Joseph Copeland (born October 30, 1973), is a Canadian professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment, under the ring name Edge, wrestling on its SmackDown! brand where he is the current World Heavyweight Champion. ... Randal Randy Keith Orton[1] (born on April 1, 1980), nicknamed The Legend Killer, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its RAW brand. ... Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965) is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Shawn Michaels. ... April 2007 is the fourth month of the year. ... The WWE Championship belt, April 11 2005 – August 20, 2006; September 18, 2006 – present The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Championship is a professional wrestling title. ... Backlash is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by World Wrestling Entertainment, which started in 1999 and is held in April. ...

The Dusty finish has also been in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. An example took place at Sacrifice in a triple threat match between Christian Cage, Sting and Kurt Angle for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Sting had a pin on Christian Cage. However, before the ref started counting, Angle came in and got the Ankle lock on Sting, which led one ref counting the three count, and another ref acknowledging that Sting tapped out. This Dusty finish was planned in order to introduce the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, as the NWA World Championship would be discontinued in TNA. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) is an American professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and his father Jerry Jarrett in May 2002. ... Sacrifice is an annual professional wrestling pay-per-view event held by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in the month of May. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American professional wrestler and former Olympic gold medalist amateur wrestler, who is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, and is the current TNA World Heavyweight Champion. ... NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1973 – 1986, 1993 – Present) The National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World Heavyweight Championship is the primary professional wrestling title in the NWA. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidts 1905 title and Frank Gotchs... The TNA World Heavyweight Championship belt The Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) World Heavyweight Championship is the primary professional wrestling championship in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). ...