By James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Jim Ross, the person who has nearly seen it all from inside the modern wrestling business, has been called upon to put Dusty Rhodes's life, career, and legacy into perspective.

"He was arguably the most charismatic performer of all time," Ross told the Associated Press. "His amazing unique verbal styling will never be duplicated or exceeded. He was exactly what he portrayed on TV: a blue-collar, common man, who rose from being son of farmer to being a part of American pop culture, whose memory will live forever. Therefore, for many he was truly the American dream."

Ross noted at jrsbarbq.com that he was filming an interview for WWE's forthcoming Owen Hart DVD when he found out about Dusty's death. "My friend of over 30 years Dusty Rhodes had died at age 69 in Orlando, Florida," Ross wrote. "With his distinctive delivery his voice will never be forgotten. RIP my dear friend until we meet again.

According to TMZ, Dusty fell in his Florida home sometime Wednesday morning. Dusty was rushed to a hospital, where he experienced life-threatening complications overnight. Dusty was then pronounced dead at the age of 69 on Thursday morning.

Prior to his death, Dusty was starting to see a doctor to improve his health, according to Jerry Brisco speaking to TMZ. Ross wrote about Dusty brushing off questions about his health status as recently as last week.

"The Dream and I talked about a week ago and he tried to convince me that he was 'just fine.' I knew something was wrong when I saw him in San Jose at WrestleMania where I again questioned him about his health while sitting behind him at the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony," Ross wrote at jrsbarbq.com.

"Again, he declared himself fit and we talked of his significant weight loss. Then down in Orlando at a NXT taping the night before Mick Foley taped his comedy special for the WWE Network Dusty and I talked and he insisted that he was fine."

Ross expanded on his relationship with Dusty in a formal column for Fox Sports, noting that who Dusty was in front of the camera was an extension of his larger-than-life personality.

"Hopefully today's performers will understand how committed he was to his craft, how much he was in love with wrestling business and how much he as a natural extension of himself," Ross told the AP. "If they are paying attention that is what they'll do... No matter what you do - wrestlers or anybody else - you have to commit yourself to always be yourself. Dusty was always himself."

Ross added at jrsbarbq.com: "The young athletes at NXT lost a great teacher and mentor and we all lost a man who could talk fans into the seats and he sold tickets."

Ross concluded at FoxSports.com: "Dusty Rhodes was an innovator, a creator, a mentor and a performer the likes we will never see again in his star-crossed profession. The spirt and the legacy of The American Dream will live forever in the hearts and minds of everyone who heard him speak and watched Big Dust get "funky like a monkey" inside the squared circle. Until we see each other again, may you rest in peace, my dear friend."

[ LINKS: Ross's Blog at jrsbarbq.com, AP Interview HERE, and Ross's formal Fox Sports column HERE ]

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