Published: 8 seconds ago by SP3 | Last Updated: 8 seconds ago by SP3
Born in Harlem, New York and now living in the Bronx, Sid Pullar III aka SP3 is a lifelong wrestling fan who has been covering the industry for over nine years as a podcaster and writer. His passion for the industry has been documented with over 3,000 videos on YouTube and 8,000 written pieces across multiple outlets, such as WrestleTalk, Sports Illustrated and more.@TruHeelSP3
WWE
On the September 15 edition of WWE NXT, General Manager Robert Stone announced the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament will return starting on the September 22 episode.
This prestigious tournament will determine the next challengers for the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Considering there have been several different pairings jockeying for position as of late, it should be interesting who will walk out of the tournament victorious.
Here are six potential winners for the WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic 2026 tournament.
DarkState (Cutler James & Osiris Griffin)
Ever since making their WWE NXT debut, DarkState have been running roughshod over anyone in the tag team scene.
This led to the pairing of Dion Lennox and Osiris Griffin winning the NXT Tag Team Championships.
After losing the gold to The Vanity Project earlier this year, Griffin has now been teaming with Cutler James to reclaim the gold.
DarkState could put themselves in position to win the titles again by winning the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Hank & Tank (Hank Walker & Tank Ledger)
Another former NXT Tag Team Champions who could compete in the 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic are Hank and Tank.
Hank Walker and Tank Ledger were the duo who dethroned Fraxiom back at WWE NXT Stand & Deliver 2025.
Holding the gold for a number of months, Hank and Tank have been trying to get the NXT Tag Team Championships back for the past year.
Now, Hank and Tank may have the best opportunity to get back into title contention through a victory in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.
Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux
A new pairing that have been making waves as of late are Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux.
Legacy and DVD have an exciting, fast paced style that has delivered some great matches on WWE NXT TV.
While they might have gotten a ton of success, DVD and Legacy have made an impression on the audience and could be an easy underdog to root for in this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
With all the top teams wanting to get the win, Legacy and DVD could pull off the upset in the tournament.
Birthright (Uriah Connors & Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo)
Birthright have become one of the most prominent factions on WWE NXT today.
Led by Lexis King, Birthright are looking to prove themselves worthy of the success that their parents have achieved in the industry.
Setting their sights on the NXT Tag Team Championships, Uriah Connors and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo of Birthright have become a formidable pairing in recent months.
Birthright going on to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic would make a lot of sense and see them ascend to a top spot in the tag team scene on NXT.
Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno
One of the breakout tag teams on the WWE NXT brand has been Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno.
In a veteran and protègè partnership, Dar and Moreno have come together to put on some stellar matches against the likes of Fraxiom and The Creed Brothers as of late.
Dar and Moreno have the potential to break through and become a premier duo on NXT.
After coming up short in major matches in the past, Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno might finally be able to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and get their first crack at the NXT Tag Team Championships down the line.
The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed)
On the September 1 edition of WWE NXT, The Creed Brothers made their return to the brand.
Attacking Noam Dar, Romeo Moreno, Sean Legacy and Dorian Van Dux, The Creeds made an immediate impact.
Following their win over Moreno and Dar on the September 8 episode, Julius and Brutus Creed could be getting ready to try to regain the NXT Tag Team Championships.
As the 2022 victors, The Creeds have a chance to become the first ever two-time Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic winners in the history of the tournament.
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