The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic returns!

With the Men’s Tag Division heating up again, NXT finally brings back the iconic and historic Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic! Fourteen teams from across NXT, AAA, Raw, SmackDown, and even Evolve, but who survives the first round?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno VS Los Americanos; Dar & Moreno win and advance.
• Kali Armstrong VS Skylar Raye; Raye wins.
• Kelani Jordan & ZARIA VS La Catalina & Thea Hail; Catalina & Thea win.
• 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: The Creed Brothers VS Harley Riggins & Jax Presley;  The Creeds win and advance.
• Six Man Tag: Zilla Fatu, Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux EK Prosper VS BirthRight; BirthRight wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Cody Rhodes narrates.

“For generations, tag team wrestling has been one of the foundations of pro-wrestling. Teams have been built, rivalries have been born, blood and sweat have been spilled in the shared pursuit of greatness. Some of the greatest moments in wrestling history have happened when two men stood side by side, fighting for the same thing. My father knew that better than most. Dusty Rhodes understood what tag team wrestling could do, and what it could mean to the people who stepped inside that ring together. That’s why the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic was created. It was a way to honor that tradition.

“Since 2015, teams have entered this tournament with the same goal: Win the Dusty Cup. And now, the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic returns. Teams from across WWE, NXT, Raw, Smackdown, AAA, Evolve, all come together for the same opportunity. Fourteen teams will try to etch their names into history, and add to a legacy that began long before they ever stepped into these ropes. My father’s name lives on through this tournament. Now it’s up to a new generation to show what that name means. I look forward to presenting the winning team with the Cup in person. The 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic starts right now.”

2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno VS Los Americanos!

Speaking of an opportunity, The Scottish Supernova & El Freestyler have been looking for that very thing, and this is their biggest opportunity yet! But will #Daromeo make it through the opening round? Or will Bravo y Rayo Americano look to bring more gold home to La Familia Americano?

The teams sort out and Dar starts against Rayo. They tie up, Dar goes for an arm, but Rayo chinbars. Dar wrenches to wristlock, but Rayo rolls, kips up, and handsprings to then facelock. Dar wrenches out to WRING the arm, but Rayo rolls through to strut! Tag to Bravo and the fans applaud as he almost dances his way up. Dar and Bravo circle, but then Dar tags out to Romeo. The fans cheer again while Romeo storms up, but Bravo trips him up! Bravo rolls Romeo, Romeo gets a leg and trips Bravo! Romeo runs, leaps over the dropdown, then comes back to DROPKICK! The fans cheer while Bravo flounders.

Romeo runs up, Bravo whips him away, but Romeo hurdles, drops, and hurdles again, but into an atomic drop! Bravo then JABS, JABS, JABS, and gives a spicy version of flip, flop ‘n’ fly before he DECKS Romeo! The fans cheer, Bravo tags Rayo, and Bravo trips Romeo. Bravo CATAPULTS Romeo into a forearm! Rayo then aims, slingshot SENTON BACKBREAKER COMBO! The fans fire up again, and Rayo brings Romeo up to CHOP! The fans sing “Ole~ Ole Ole Ole~” while Rayo storms up on Romeo. Rayo blocks a boot, twists the foot, then shoves Romeo, only for Romeo to rebound and BOOT him after all!

Romeo runs, whips, and Dar tags in! Leg sweep, PENALTY KICK, and the fans fire up! Dar stomps Rayo’s arm, stands him up, and we get a quick picture in picture to show The Vanity Project is watching this. Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes are certainly acting unimpressed by this, but it’s their tag titles everyone is after along with the cup. Dar wrenches Rayo to an ELBOW BREAKER, then wrenches again for another ELBOW BREAKER! Dar wrenches, but Rayo has a SLEEPER! Rayo then spins Dar to a facelock, but Dar wrenches out to KICK the arm! Rayo swings, but Dar blocks to KNEE low! Dar blocks a kick, trips Rayo then covers, TWO!

Dar winds up, and he KICKS Rayo high! And KICKS again! Rayo blocks a kick to CHOP, CHOP, CHOP! The fans fire up, Rayo runs, but into a kick! Dar clamps on with a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK! Dar drops down with the body scissors! Bravo runs up, but Romeo uses Rayo as a launchpad! Romeo catches Bravo with a GUILLOTINE FACELOCK of his own! The fans cheer as Bravo powers up, pops Romeo around, and SLAMS him onto Rayo and Dar! The fans fire up as Dar & Romeo go to the apron. Rayo runs up to GAMANGIRI them both down! Then Rayo says ole! Bravo es el toro, and he DIVES onto Dar & Romeo!

The fans are fired up for Los Americanos as they salsa in the ring, and NXT goes to picture in picture.

Rayo goes out to fetch Dar into the ring, then stands on his hand! Rayo STOMPS the fingers! Dar writhes, pounds the mat in anger, but Rayo stands him up to CHOP him down! Rayo stomps Dar around, then brings him up. Rayo points to Bravo, but Dar JUMP PUNCHES Rayo down! Cover, TWO! Dar tags Romeo, he slingshots in and runs up on Rayo! Romeo RAMS Rayo in a corner, then cradles just to deadlift suplex! Rayo fights the suplex to X-PLEX! Hmm, that looks familiar. Rayo hurries to cover, TWO! Rayo drags Romeo up, CHPOS him, then tags Bravo. Los Americanos DOUBLE HEADBUTT Romeo!

Then Los Americanos double whip Romeo to DOUBLE FLYING HEADBUTT! Los Americanos pose, then Bravo drags Romeo up and around. Bravo hooks the arms, lifts Romeo in the Gory Especial, and Romeo endures being bent backwards! Bravo storms around, then he backslides Romeo, TWO! Romeo is up but Bravo LARIATS him back down! Bravo keeps Romeo from Dar, tags Rayo, and Rayo DOUBLE STOMPS the arm! Rayo CLUBS Romeo, puts him in the corner, then hoists him up top. Tag to Bravo and he CHOPS Romeo! Bravo climbs up to get Romeo, but Romeo resists the suplex! Romeo slips under, and he FALLING POWERBOMBS!

Romeo and Bravo are both down as NXT returns to single picture. The fans rally as Romeo crawls, hot tag to Rayo! Rayo hurries to SENTON onto Romeo! Rayo drags Romeo up, tags Bravo, and Los Americanos double whip him to the corner. Romeo goes up, out, and over! Romeo avoids both Americanos to hot tag Dar! The fans fire up as Dar ducks ‘n’ dodges, then CLOBBERS Bravo again and again! Dar ROUNDHOUSES Bravo, runs, but he blocks Rayo’s cheap shot kick! DRAPING DRAGON SCREW! Rayo falls, Bravo runs up, but Dar dodges to SNAP GERMAN! The fans fire up for Dar again as he reels Bravo in.

Bravo wrenches free, but Dar blocks the enzigiri into an ANKLE LOCK! Bravo endures, Rayo runs up, but Dar hands him the foot! Then Dar DECKS Rayo and has the ANKLE LOCK again! Bravo reaches out, rolls, and he throws Dar away! Dar comes back to KICK, KICK, KICK! Bravo blocks one but not the CHOP! Dar ROCKS Bravo, tags Romeo, ENZIGIRI! Dar puts Bravo up top for a cravat, Romeo goes up! DOUBLE STMOP LONDON TOWER COMBO!! Cover, TWO!! Bravo survives and the fans fire up! Romeo tags Dar in, and Dar goes up while Romeo full nelsons Bravo. Bravo fights free and RISING HEADBUTTS!

Bravo fireman’s carries Romeo, and he adds Dar to the stack?! The fans go nuts as Bravo is indeed a big strong boy! AIRPLANE SPIN! Bravo goes to DIEZ before he DOUBLE SAMOAN DROPS! The fans fire up again as Bravo hurries up to a corner! Bravo and Rayo are both up top! STEREO DIVING HEADBDUTTS!! Cover, TWO!! Dar survives for his team and the fans fire up again! Bravo tags Rayo, and Los Americanos aims at Dar! BUZZSAW, mule kick, and then a clinch! But Dar drags Rayo down, Romeo SUPERKICKS Bravo! HEEL HOOK on Rayo! Rayo slips through pump handles, and BITTER END!! Cover, ROMEO BREAKS IT!

The fans fire up as all four men are down around ringside! “This is Awesome!” as Rayo tags Bravo, and they mug Dar with haymakers and stomps! The fans are torn but Romeo BOOTS Rayo! But then Bravo says El Bop up, and BANG! Dar runs up, Bravo ducks the kick but Rayo gets the ELBOW! Dar ROCKS Bravo! Bravo rebounds, LARIAT GERMAN SUPLEX COMBO! Romeo is up top, he MISSILE DROPKICKS Rayo! Bravo BOOTS Romeo! Dar waistlocks, Bravo breaks free to PELE! Rayo goes up to ASAI MOONSAULT onto Romeo! Bravo fires up, he underhooks, but Dar drops, victory roll, TWO!!

Bravo dodges, scarecrows, but into the ANKLE LOCK! CHAMPAGNE SUPER KNEEBAR!! Bravo freaks out, flails around, but he’s caught! Bravo powers up, pushes back, and deadlift GERMAN SUPLEXES!! The fans are thunderous again as all four men are back down! Dar crawls to a corner, but Romeo is in! Romeo goes up, ESCALARA- HAYMAKER from Rayo!! Bravo puts Dar up top, Rayo tags in, and both Americanos climb. Bravo hits a SUPER STEINER! Rayo adds a FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Dar survives and shocks everyone! The fans rally for Dar as he ROCKS Rayo! Romeo tags in, and he catches Rayo!

But wait, Rayo grabs Romeo’s fingers! Rayo SNAPS ’em! Rayo then grabs Dar’s hand, has the fingers, and he pushes them down against the mat, before he STOMPS! Tag back to Bravo, Bravo climbs up, and Rayo clinches. But Dar RIPCORD ELBOWS Rayo down! Bravo is stunned, Dar gives Romeo the boost to go up! SUPER DEATH VALLEY DRIVER!! The fans are going nuts, and Romeo says vamos! Tag to Dar, he and Romeo aim! A new take on MEET IN THE MIDDLE!! Cover, Dar & Romeo win!!

Winners: Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno, by pinfall (advance to the next round)

A fast and furious start to this tournament! And if this is just the first, just how wild is the rest of it going to be?

Kendal Grey meets with a sports psychiatrist.

They ask her how she’s doing, and she says she’s fine. Dealing with vertigo fine, had her dizzy moments, but they come and go. Honestly, she’s just ready to get back in the ring. That’s not what he meant. He was asking more, how is she feeling? Kendal says it sucks. Losing the NXT Women’s Championship was hard enough. Then she’s got vertigo and isn’t even cleared, so she can’t fight for what she lost. That’s the hardest part. She wakes up every morning, putting one foot in front of the other, she just doesn’t know where she’s going. She’s lost, restless, stuck in this hole she can’t get out of. She wants to, she just doesn’t know how.

That does sound rough. Has she dealt with anything like this before? Her freshman year of college, she got a Liz Frank injury, so she had to red shirt. It sucked sitting on the sidelines, seeing everyone else chase their dreams, have opportunities, and she was just… there. Just existing. Like she is now. The difference was, she could see the Liz Frank injury. With this, she can’t. The therapist points out she came back to win three national championships, so what’s different this time? What’s wrong with slowing down? Kendal says this time just feels different. In college, there was a plan, she knew she’d be cleared for the following season.

But with this… Kendal doesn’t know what’s happening. She doesn’t know when she’s coming back. Weeks, months, a year! And she lost the title. She was at the highest of highs, and in the snap of a finger, it was all gone. What if Kendal Grey doesn’t come back the same? What if she’s not as fast or as smooth? What if the things that makes Kendal Kendal is gone? That is a lot to unpack, and they will get there. For next session, think on that concept: Who is Kendal Grey if she’s not competing? Kendal says she doesn’t know. Will she make it through this dark time in her career? Or is Kendal the one getting lost in the Grey Area?

Kali Armstrong VS Skylar Raye!

The Pride of Inglewood ran right through Rain, only to be blindsided by the Raye! At least, Skylar’s usually a ray of sunshine. Right now, she’s looking to stake her claim to the top spot! Will the LFG Season 2 winner finally get some respect on NXT? Or will there be a Kali Connection in her future?

The bell rings and Raye runs up, only for Kali to catch her! Kali RAMS Raye into the corner, fires off hands and stomps, then stalks her to a corner. Kali says this is what Ray gets as she stomps away again! Kali lets off as the ref counts, then she stalks Raye to another corner. Kali RAMS into Ray again and again, then backs off to run corner to corner! Ray manages to go up and over! Kali hits buckles, Raye arm-drags her around and around! Raye runs, redirects, then does it again! Raye ducks ‘n’ dodges, slides and tilt-o-whirls to RANA! Kali staggers up, into a DROPKICK! The fans fire up with Raye while Kali tumbles out!

Kali is mad now, and she storms around. Kali goes looking under the ring, but just slides into the ring. Raye ducks ‘n’ dodges again, but Kali does, too! Kali LARIATS Raye down! Kali JABS, and JABS, and JABS again! Raye staggers, Kali breaks it down, and she DECKS Raye! The fans fire up with Kali, and Kali says this is what Raye wanted! Kali scoops to SLAM! Kali fires up while Raye flounders. Raye manages to stand, but Kali lifts her! Raye sunset flips, TWO! Raye hurries to then high stack, but Kali pops her into a cover, TWO! Raye slips up and over to roll Kali into a sunset, TWO! Kali swings, Raye dodges, CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!

Raye hurries to fire body shots on Kali! Then she stomps a foot! Raye ROCKS Kali, Kali goes to a corner, but Kali blocks a kick. Raye ENZIGIRIS Kali and the fans fire up! Raye whips, Kali reverses, but Raye goes up and- NO, Kali blocks, pops her up, and OKLAHOMA STAMPEDES! Cover, TWO! Raye survives but Kali eggs her on, and NXT goes picture in picture.

Kali grabs Raye’s arm, drags her up, then STOMPS her down! Raye flounders away, but Kali pushes her down, for another STOMP! Kali watches Ray flounder around again, then STOMPS her a third time! Raye goes to ropes, Kali CHOKES her, but she stops as the ref counts. Kali talks trash, pushes Raye to a corner, then storms around. Raye sits up, Kali storms back up, but Raye fires body shots! Kali staggers, Raye ROCKS her, then Raye whips. Kali reverses and CLOBBERS Raye! Kali rains down fists, then fires up as she eggs Raye on. Kali CLUBS Raye, drags her up, and reels her in. Kali CLUBS Raye down, then clamps on with a chinlock.

Kali grinds Raye down, but Raye endures. Raye fights up, fires body shots, but Kali CLUBS her down. Raye fires more body shots, then bobs ‘n’ weaves! Raye fires even more shots, but Kali SHOVES her away! Kali runs up, Raye dodges, CROSS- NO, Kali catches Raye to FALL AWAY SLAM! Kali kips up, Raye flounders around, but Kali takes aim. Kali runs up and RAMS Raye in the corner! Kali goes corner to corner and RAMS Raye again! Raye flops down, Kali drags her up, and Kali suplexes! Cover, TWO! Kali clamps right back onto Raye with a straitjacket stretch! Kali even digs her knee into Raye’s back. Raye endures, fights around, and fights up.

Kali thrashes Raye but Raye endures. Raye powers up to turn things around, only for Kali to turn them right back around! Kali has the straitjacket again, and has Raye on her back for a stretch! NXT returns to single picture as the fans rally up, and Raye manages to flip up and over! Raye hits a BACKSTABBER! Kali writhes now and the fans rally up again. Raye rises, but Kali is up. Raye BODY SHOTS again! Kali comes back, Raye ROCKS her! And ROCKS her again! The fans rally as Raye ducks ‘n’ dodges to RUN Kali over! And RUN her over! The fans fire up as Raye SHOULDER TACKLES Kali to a corner!

Raye snarls, runs in, and ELBOWS Kali! Raye keeps moving, tilt-o-whirls, and DDTS! Kali is in the drop zone, Raye hurries up the corner! Raye FROG SPLASHES! Cover, TWO! Kali survives and the fans fire up again. Raye tries another tilt-o-whirl, but Kali powers out, and then hits a DEEP SIX! Kali stands Raye up, to SPINEBUSTER! High stack, TWO! Raye survives, Kali argues with the ref, but the count was fair. Kali scoops Raye, but Raye slips free to shove Kali into buckles! O’Conner Roll, TWO! Raye goes up, up, and leaps, but into a POWERSLAM! Kali fires up, the fans are with her, and Kali shifts into gear!

kali gets going down the highway, but Raye jumps outta the way! KALI CONNECTION on the ref! The fans go nuts and Kali is shocked! But wait! REINA VOLCAN CLOBBERS RAYE! Then SNAP POWERSLAM on Kali! Then a torture rack for Raye! NATURAL DISASTER BOMB!! Reina lets Raye flop onto Kali for a cover, then disappears before the ref returns. The ref counts the cover, RAYE WINS!!

Winner: Skylar Raye, by pinfall

The records may say Raye won tonight, but Reina’s the one who proved her dominance. She affected the outcome, will she singlehandedly change the landscape of NXT?

Robert Stone meets with Shiloh Hill and Saquon Shugars.

The NXT General Manager is still trying to understand how Shiloh talked with raccoons that also talked back. Shiloh says he doesn’t really remember much about that night, but at least he gets why Naraku’s after him. Shugars says at least one of them has answers. He’d be the one fighting for the NXT Championship if not for Tristan Angels and his narrow ass. Give him a match! Shiloh says he knows all about dealing with Mr. England. If Shugars wants, he can borrow some red mist. Tristan probably doesn’t even know how to use an eye wash station, so the effects might be permanent. Shugars says okay, okay, he’s got… Seven dollars, and a lottery scratcher. Is that good?

Stone says no, no, they can’t go and cripple a fellow superstar! And they shouldn’t be talking about it in front of him, the GM! Oh, true, but if Stone needs to forget about it, Shiloh has something for that, too. Stone says no, he doesn’t need that. Shugars says it’s fine, he’ll just catch Tristan in the parking lot. Stone says he’ll pretend he didn’t just hear that. But if Shugars wants Tristan and Shiloh wants Naraku, we can revisit this next week. Does that work? Shiloh and Shugars agree to that. Now, what was that about the orange mist equaling talking raccoons? Shugars & Hill head out, will they both get the revenge they want?

Robert Stone handles an issue.

It seems Wren Sinclair was trying to get around her suspension by working the merch truck. Stone has Wren escorted off campus but the fans chant “We Want Wren!” When will Stone let Tuesdays be #WrenXT again?

Kelani Jordan & ZARIA VS La Catalina & Thea Hail!

The NXT Women’s Champion and NXT Women’s North American Champion both want to be the most dominant champion of NXT, but they’ve both got bull’s eyes on their backs because of those belts. Will the AAA Reina de Reinas Champion and the Grown-Ass Woman prove they can both be #DAD (Dangerous And Devious)? Or will no one do it like the champions of NXT?

The teams sort out and Thea runs right up on Zaria! Thea jumps on and is after that arm! Zaria throws Thea way, then Lani tags in, upset with Zaria more than she is Thea. Thea waistlocks Lani while she’s talking to Zaria, but Lani switches. Thea switches, Lani goes to ropes, but Thea O’Conner Rolls! ONE, and Thea rebounds to RUN Lani over! Thea does her dance, then runs, but Lani drops down, hurdles over, only for Thea to leap over. Lani DROPKICKS Thea down! The fans boo but Lani says that’s how a champ doe sit. Lani runs but Thea drop toeholds her onto ropes! Thea tags Catalina, she runs and HIP ATTACKS Lani! Thea runs to METEORA!

Lani bails out, Zaria runs up, but Catalina dodges and Thea DUMPS Zaria out! Thea holds the way open, Catalina DIVES onto Lani and Zaria! The fans fire up and Thea aims, and springboards to TRUST FALL! The fans cheer Thea and Catalina as they do the dance, and NXT goes picture in picture.

Catalina fetches Lani into the ring, hurries to cover, TWO! Catalina keeps on Lani and whips her to ropes. Lani reverses, but Catalina ducks ‘n’ dodges to redirect, then she slips around and arm-drags Lani away! Lani gets up, Catalina DROPKICKS her down! Catalina then drags Lani up, brings her over, and tags in Thea. They double whip Lani to DOUBLE ELBOW her! Then Thea hops up onto Catalina’s shoulders, for an ELECTRIC CHAIR SPLASH! Cover, TWO! Thea keeps Lani down as she ELBOW DROPS an arm, SPLASHES on it, then ELBOW DROPS it again! Thea drags Lani up, wrenches, and UPPERCUTS the arm!

Thea wrenches to snapmare Lani, then isolates the arm to KNEE DROP it! Thea keeps Lani from Zaria, then wrenches and wristlocks. Lani fights around but Thea still wrangles her into the FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Lani endures, fights up, but Thea steps over. Lani turns Thea’s hip drop into a roll up, TWO! Lani KNEES Thea low, THROWS her down by her hair, and hot tags Zaria! Zaria runs to keep Thea from Catalina. Zaria whips, Thea ducks ‘n’ dodges, tilt-o-whirl and- NO, Zaria shoves free, then DISCUS LARIATS Thea down! Zaria rains down fists, then YANKS Thea up just to THROW her back down!

Zaria soaks up heat, then runs in and ELBOWS Thea in the corner! Zaria ROCKS Thea, then hits a BROKEN ARROW! Cover, TWO! Thea toughs it out, but Zaria drags her over. Zaria tags Lani, they work together to DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX! Cover, TWO! Lani keeps Thea from Catalina, bumps her off buckles, and tags Zaria back in. Zaria stands Thea up, taunts Catalina as she reels Thea in, and NXT returns to single picture. Zaria suplexes, and she holds Thea up, but Thea slips around, brings Zaria down, and has a SLEEPER! Zaria fights up, and she THRWOS Thea off! Zaria runs up, Thea dodges, Lani sneaks a tag!

Zaria keeps Thea back, whips her and Lani BOOTS Thea into Zaria’s BACKDROP! Zaria puts Thea in place, Lani LIONSAULTS! Cover, TWO! Lani KNEES Thea low, KNEES her again, then KNEES her down! Lani soaks up the heat, stands Thea up, and reels her into a COBRA TWIST! The fans rally as Thea endures, and Thea fights her way around! They dosido, and Thea has Lani in the COBRA TWIST! The fans cheer, but Lani slips through and THROWS Thea into the corner! Lani runs up, but Thea mule kicks her! Thea DECKS Zaria, dodges Lani, then ROCKS Lani! Thea HOTSHOTS Zaria, then RAMS Lani!

Thea hurries in, dodges Lani, but Lani hurries to anchor a foot! Lani drags Thea back, wheelbarrows, Zaria tags in before the STUN GUN GERMAN! Lani BLASTS Catalina while Zaria SPEARS Thea! Cover, TWO?!? Thea survives, shocking Zaria and frustrating Lani! The fans fire up but Zaria drags Thea up. Tag to Lani, and they DOUBLE BACK SUPLEX again, only for Thea to land out! Thea dodges Zaria to POST her! Then she DUMPS Lani out of the ring! The fans fire up as Thea crawls the long distance to the corner! The fans rally harder and harder, but Lani anchors a foot again! Thea hops up, and HEEL KICKS free!

Lani staggers, Zaria tags in! Zaria runs up but Thea dodges again! Zaria crashes into buckles, and Thea makes the hot tag! The fans fire up as Catalina goes up, up, and MISSILE DROPKICKS Zaria! Catalina LARIATS Lani, then dodges Zaria to tilt-o-whirl and RANA! Then she wrenches Lani to suplex her away! The fans fire up but Zaria is back! GERMAN- NO, Catalina victory rolls through, TWO! Catalina DECKS Zaria! The fans fire up as Catalina runs at Lani, HIP ATTACK! HIP ATTACK for Zaria! Then HIP ATTACK on Lani! Zaria ROCKS Catalina, Thea sneaks a tag! Zaria fireman’s carries Catalina, F5 into Lani!

The fans fire up as Thea runs in, but Zaria fireman’s carries! F- SUNSET FLIP! PRAWN HOLD! THEA & CATALINA WIN!!

Winners: La Catalina & Thea Hail, by pinfall

Zaria and Lani are furious, but Thea & Catalina dance their way outta there! Thea got a pin on the Women’s North American Champion, will these two settle the score for that belt sooner rather than later?

Sean Legacy talks with Zilla Fatu backstage.

Super Sean says thanks for the help in that fight last week, and Zilla says don’t even worry about it, Uce. All love. Cuz tonight, BirthRight will get theirs! Legacy says that’s true, but they’ve run into a slight problem… In that attack last week, Dorian Van Dux came away with a punctured lung! He’s not medically cleared! Then what does that mean? 3v2 or what? Legacy says don’t worry, he’s got somebody. Wait, wait, DVD is here? The Muscles from Brussels says he wants to stand and fight! Legacy says what?! NO! He’s not cleared! DVD says he feels excellent. But he has a hole in his lung! A s-small hole, it’ll be fine! NO!

Legacy says that medical already told him, under NO circumstances can DVD wrestle tonight! Legacy needs DVD at his best for the Dusty Cup. DVD says he’ll be there, but- Zilla says enough with the bromance, okay? Is it 3v2 or what? Legacy says he has a substitute, they’ve been texting, and he told Legacy he’d be here in a few minutes. And in comes EK Prosper! He heard they need a third? Oh, yes! They shake hands on it. DVD says okay, that’s cool, but he wanted to fight. Yeah, Legacy wants DVD to fight, too, but that means getting medically cleared. Legacy leaves with Zilla & EK, will this trio prosper against BirthRight?

Cruz Montana is here!

The fans fire up as The Boricua Badass makes his way through the crowd and to the ring. What will he have to say? We’ll hear it all, after the break.

NXT returns as Cruz is in the ring, mic in hand. “YERRRT~!” The fans cheer, and Cruz asks NXT, “What’s good?! Now check it, I walked into NXT and I made my intentions clear as day when I set my eyes on that NXT title. But let’s be real, I haven’t been quite stacking those wins. But if you’ve been paying attention, your man hasn’t been losing, either. My Pops always said that we don’t take loses, we learn lessons. And I’ve been in this position before, and all it’s done is thrown gasoline on the flames and make me want it even more. So I’ll tell you this: Whoever’s walking out as NXT Champion after Mason and Waller throw hands… Know that that NXT-”

OH NO! DarkState is here! Dion Lennox, Osiris Griffin & Cutler James are in the crowd, and Dion tells Cruz that he’s really good at making himself sound more important than he really is. Cruz loves that reputation, but nobody cares what he did or is about to do. The fans boo but Dion says DarkState’s gonna run through the Dusty Cup. Let them worry about championships, Cruz should just worry about what’s in front of him, which is… Nothing! HAHA! Cruz mocks Dion’s laugh before he tells Dion to shut his ass up! Dion talks tough when he’s got his crew out here. Let your bum ass friends worry about the Cup while Dion steps in and faces Cruz like a man!

Dion says alright, alright, fine, they’re good. Dion has this. Dion steps over the barriers and says Cruz was the guy in TNA, he won titles all over the world, Dion will give him that. But just because Cruz has been doing this his whole life, setting up some dusty rings, that makes him better than Dion? There’s a reason why athletes like Dion have been coming into this business and taking over. Cruz shakes at the idea of discipline, Dion IS discipline. Dion knows structure. He’s never needed anyone to clean up his mistakes. He could’ve gone down that path, but he wasn’t gonna throw his life away, he’s worked too hard.

Cruz said EK Prosper is the future of NXT, but why? Because he had to eat dirt just like Cruz to get here? Dion ain’t never gonna relate to that! Cruz says, “Aw, pendito, que pasa? Your feelings are hurt cuz I said EK was the future of this brand. Is that why you out here? First and foremost, homeboy, the only person that cleaned up my mistakes was the man that I look at in the mirror every single day.” The fans cheer that! Cruz says he has spent years overcoming those demons. He has busted his ass and have learned from some of the best in the game! Ask anybody that has known Cruz the last 20 years, and they’ll tell him, he paid his dues every step of the way.

Cruz has earned everything that he has been blessed with in and out of this ring. Dion ain’t got nothing on Cruz. And to be honest, Dion could’ve used some of that. Cuz all that athletic ability Dion keeps bragging about? Cruz will run circles around Dion in this ring, on this mic, and in every aspect of this business every single day! The fans cheer that, too! Cruz says Dion walked into wrestling because things didn’t work out anywhere else. Dion couldn’t cut it, and the NFL didn’t want his ass neither, huh!? But check it real quick: Cruz never got messages about no tryouts on his Instagram. Cruz earned his way in with every step, and there’s nothing Dion or anybody can ever do about that.

Cruz will tell Dion this: Cruz carries his family, his city, and his culture on his back! Meanwhile, guys like Dion walk in here and think that everything should just be handed to them, just to throw it on the floor and step all over it. Get the hell outta here with that. Dion says hold on, hold on! Cruz said guys like Dion, right? Wasn’t Cruz’s mama a drug dealer? Cruz takes the sunglasses off, he’s getting mad now. Cruz warns him, that’s strike one. Dion says his mama wasn’t that. Dion did everything right, from D1 athlete, education, NFL training camps! He did everything so right that WWE practically begged Dion to come here.

Yet for some reason, you can hear ’em! All the people hate him! But they love Cruz? The fans indeed cheer, and Dion asks why. Because Dion wasn’t some drug addict? Cruz says that’s strike two. Dion says everyone wants to pat Cruz on the back, and he walks around like some hero, when all he’s done is become the man he should’ve been from day one. So look, Dion will say it like this: Cruz had to lose everything just to become somebody. Dion has been somebody his whole life. That’s three. Cruz DECKS Dion, then fires off! Cruz chases Dion outta the ring, brawls up the ramp with him, and refs hurry out here!

The fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT!” but this is going to the back either way! Will Cruz make Dion go from a somebody to someone that we used to know?

Robert Stone meets with Mason Rook.

The NXT GM says he wants to congratulate Rook on becoming #1 contender, and he gets an open mic to say what he wants to Grayson Waller. Rook says he appreciates that, because not only is Waller the NXT Champion, he’s the champ of running his mouth, too. Stone says yeah, but is Rook nervous? No, Rook’s excited, because he’s got stuff to get off his chest. Stone looks forward to it! Then Hank ‘n’ Tank march in, getting the fight song going already. “He’s big, he’s bad, he’ll body slam your dad! Mason Rook~! Mason Rook~!” Rook appreciates that, and Hank says when you’re out there, just trust your gut.

Tank says that the thing about Waller is that Waller believes everything he says. Everything! So when you speak from the gut, and Rook’s got a good one, you can never go wrong. Rook appreciates that, too, and they shake hands. Rook heads out, Stone asks what he can do for Hank ‘n’ Tank. Hank says first, they want to thank Stone for putting them in the Dusty Cup. They’ve been fired up. They’ve been winning belly flop tournaments, but now they’re gonna win the tag team tournament. And while Viktor Zanov & Shido Ash have been eating up their competition, let’s see if they’re hungry enough to sit at the table with the B-B-B-B-B-B-Bodacious Belly Boys!

That is to say, they’re done with being friends with everyone else for a bit. They’re done helping the rest of the teams around here, and in fact, they are gonna help themselves to the rest of the teams! Nice one. Stone loves to hear it and wishes them luck. Will Hank ‘n’ Tank bring the fight to the former judokas? Or will Zanov & Ash prove they’re ready to evolve here on NXT?

2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Opening Round: The Creed Brothers VS Harley Riggins & Jax Presley!

Julius & Brutus are back at it here in NXT, and they’re hoping to not just make history, but to repeat history by putting their names back on that Dusty Cup. But speaking of getting back at it, #GnarlyHarley finally has the #SpaceCowboy by his side again, and they’re just as eager to evolve into a top team. But will Harley & Presley have to shift into high gear for this one? Or will nothing stop The Creeds from regaining former glory?

Well The Creeds get right on it as Julius CLOBBERS Jax into Harley! then he feeds Harley to Brutus for a BACKDROP! Then they POST Harley, and Julius RAMS into Jax! The bell finally rings, and Julius OVERHEAD THROWS Jax! Tag to Brutus, and the Creeds give Jax a DOUBLE- NO! Jax slips free, and he SHOVES Julius into Brutus! Jax LARIATS Julius down, but Brutus trips Jax. Jax UP KICKS in return, then dodges Brutus! Jax BACKDROPS Brutus, and he storms up on him. Jax brings Brutus up, ROCKS him, then runs the ropes. Jax hurdles Brutus, then comes back to LARIAT!

Julius runs up but Jax BACKDROPS Julius, too! Julius bails out, Brutus is up, but Jax LARIATS Brutus and himself up and out! The fans fire up as Jax fires hands on Julius, then brings Brutus around. But Brutus YANKS Jax down right on the steps! Jax clutches an arm but Brutus puts him in the ring. Tag to Julius and they DOUBLE GUT BUSTER! Julius then BLASTS Harley for good measure! We get a quick picture in picture to see Los Hermanos Wagner are watching this, perhaps wondering if they’ll be facing this brother team later in the tournament. Julius then drags Jax up, whips him hard into a corner, and Jax falls!

Julius CHOPS Jax, RAMS into him, then RAMS again! But Jax KNEES Julius down! Jax crawls, pushes Julius away, but Julius hurries to get a foot. Jax kicks free, but then Julius rebounds, and uses Jax as a step to LAUNCH at Harley! Then Julius KICKS Jax in the side! Harley is furious but Julius drags Jax around. ELBOW FLOP as Jax dodges! The fans rally as Jax crawls, hot tag to Harley! Harley LARIATS Julius, BLASTS Brutus, then CLOBBERS Julius again! A BOOT for Julius, BODY SHOT, KICK, and BOOT for Brutus! Then a DOUBLE SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Harley goes up a corner! MARIPOSA! Cover, but Harley sees Brutus up top!

Brutus leaps, Harley moves, BRUTUS BALL onto Julius! The fans fire up as Harley TOSSES Brutus out! Tag to Jax, Jax Electric Chair Lifts Julius! Harley goes up, but Brutus SHOVES him down! Julius slips free, and he GERMAN SUPLEXES Jax! Jax flounders, Julius hurries to tag Brutus. The straps come down, and the Creeds DOUBLE SPINEBUSTER Jax! Cover, Creeds win!

Winners: The Creed Brothers, by pinfall (advance to the next round)

Harley & Jax proved they’re no slouches, but now they’re gonna be watching from the couches, because The Creeds are on a roll! Will Julius & Brutus be shoe-ins for the finals?

Six Man Tag: Zilla Fatu, Sean Legacy & EK Prosper VS BirthRight!

The Main One rejected the offer, and that only upset Lexis King and his team. However, they didn’t expect Zilla to get friends of his own. And while Dorian Van Dux has to rest and recover, the Disrespectfully Athletic is ready to step up. Will Zilla, Legacy, and EK all be super together? Or will King, Stacks & Uriah teach Zilla what happens when you deny your birthright?

The teams sort out, and Legacy starts against Channing Lorenzo. The two tie up, Legacy headlocks, but Stacks powers up and out. Stacks drops down, hurdles, but Legacy rolls through the hip toss. Legacy whips Stacks, Stacks grabs ropes, then Stacks HIP TOSSES, only for Legacy to bounce off the ropes and ARABIAN PRESS ARM-DRAG! Stacks runs back up but into a scoop and SLAM! Legacy keeps moving and PENALTY KICKS! Then STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Stacks reaches out but Legacy keeps him from BirthRight. Legacy wrenches Stacks’ arm, Stacks reaches out, Uriah tags in!

Legacy arm-drags Stacks, Uriah waistlocks, but Legacy BOOTS Stacks and ELBOWS Uriah. Legacy headlocks but Uriah powers up and out. EK tags in, Legacy slides out, and EK waistlocks Uriah. Uriah bucks the O’Conner, EK hurdles, Uriah leaps over. Things keep moving, EK flips up and out of the backdrop to then dodge Uriah and DROPKICK! The fans fire up as EK swaggers. EK runs up, Uriah dodges a chop to CHOP first! And CHOP again! Uriah brings EK over, tags Lexis, and he runs up to LARIAT! Then CHOP! Lexis snapmares and KICKS EK in the back! Lexis then runs, but EK ducks the boot!

EK kips up, blocks another kick, and DROPKICKS Lexis! Cover, TWO! The fans rally behind EK and he brings Lexis up to wrench. Tag to Zilla and the fans really fire up! Zilla scoops and SLAMS Lexis! He eggs Lexi son, scoops and SLAMS him again, but here come Uriah & Stacks! Zilla dodges to DOUBLE LARIAT them down! Then he fires KNEE after KNEE on Lexis! Zilla whips but Lexis flapjack DROPKICKS! Lexis tags Stacks, they bring Zilla around but he fights the double suplex! Zilla wrenches out, HEADBUTTS Stacks, then ROCKS Lexis! Zilla TOSSES Lexis, runs up on Stacks, but Stacks BOOTS him back!

Stacks slides under, UPPERCUTS, then kips up to power him to the ropes. Uriah sneaks a tag as Stacks whips Zilla away, but Zilla slips around to shove Stacks! OVERHEAD THROW! Uriah runs up but Zilla sends him into the corner! Zilla SPLASHES Uriah, tags EK, and Zilla gives EK the boost for a RAILGUN DROPKICK! Uriah falls out, Legacy tags in, and Zilla sends him to GAMANGIRI Stacks! Stacks staggers away, but EK DIVES onto Uriah! Legacy DIVES onto Stacks! Zilla BLASTS Lexis! The fans fire up as Zilla’s team stands tall. But then they all build speed! They TRIPLE FLY onto BirthRight!! The fans are going nuts as NXT goes to break!

NXT returns as EK and Stacks trade haymakers. They go back and forth, shot for shot, then EK ROUNDHOUSES! Stacks ROCKS EK, suplexes, but into STUN-DOG MILLIONAIRE! The fans fire up, EK runs in, but Stacks BOOTS him! Stacks goes up, but EK catches him in the UPPER ROOM! EK then LEG LARIATS! Cover, but Lexis DOUBLE STOMPS it apart! Zilla whips Lexis, LARIATS him, then DUMPS him out! Zilla builds speed, and he DIVES! Down goes Lexis at the ramp! The fans fire up, EK runs up on Stacks to fireman’s carry, but Stacks slips free! Tag to Uriah, EK runs up, but Stacks drop toeholds him into Uriah’s KICK!

Stacks hurries to get EK up, SUPLEX BOMB! Cover, TWO! EK survives and shocks Uriah! Uriah rains down fists, then huffs ‘n’ puffs while the fans rally up. Finlay UPPERCUTS EK, but EK hits back. Finlay snapmares EK, clamps on a chinlock, but the fans rally up for EK. EK endures, fights up, fires body shots, but Uriah ROUNDHOUSES! Uriah springboards, PRIMA NOCTA! Cover, TWO! EK is tougher than that and Uriah grows frustrated. Tag to Stacks, he sends Uriah in, but EK BOOTS him! EK dodges Stacks, hot tag to Zilla! Zilla CLOBBERS Lexis, CLOBBERS Stacks, CLOBBERS Uriah, and repeat!

The fans fire up as Zilla rallies on BirthRight, then gives Uriah an URENAGE! Then a BUBBA BOMB for Lexis! But Stacks slips under! Zilla uses that to HIP DROP! Lexis SUPERKICKS Zilla, but Zilla just eats it for lunch! Zilla fires up, Lexis runs away to tag Uriah! Uriah runs up, but into an OVERHEAD THROW! Lexis tries anyway, but he gets a SAMOAN DROP! Zilla says, “HELLO!” HIP ATTACK on Uriah! EK tags in, but Arianna Grace distracts the ref! The ref didn’t see EK’s tag, so Zilla still counts as legal! Legacy tags in, he springboards, 450 SPLASH but onto knees! Uriah cradles, BIRTHRIGHT STEALS IT!

Winners: BirthRight, by pinfall

The numbers keep on working in BirthRight’s favor, but then Lexis has to get attitude with Zilla. Zilla UPPERCUTS Lexis! Zilla winds up, but BirthRight drags Lexis to safety! The Main One warns BirthRight, when and where will he get one over on them?

Backstage interview with Zaria.

Emily Agard is with the NXT Women’s North American Champion and notes the loss in the match earlier tonight. With that, Robert Stone just made it official, Zaria will defend that title against Thea Hail next week. Zaria asks if Emily saw what happened. There’s a difference between beating Zaria in a tag match and beating her when the belt’s on the line. Trust her when she says it won’t happen again. Wait, what’s playing on the screen behind them? Is that a high school musical version of Wicked? Izzi Dame steps in and sarcastically says O M G, is that Zaria? Zaria storms off flustered and furious, but Izzi says she actually prefers Zaria’s rendition over the movie.

Izzi says if it wasn’t obvious, she’s taking over this interview time, so let’s dive into next week and that title match. Zaria VS Thea, more alike than they even know! Thea doesn’t have friends now, Zaria didn’t have friends in high school, and judging by the video we just watched, that’s why. But that’s a story for another day, because no good deed goes unpunished. Izzi smirks as she heads out, will she bully her way into the title scene? Or is she only asking for trouble?

Grayson Waller is here!

The fans aren’t quite as fired up to see the Aussie Icon head to the ring, mic in hand. Also, his hoodie reads, “He’s Big, He’s Bad, I Think He ATE My Dad.” But before Waller can get started, Mason Rook makes his entrance! The fans cheer as the Human Tank goes to the ring, ready for a face-to-face. But then Waller says Rook doesn’t need a mic, he doesn’t know how to use it! Waller then asks Rook how he’s feeling. The lights are pretty bright, huh? Is he feeling the pressure yet? Because Waller loves this! This is where he wants to be! Waller came back to NXT with a few goals. First was becoming NXT Champion, tick.

Number two was to bring this championship back to the prestige it used to have, and in order to do that, he must defend it against the best. And right now, ladies and gentlemen, Mason Rook is the best. The fans applaud that, and Waller says when he came back here, he wasn’t sure if anyone was as hungry as him. And turns out, there’s no one hungrier than Mason Rook! The fans boo the veiled fat joke, but Waller says hey, on the surface, they have a lot in common. They both left their friends, family, lives, and comforts of home to travel across the world and chase a dream. But they are not the same, because Rook’s been here like six months. He thinks he knows what sacrifice is?

Does Rook miss his mum? Waller’s here running marathons, Rook runs to the front door to get his Doordash! Waller could stand here and do a 20 minute standup routine on the fly. He could roast Rook like a pig at a luau, lad! But if Waller’s gonna stay real, this championship means too much to him to take Rook lightly. Waller understands the challenge he has in front of him. He knows Rook is strong, his is powerful, is creative in this ring, and there’s no one on the planet that moves like Rook at his size. There’s a reason Rook is John Cena’s favorite. Waller knows Cena can see him, don’t bet on the wrong horse.

Rook is big, he is bad, but when Waller looks at him, it makes him sad. Because Rook is so talented, has so much potential, but he’s 75% in! He’s got too much quit in him! Rook’s not willing to do that extra bit of hard work to make himself the face of a brand! Waller came back to NXT because of guys like Rook! they are soft, lazy, complacent, and just happy to be here! Waller saw it last week! He ran the half marathon on the treadmill, jogged out here like it was nothing, he sees Rook in the ring, all King-Konging about. But he saw the quit in his eyes. That’s the same thing Waller sees next week as he takes Rook into the deepest waters and drowns him.

Waller will make Rook feel things that no one in the crowd has felt before but Waller feels every day. Rook will be begging for air! His lungs will be burning, and his heart, mind, body, and soul will all tell him to quit, and then he will. But this is getting too serious! You all wanna have some fun? Because Waller wants to have some fun! Rook, this is a microphone, and this is an incredibly important thing for an NXT Superstar. Not that most of the guys backstage seem to care about it… But Waller can hand Rook this, Rook can find his balls, and he can tell Waller he’s wrong. But whoa, whoa, don’t eat it, it’s not a drumstick.

Waller hands the mic over, and Rook tells Waller that he can call him whatever he likes, but there’s one thing Rook is not, and that’s an idiot. He knows what Waller is trying to do. Waller wants Rook to come out here, stand in the ring, go insult for insult, see who can get the funniest reaction from the crowd with the wittiest line. Waller wants Rook to come out here so he can hold a verbal execution of Rook. And actually, maybe Rook will give it a go… Maybe there’s a theory as to why Waller’s back in NXT. Maybe, just maybe, Waller didn’t quite fit the vision on the main roster. Or maybe, just maybe, Waller’s upset that John Cena knew who Rook was before he even stepped foot into WWE.

The fans love all the slams, and Rook tells Waller that this is his game, Rook isn’t gonna play it, since he knows for a fact that Waller can’t play Rook’s. Because what Rook is struggling to figure out is, what’s Waller gonna do once this is all over? Once there’s no mic in his hand, there’s no punchlines to hide behind, and the bell rings. Waller keeps telling us that he’s gonna take Rook to deep waters, but no, mate, Waller’s gonna be drowning in Rook’s. Rook didn’t just land in professional wrestling, he isn’t here because he failed in some other sport, he isn’t here because he couldn’t make it on another brand. And he certainly is not here because he wasn’t good enough elsewhere.

Rook is here because he earned the right, and he’ll tell us exactly what he is, and that’s the best big man in the game! The fans cheer that! So Waller, when the bell rings and you’re standing across from Rook, and that pencil neck of his has to figure out how to keep 300+ pounds off of him, as undeniably great as Waller is at running his mouth… When Rook’s hands are around Waller’s neck and crushing the air out of his lungs, Waller will realize real fast that he’s in way over his head. And unfortunately for him, being great on the stick can’t save his sorry ass this time. The fans fire up for that! The clock is ticking, who has the last word when it’s time to throw hands?

My Thoughts:

A very good NXT, and a great start to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Dar & Romeo VS Los Americanos was awesome stuff, while Julius & Brutus naturally won their match. Still good to see Jax Presley back in action, he’d been out for a long time. The tag champs from both NXT and AAA getting byes into the next round is fitting, though not sure why they couldn’t just find two more teams… I mean, they brought Zanov & Ash into this and they’re still pretty new even in Evolve. Good promo from Hank ‘n’ Tank, but it sounds like they’re gonna be fed to Zanov & Ash.

Very good promo from Stone, Shugars and Shiloh, and I almost thought Stone was gonna make a tag match. He still might, but obviously it’ll take two singles matches to settle things. Very good promo from Kendal Grey to bring in some existentialism and identity crisis for some realism. Nice little bit where Stone caught Wren sneaking in with the merch team. We’re gonna need a few more of bits like this before Wren is finally reinstated and gets her own NXT Women’s Championship match against Lani.

Reina Volcan affecting Kali VS Skylar was interesting, maybe Kali and Reina will have a feud while Skylar moves up into Women’s North American Championship territory. Great tag match from Zaria & Lani VS Catalina & Thea, and great win for Thea. But with Izzi Dame bullying Zaria, I’m not sure the odds of Thea winning the title. Very good promo from Cruz and Dion, and it always seems to work to have the longtime wrestler VS the sports crossover up-and-comer. Obviously Dion and DarkState can cheat a win, but I would think Cruz wins out in the end.

Very good promo from Zilla, Legacy, DVD and EK, and I almost thought DVD was still going to go out there to counteract BirthRight’s cheating. Didn’t happen, I guess because DVD was honoring Legacy’s wishes there. Zilla still standing tall after was good for humbling Lexis, though. And great promo from Waller and Rook. Naturally, Waller went with body shaming, but Rook had the very good jabs about Waller’s failed creative. A little surprised this title match is happening on weekly TV, but that foreshadows Rook losing. Waller will get his first defense under his proverbial belt, and maybe Tony D will get his shot for Halloween Havoc or whatever’s next.

My Score: 8.8/10