---
title: "Ranking WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinalists: Who will win the trophy this year?"
canonical: "https://wrestletalk.com/features/ranking-wwe-nxt-dusty-rhodes-tag-team-classic-semifinalists/"
type: "post"
language: "en-US"
author: "SP3"
section: "Features"
published: "2026-10-22T15:00:56Z"
modified: "2026-10-22T15:00:56Z"
---

# Ranking WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinalists: Who will win the trophy this year?

The 2026 WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is down the home stretch with the final four duos now set for the semifinals.

This year’s tournament has offered some great action and showcased the tag team scene.

With the semifinals set to begin on the October 27 episode, it should be interesting to see who will walk away with the Dusty Cup.

Here are our ranking for the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinalists.

## Hank & Tank (Hank Walker & Tank Ledger)

[Hank & Tank beat The Creed Brothers in the Dusty Cup: NXT highlights, Oct. 20, 2026 (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/ZkxWs2fxP24?feature=oembed)

On the October 20 edition of WWE NXT, [Hank and Tank](https://wrestletalk.com/news/wwe-championship-defended-another-company-nxt-tag-titles-row/) picked up one of the biggest upsets of the tournament when they defeated The Creed Brothers to advance in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

This is not the first taste of success for the tandem of Hank Walker and Tank Ledger.

In 2025, Hank and Tank overcame the odds to defeat Fraxiom to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions.

Despite this reign being short-lived, it should not be surprise that Hank and Tank have made it this far, but it feels like their cinderella run might come to an end against The Wagner Brothers in the semifinals.

## The Vanity Project (Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes)

![](https://cdn.wrestletalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Vanity-Project-Jackson-Drake-Brad-Baylor-Ricky-Smokes-Myka-Lockwood-NXT-North-American-Tag-Team-Champions-October-18.jpg)

[The Vanity Project](https://wrestletalk.com/features/wwe-raw-nxt-dusty-rhodes-classic/) came into the 2026 WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic as the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions.

After a bye in the first round, Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes pulled out a victory over Mini Vikingo and Chazz “Starboy” Hall to advance to the quarterfinals on the October 13 WWE NXT.

Considering their bye and championship status, The Vanity Project have always been favorites in this tournament.

Due to their cockiness and underestimating their semifinal opponents, it does not seem like The Vanity Project should make it to the finals at this time.

## The Wagner Brothers (Galeno & El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.)

[Zilla Fatu boosts El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno over BirthRight: NXT highlights, Oct. 20, 2026 (embedded)](https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/stPI6fA5Kbk?feature=oembed)

Another pairing that received a bye in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic first round was The Wagner Brothers.

Galeno and [El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.](https://wrestletalk.com/news/wwe-smackdown-debut-comment-el-hijo-de-wagner-jr/) recently defeated The War Raiders to become the new AAA World Tag Team Champions at WWE AAA TripleMania 34.

In their quarterfinals match, The Wagner Brothers vanquished Birthright to advance to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

While it feels like they have a good chance to make the finals, it does not seem likely The Wagners will win the entire tournament.

## Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno

![](https://cdn.wrestletalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/noam-dar-romeo-moreno-september-2-a.jpg)

One of the major stories of the [Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic](https://wrestletalk.com/features/ranking-remaining-teams-wwe-nxt-dusty-rhodes-tag-team-classic/) has been Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno.

Dar and Moreno came together after facing each other and have gelled to become a formidable pairing.

In the quarterfinals, Dar and Moreno beat former NXT Tag Team Champions Fraxiom.

Now with the semifinals looming, Romeo and Noam might have to beat two pairs of champions to win this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

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