Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic 2026: Every team ranked from least to most likely to win the cup

WWE

The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is set to get underway once again on tonight’s WWE NXT.

Over the past week, WWE has announced all 14 teams that will be part of this year’s tournament for the Dusty Cup, with there being a number of potential winners of this year’s tournament.

With the tournament starting on tonight’s NXT show, here is every team’s chance of winning ranked from least to most likely.

14) Harley Riggins & Jax Presley

Two WWE Evolve stars, Harley Riggins and Jax Presley are set to make their first ever WWE NXT television appearances as part of the Dusty Classic.

However, they are most likely only here to be a team to beat in the first round, though this will be the most exposure both men have gotten in their young careers so far.

13) Shido Ash & Viktor Zanov

Another team of Evolve stars set to debut on NXT television is the duo of Shido Ash and Viktor Zanov.

Much like Riggins and Presley, they will almost certainly only be here to lose in the first round, only placing higher than the other two due to recently appearing on WWE Main Event.

12) Mini Vikingo & Chaz ‘Starboy’ Hall

Perhaps one of the most exciting teams put together for this tournament is Mini Vikingo and Chazz ‘Starboy’ Hall.

Mini Vikingo has been making waves in AAA recently, with him being part of an incredible four-way at TripleMania, while Chazz continues to appear on WWE Evolve.

They will make for incredibly fun opponents against a team like Fraxiom, but they will likely only be a one and done.

11) Tokyo Bad Boys

Onto the more established duos now, the Tokyo Bad Boys have been getting more exposure in AAA in recent weeks, even being part of a four-way tag match on night one of TripleMania.

The duo of Kento and Takuma will make their first NXT appearances as part of this tournament, and while it will likely be a one and done for them, they have the chance to show out in front of a new audience that may not have seen them before.

10) Los Americanos

Los Americanos were also part of the four-way tag team match at TripleMania, with them picking up the win due to their popularity in AAA.

However, the Dusty Classic is taking place in America, which is where Los Americanos find a lot less success, so they may only be here for a good time, not a long time.

9) DarkState

Former two-time NXT Tag Team Champions, DarkState are set to be represented by Cutler James and Osiris Griffin in this year’s tournament.

With the Vanity Project currently reigning as heel champions, it would make sense for a babyface team to win the tournament to set themselves up as the next challengers, which will likely see DarkState come up short as new teams look to establish themselves.

8) Hank Walker & Tank Ledger

In a very similar manner to DarkState, Hank & Tank themselves are former NXT Tag Team Champions that feel like they’re a long way away from regaining the gold.

Hank and Tank are more likely to win than DarkState due to them being babyfaces and more natural foil to the Vanity Project, but with new (and old) teams looking to establish themselves, it doesn’t seem as though this will be their year.

7) Birthright

Being represented by Uriah Connors and Channing ‘Stacks’ Lorenzo, Birthright are in a very weird position on NXT television right now.

While it’s clear that the company wants to spotlight them in a big way, they continue to be very hesitant on truly having the group take over the brand.

That hesitation will likely lead to a failed run at this year’s Dusty Cup.

6) Fraxiom

The first team that has an actually decent chance of taking home the cup this year is Fraxiom, who were part of the 2024 version of the tournament.

Being two-time NXT Tag Team Champions in the past, and arguably one of the best teams in NXT history, Fraxiom could easily do better than their semi-final attempt last time round.

However, despite them not doing much of anything on SmackDown, it’s more likely they just exist as a credible team to lose.

5) The Wagner Brothers

The new AAA Tag Team Champions Galeno and Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr are set to be part of the tournament, with them and the Vanity Project getting byes into the second round.

A dominant duo already capturing success in AAA, the Wagner Brothers will be one to watch in this year’s Dusty Classic.

4) Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno

A new team still finding their footing together, Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno are dark horses to take home this year’s Dusty Cup.

As they continue to grow their chemistry together, Dar and Moreno will be one of NXT’s top duos in the coming months.

3) The Vanity Project

The reigning NXT Tag Team Champions receive a bye straight into the second round of the tournament, and with them already being champions, they must be considered one of the favourites to win the whole thing.

However, with the Vanity Project being heels, while they do have a chance at picking up the win, it’s more likely they will lose late on to whoever ends up winning.

2) The Creed Brothers

Recently returning to NXT after not doing much of anything on Raw, the Creed Brothers look to capture their second Dusty Cup this year.

With Julius and Brutus hitting the NXT tag team division like a bullet since their return, they almost immediately cemented themselves as favourites to win it all, and will definitely be the team to beat.

1) Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux

As newer teams have begun forming on NXT television, the standouts right now have to be Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux.

Recently coming up short in their attempt to win the NXT Tag Team Championship, Legacy and DVD seem poised to get another shot at the gold and be cemented as the new top stars of the NXT tag team division.

The team coming together has a very similar vibe to the origins of Fraxiom, who they will likely beat on their way to Dusty Cup glory.

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