PWTorch.com - TOP STORY: Dusty Rhodes dies at age 69 (2nd Update)

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TOP STORY: Dusty Rhodes dies at age 69 (2nd Update)

Jun 11, 2015 - 10:29:43 PM

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By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Second Update: TMZ reports that Dusty Rhodes was meeting regularly with a doctor about improving his health at the time of his death.

TMZ talked to Jerry Brisco, who says that Dusty was working on lowering his blood pressure and losing weight as part of the doctor's health plan.

First Update: TMZ reports that Dusty Rhodes fell in his Orlando home on Wednesday morning and was transported to an area hospital.

Rhodes then died on Thursday morning, according to WWE. TMZ reports that Dusty "suffered numerous complications" overnight.

TMZ reported: "Officials tells us ... emergency personnel responded to Dusty's home in Orlando at 5:56 a.m. Wednesday morning after getting a call reporting a 69-year-old male had taken a fall."

Dusty and his two wrestling sons, Cody and Dustin (Goldust), all last-tweeted on Tuesday prior to Dusty's reported fall on Wednesday morning.

Even before Dusty experienced "complications" at the hospital, it's apparent that Dusty's family understood the severity of the situation, as TMZ reports that "Dusty's immediate family raced to be by his side as soon as they learned he was in the hospital."

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WWE announced Thursday that Dusty Rhodes has died at the age of 69, stunning the wrestling world.

WWE's statement: "WWE is deeply saddened that Virgil Runnels, a/k/a 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes - WWE Hall of Famer, three-time NWA Champion, and one of the most captivating and charismatic figures in sports entertainment history - passed away today at the age of 69... WWE extends its sincerest condolences to Runnels’s family, friends, and colleagues."

WWE did not release information on the cause of death.

"Saddened to hear the passing of Dusty Rhodes. Legend, teacher, mentor, friend...Love you Dream #BookinAintEasyKid," Triple H tweeted.

Dusty's death was the same day that a huge collection of wrestling stars are scheduled to meet in Tampa, Florida to recognize Championship Wrestling from Florida, where Dusty broke out as a major star in the 1970s.

Dusty last tweeted on Tuesday as part of his regular routine of rapping back at Twitter followers. Earlier in the week, Dusty dropped in a note about Tampa.

"Tampa , Florida. The Dream was born ! So as you can see I play with my Tweeeties , they love it 😄 I b down with Tampa town!"

Dusty's wrestling sons, Goldust and Cody Rhodes, have also not tweeted since Tuesday.

TMZ picked up the story, also noting that details surrounding Dusty's death are unclear at this point.

More to follow...