#WCW: Baby Doll

As we continue to pay tribute to the late, great Dusty Rhodes, this week’s #WomanCrushWednesday is the woman he turned into a “real lady:” Baby Doll.

If you’ve only ever watched WWE programming, you’ve likely never heard of Baby Doll. But if you were an NWA fan during the ‘80s, you probably spent many a night dreaming of Tully Blanchard’s “Perfect 10.” A voluptuous, blonde smokebomb, Baby Doll entered the business as Gino Hernandez’ valet in World Class Championship Wrestling. Seemingly just a pretty face, in reality, she was the daughter of Nick Roberts and Lorraine Johnson, two former pro wrestlers in the south. So Baby Doll could get down and dirty, if necessary, but preferred to cheer on her men such as Blanchard, The Warlord, Larry Zbyszko, and then-husband Sam Houston.

But it was the “American Dream” who propelled Baby Doll into the spotlight after gaining her managerial services for 30 days as a result of defeating Blanchard. The fans welcomed her to the good side as she aided Rhodes and Magnum T.A. in their battles with the Four Horsemen. Unfortunately for Dusty, Baby Doll just couldn’t resist a ride on Space Mountain, betraying Rhodes and aligning with the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

She pretty much left the business during the ‘90s, only returning in the 2000s for fan conventions throughout the country. It’s a shame she’s not more recognized today, but she’ll always be remembered at Wrestledelphia as our favorite southern belle.