Published: 4 seconds ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 4 seconds ago by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
WWE
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is back for 2026, and fourteen teams are expected for this year’s tournament.
This week’s episode of NXT saw Robert Stone declare the return of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, with stars from the main roster and AAA also set to compete.
While the NXT general manager wouldn’t reveal the bracket, The Creed Brothers would be confirmed as entrants, with the stars hoping to become two-time Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners, having previously won in 2022.
Stone would confirm more teams on Busted Open Radio, naming The Wagner Brothers (El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. & Galeno) and The Vanity Project (Ricky Smokes & Brad Baylor). Both teams get a bye in the first round, with The Wagner Brothers being the AAA World Tag Team Champion and Vanity Project holding the NXT Tag Team Championship.
A promise that Raw and SmackDown stars will feature in the tournament opens up opportunities for some interesting main roster vs NXT & AAA matches:
Los Americanos
Bravo & Rayo Americano are no strangers to The Vanity Project, having come up short against NXT Tag Team Champions Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes at Stand & Deliver.
Competing on the main roster, AAA and NXT, Los Americanos tick all the boxes for a tag team to fit into this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Fraxiom
Also no strangers to the world of NXT, Nathan Fraser and Axiom are former NXT Tag Team Champions. Familiar to fans of SmackDown, the pairing have also found a new home in AAA, last competing in the Fatal Four-Way Elimination match at Triplemania 34.
Fraxiom are two-time NXT Tag Team Champions and were called up to the main roster in April of last year.
LWO
Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde continue to demonstrate their quality over in AAA, with appearances on Raw and Main Event throughout this year.
To date, neither star has held a title in WWE, although the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Tournament could be the start of something for the LWO.
Wild Card Entrant: New Catch Republic
Rarely does a month go by without a social media post pointing out that Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate are absent from in-ring action, despite their work in Los Americanos. Such observations are typically in response to a report that Dunne has been a producer in AAA. The Bruiserweight has previously stated he is “far from done” in response to a comment that he was transitioning well into a backstage role.
Alongside Los Americanos, a wild move for NXT creative would be to include New Catch Republic in the bracket, with Dunne and Bate entering the tournament in their more traditional personas. Dunne is a former Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winner, while Bate competed back in 2019, reaching the semi-finals. Both have held the NXT Tag Team Championship separately.
Where Next For The Winner?
Introduced in 2015, it would only be the tournament four years later that would include an NXT Tag Team Championship match opportunity for the winners.
With Vanity Project entering the tournament as NXT Tag Team Champions, Smokes & Baylor (along with The Wagner Brothers) will first be in action in the quarterfinals, with their respective opponents determined in the first-round matches on September 22.
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