Teil Runnels, also known as Teil Runnels Gergel and Teil Rhodes, is the daughter of legendary professional wrestler Dusty Rhodes and Michelle Rubio Runnels. She is also the older sister of WWE star Cody Rhodes and the half-sister of wrestler Dustin Rhodes and Kristin Runnels Ditto. Unlike Cody and Dustin, Teil never built her life around competing inside the wrestling ring. Instead, she has mostly remained behind the scenes, raised a family with husband Kevin Gergel, appeared occasionally in wrestling documentaries and television shows, and helped keep her father’s legacy alive through the Dusty Rhodes Foundation and the revival of Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Teil Runnels Gergel |
| Also Known As | Teil Rhodes, Teil Margaret Runnels Gergel |
| Reported Birth Date | September 12, 1982 |
| Age in September 2026 | 43, if the commonly reported date is correct |
| Birthplace | Commonly reported as Austin, Texas |
| Nationality | American |
| Father | Dusty Rhodes |
| Mother | Michelle Rubio Runnels |
| Full Brother | Cody Rhodes |
| Half-Brother | Dustin Rhodes |
| Half-Sister | Kristin Runnels Ditto |
| Husband | Kevin Gergel |
| Children | Maris and Kellan Gergel |
| Known For | Member of the Rhodes wrestling family |
| Charity Work | Dusty Rhodes Foundation |
| Wrestling Project | Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling revival |
| TV/Documentary Appearances | Rhodes to the Top, American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes, Biography: WWE Legends |
| Professional Wrestler? | No established in-ring career |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
Who Is Teil Runnels?
Teil Runnels is one of four children of wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes.
For wrestling fans, the Rhodes name needs very little introduction.
Dusty became one of professional wrestling’s most memorable stars through his “American Dream” character, his famous interviews, and his work as both a wrestler and creative mind.
His sons Dustin and Cody followed him into wrestling.
Teil took a different route.
She grew up surrounded by professional wrestling but did not pursue a major in-ring career of her own.
Instead, she became one of the family members who occasionally gives fans a look at what Dusty Rhodes was like when the cameras were off.
That role has become increasingly important as Cody Rhodes has reached another level of fame in WWE.
Teil has appeared in interviews, documentaries, wrestling television, and family projects discussing both her father and brother. IMDb credits her as herself in projects including Rhodes to the Top, American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes, and the Dusty Rhodes episode of Biography: WWE Legends.
How Old Is Teil Runnels?
Teil’s exact birthday is commonly reported as September 12, 1982.
If that date is correct, she is 43 years old as of September 8, 2026, and will turn 44 on September 12.
However, there is an important difference between a widely repeated date and a strongly documented primary record.
Several celebrity-biography sources give September 12, 1982, but authoritative family records such as Dusty Rhodes’ obituary do not provide her date of birth.
For that reason, the 1982 date is best described as widely reported rather than unquestionably confirmed.
Who Are Teil Runnels’ Parents?
Teil’s father was Virgil Riley Runnels Jr., better known as Dusty Rhodes.
Her mother is Michelle Rubio Runnels.
Dusty married Michelle in 1978 after his first marriage ended.
Teil and Cody were the two children born from Dusty and Michelle’s marriage.
Dusty remained married to Michelle until his death in June 2015.
His published obituary identified Michelle as his wife and listed Teil Gergel among his four children.
That makes Teil part of both the private Runnels family and the famous public Rhodes wrestling dynasty.
Teil Runnels and Her Father Dusty Rhodes
The public knew Dusty Rhodes as a huge personality.
Teil knew him as Dad.
That difference makes her memories especially valuable.
In a 2023 interview, Teil explained that Dusty was already reaching the later part of his full-time in-ring career when she and Cody were growing up.
When the family moved to Atlanta during the WCW era, Dusty still worked in wrestling, but Teil remembered him being present at school plays, sporting events, and ordinary family activities.
She said the family was extremely close.
Because wrestling involved frequent travel and moving, the family often stayed within its own little world.
Cody has described similar childhood memories.
Writing for Sports Illustrated, Cody recalled Dusty driving him and Teil to school and turning ordinary car journeys into motivational talks. Cody also identified Dustin, Kristin and Teil as his three siblings.
These stories reveal another side of Dusty.
To wrestling fans he was “The American Dream.”
At home, he was a father who drove his children to school, attended their activities and played basketball with them.
Dusty Rhodes Never Let His Children Win
Teil has shared a funny example of Dusty’s competitive personality.
She remembered playing basketball with him in the yard.
They would play HORSE.
Dusty apparently did not believe in allowing his children to win simply because they were young.
Teil said her father was genuinely athletic and had been talented in several sports before professional wrestling became his career.
That competitive spirit clearly influenced the family.
Cody became a successful amateur wrestler before entering WWE.
Dustin built a wrestling career lasting several decades.
And even Teil’s work preserving Dusty’s legacy has remained strongly connected with sports.
Who Is Teil Runnels’ Brother Cody Rhodes?
Cody Rhodes is Teil’s younger full brother.
The two share both parents: Dusty Rhodes and Michelle Rubio.
Cody was born in 1985, making him approximately three years younger than Teil.
Today he is one of the biggest names in professional wrestling.
But to Teil, he was her little brother long before he became “The American Nightmare.”
Cody has spoken publicly about just how close they are.
During a 2024 interview with Chris Van Vliet, Cody referred to Teil as his “original best friend.”
That description says a lot about their relationship.
They grew up together.
They traveled with their father.
They experienced wrestling from inside the family rather than as ordinary fans.
And Teil has remained visibly emotional during some of Cody’s biggest career moments.
Teil’s Reaction to Cody Rhodes Losing at WrestleMania 39
One of the most memorable examples happened at WrestleMania 39 in 2023.
Cody challenged Roman Reigns for WWE’s top championship.
Many fans expected Cody to finally win the title and “finish the story.”
Instead, Roman won.
Teil was there.
She later admitted that the result was difficult for the family.
She described herself as an emotional crier and recalled the disappointment after Cody was pinned.
According to Teil, other family members watching from a suite were also shocked and upset.
It is easy for fans to treat wrestling only as entertainment.
For Teil, those moments involve her actual brother.
That makes the emotions more personal.
The Rhodes Family Eventually Got Its WrestleMania Moment
Cody’s story did not end with the 2023 defeat.
One year later at WrestleMania XL, he defeated Roman Reigns to win WWE’s biggest championship.
For the Rhodes family, the victory carried decades of history.
Dusty had become one of wrestling’s greatest stars but never held WWE’s top championship.
Cody made that goal central to his story.
Teil’s support throughout the journey showed how deeply the entire family remained connected with Dusty’s legacy.
Even though Teil was not the wrestler standing in the ring, she understood what the achievement meant to their family.
Is Dustin Rhodes Teil Runnels’ Brother?
Yes, but Dustin is Teil’s older half-brother.
Dustin Rhodes was born to Dusty Rhodes and his first wife, Sandra McHargue.
Wrestling fans know him especially well as Goldust, one of WWE’s most unusual and memorable characters.
He later competed under his real wrestling name, Dustin Rhodes.
Because Dustin was born in 1969, he is considerably older than Teil and Cody.
Dustin’s family biography identifies Teil and Cody among his half-siblings.
Despite different mothers and a large age gap, all four of Dusty’s children form part of the wider Rhodes family story.
Who Is Kristin Runnels Ditto?
Kristin Runnels Ditto is Teil’s older half-sister.
She is also a daughter of Dusty Rhodes and his first wife.
Unlike Dustin and Cody, Kristin did not become a professional wrestler.
She is known partly for her background as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader and for building a life outside wrestling.
So Dusty’s four children followed very different paths:
Dustin became a wrestler.
Kristin largely stayed outside wrestling.
Teil remained close to the business without becoming a full-time wrestler.
Cody became a major WWE star.
That variety makes the family more interesting than a simple wrestling dynasty.
Is Teil Runnels a Professional Wrestler?
No established record shows Teil building a full professional in-ring wrestling career comparable to Cody, Dustin or Dusty.
This is an important correction because some websites have incorrectly described her as a professional wrestler.
One recent low-quality page even confused Teil with an unrelated male wrestler and invented an Impact Wrestling career.
Reliable records instead show Teil appearing mainly as herself in wrestling-related television and documentary projects.
She grew up inside wrestling.
She understands the business.
She has appeared in wrestling programming.
And she has become involved with wrestling projects.
But that does not mean she has a traditional professional wrestling résumé.
Teil Runnels on AEW Dynamite
Teil has appeared on AEW Dynamite.
IMDb records her in a 2021 episode under the name “Teil Rhodes.”
At the time, Cody Rhodes was still one of AEW’s most important stars and executives.
Teil’s appearance connected naturally with the Rhodes family’s role in the company.
But again, this was not the beginning of a full-time wrestling career.
Her television involvement has remained occasional.
Teil Runnels on Rhodes to the Top
Teil also appeared on Rhodes to the Top, the reality series centered on Cody and Brandi Rhodes.
The program gave viewers a closer look at Cody’s family relationships.
One storyline involved tension between Teil and Brandi.
Brandi publicly acknowledged that their relationship had been strained and told a humorous story about an awkward early meeting that involved Cody accidentally recording himself joking about his sister.
Family relationships are often more complicated than celebrity biographies make them sound.
Teil and Brandi’s disagreements became part of the reality-show story, but Cody has consistently spoken affectionately about his sister.
Teil in American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes
Teil appeared in the 2023 documentary American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes.
She was credited as Teil Gergel — Cody’s Sister.
The documentary explored Cody’s wrestling journey, his famous father, his departure from WWE, his role in launching AEW and his eventual WWE return.
Having Teil involved added an important family perspective.
She knew Cody before WWE.
Before AEW.
Before WrestleMania main events.
Before “The American Nightmare.”
That allows her to describe the person behind the wrestling character.
Teil Runnels’ Husband Kevin Gergel
Teil is married to Kevin Gergel.
This is strongly supported by Dusty Rhodes’ published obituary, which listed his daughter as Teil Gergel (Kevin).
Several secondary biographies report that Teil and Kevin married in 2008.
However, the exact wedding date is not as strongly documented by authoritative sources, so it should not be treated with the same confidence as the marriage itself.
Teil’s married surname explains why she may appear under several different names:
Teil Runnels.
Teil Rhodes.
Teil Runnels Gergel.
Teil Gergel.
They all refer to Dusty Rhodes’ daughter.
Does Teil Runnels Have Children?
Yes.
Teil and Kevin have two children.
Their names are Maris and Kellan Gergel.
These names are confirmed in Dusty Rhodes’ obituary, which listed Maris and Kellan among his grandchildren.
Teil has generally protected her children’s privacy.
They are not promoted as celebrity personalities.
Detailed information about their schools, birthdays or daily lives is not something responsible biographies should attempt to uncover simply because their grandfather was famous.
This is another way Teil differs from highly public celebrity families.
She is connected to wrestling history but still maintains a normal private family life.
The Dusty Rhodes Foundation
One of Teil’s most meaningful public projects is the Dusty Rhodes Foundation.
The nonprofit was created to preserve an important side of Dusty’s legacy that casual wrestling fans may not know about.
The foundation supports youth athletics in disadvantaged and underserved communities.
Its official website explains that Dusty had a deep connection with youth sports and often helped young athletes.
Teil has been one of the family members speaking publicly about the foundation.
She explained in 2023 that Dusty had privately paid for children to receive equipment, attend camps or cover sports fees.
The family therefore decided that helping children participate in athletics was a natural way to honor him.
That makes the foundation more than wrestling nostalgia.
It continues something Dusty reportedly did quietly during his lifetime.
Why Youth Sports Matter to Teil
Youth sports can become expensive.
Families may need to pay for:
Registration fees.
Uniforms.
Equipment.
Travel.
Coaching.
Tournament costs.
Camps.
For some children, those expenses create a barrier that has nothing to do with talent.
The Dusty Rhodes Foundation says its goal is to help close that gap for underserved communities.
Teil has described the response to the foundation as humbling.
Fans who loved Dusty as a wrestler now have a way to connect his legacy with helping children.
Teil Helped Bring Back Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling
Teil has also become more directly involved in professional wrestling through Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, or TCW.
Dusty originally operated the promotion after WCW.
Years later, Teil and wrestler/promoter QT Marshall worked together to revive it.
Wrestling Observer/F4W reported that the new version of TCW debuted in February 2024 and featured names including QT Marshall, Scotty Riggs, Glacier, Aaron Solo and other wrestlers.
This is especially meaningful because Teil is not simply using Dusty’s name.
She is helping revive one of his actual wrestling projects.
It places her inside the business in a behind-the-scenes role that suits her much more naturally than becoming an in-ring performer.
What Is Teil Runnels Doing in 2026?
Teil continues to maintain a much lower public profile than Cody.
However, she has not disappeared from wrestling.
Fightful listed Teil in a March 2026 interview discussing Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, Cody Rhodes and the Dusty Rhodes Foundation.
That suggests her modern public work remains focused on three connected areas:
Family.
Dusty’s legacy.
Professional wrestling projects.
She occasionally joins podcasts and interviews.
She promotes the foundation.
She has helped with TCW.
And she continues supporting Cody’s wrestling career.
But she does not appear interested in turning herself into a conventional celebrity.
Teil Runnels’ Net Worth
Teil Runnels’ personal net worth has not been reliably verified.
Some celebrity websites publish specific figures.
Those estimates usually have little supporting financial evidence.
Her income, property, investments, business interests and household finances are private.
Dusty Rhodes’ career earnings also cannot simply be treated as Teil’s money.
Neither can Cody Rhodes’ current success.
Therefore, the most accurate answer is simple:
Teil Runnels’ net worth is not publicly known.
Why Teil Runnels Is Becoming More Popular Online
Cody Rhodes’ modern success has renewed interest in the entire Rhodes family.
New wrestling fans discover Cody.
Then they learn about Dusty.
Then Dustin.
Then they begin asking:
Does Cody have a sister?
Who is Teil Runnels?
Is she a wrestler?
Who is her husband?
What does she do?
That search interest increased further because Teil appeared in Cody’s documentary and has spoken publicly about major WrestleMania moments.
She is an important part of Cody’s story even though she is rarely the person standing in the spotlight.
Teil’s Real Importance in the Rhodes Family
The easiest mistake would be to judge Teil’s importance by championships.
She has none.
By WrestleMania matches.
She has none.
By acting credits.
Very few.
But families do not work like wrestling rankings.
Cody called her his original best friend.
She grew up with him.
She traveled with Dusty.
She watched their father work behind the scenes.
She remembers the family before the current generation of fans knew the Rhodes name.
And today she is helping preserve those memories.
That role may be quieter than Cody’s.
It is not less meaningful.
Final Thoughts
Teil Runnels grew up in professional wrestling royalty without allowing wrestling fame to completely define her life.
She is the daughter of Dusty Rhodes and Michelle Rubio Runnels, the full sister of Cody Rhodes, and the half-sister of Dustin Rhodes and Kristin Runnels Ditto.
She is also a wife and mother.
Dusty’s obituary confirms that Teil married Kevin Gergel and that their children are Maris and Kellan.
Teil has occasionally stepped into the public eye through AEW Dynamite, Rhodes to the Top, Biography: WWE Legends and American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes.
More importantly, she has helped preserve her father’s legacy.
Through the Dusty Rhodes Foundation, she has spoken about continuing Dusty’s quiet tradition of helping young people afford opportunities in sport.
Through Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, she has also helped revive a promotion that once belonged to her father.
Teil may never become the most famous Rhodes.
That was never necessary.
She is part of the emotional center of a family that has shaped professional wrestling across several generations.
And when Cody Rhodes calls her his original best friend, it may tell us more about Teil Runnels than any championship or celebrity headline ever could.
FAQs About Teil Runnels
Who is Teil Runnels?
Teil Runnels is the daughter of wrestling legend Dusty Rhodes and Michelle Rubio Runnels. She is also the older full sister of WWE star Cody Rhodes.
What is Teil Runnels’ full name?
She is commonly known as Teil Runnels Gergel. Some recent sources also identify her as Teil Margaret Runnels Gergel.
How old is Teil Runnels?
September 12, 1982 is widely reported as her birthday. If correct, Teil is 43 years old as of September 8, 2026 and turns 44 on September 12. Strong primary confirmation of the exact birth date is limited.
Who is Teil Runnels’ father?
Her father was WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, whose real name was Virgil Riley Runnels Jr.
Who is Teil Runnels’ mother?
Her mother is Michelle Rubio Runnels, Dusty Rhodes’ second wife.
Is Cody Rhodes Teil Runnels’ brother?
Yes. Cody is Teil’s younger full brother.
Is Dustin Rhodes Teil’s brother?
Yes. Dustin is her older half-brother because they share Dusty Rhodes as their father but have different mothers.
Who is Teil Runnels’ sister?
Her older half-sister is Kristin Runnels Ditto.
Is Teil Runnels married?
Yes. Dusty Rhodes’ published obituary identifies her as Teil Gergel and names her husband as Kevin.
Who is Teil Runnels’ husband?
Her husband is Kevin Gergel.
Does Teil Runnels have children?
Yes. She and Kevin have two children, Maris and Kellan Gergel.
Is Teil Runnels a wrestler?
She grew up around professional wrestling and has appeared on wrestling television, but she has not established a full-time professional in-ring wrestling career.
Was Teil Runnels on AEW Dynamite?
Yes. IMDb lists her in a 2021 AEW Dynamite appearance credited as Teil Rhodes.
Was Teil Runnels on Rhodes to the Top?
Yes. She appeared in the reality series connected with Cody and Brandi Rhodes.
Was Teil in Cody Rhodes’ documentary?
Yes. She appeared as herself in the 2023 documentary American Nightmare: Becoming Cody Rhodes.
What does Teil Runnels do now?
Teil is involved with projects preserving Dusty Rhodes’ legacy, including the Dusty Rhodes Foundation and the revival of Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling.
What is the Dusty Rhodes Foundation?
It is a nonprofit organization created to support youth athletics in disadvantaged and underserved communities in memory of Dusty Rhodes.
Did Teil Runnels help restart Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling?
Yes. Wrestling Observer/F4W reported that Teil and QT Marshall worked together to revive Dusty’s former promotion.
Are Teil Runnels and Cody Rhodes close?
Yes. Cody has publicly described Teil as his original best friend.
What is Teil Runnels’ net worth?
Her personal net worth has not been reliably verified. Specific figures found on celebrity biography websites should be treated as speculation.
Why is Teil Runnels famous?
She is known primarily as Dusty Rhodes’ daughter and Cody Rhodes’ sister, but she has also become involved in preserving her father’s legacy through charity work, documentaries and wrestling projects.
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