The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament will be returning to WWE NXT in 2026 after almost three years away.
Indeed, during NXT on September 15, 2026, the General Manager announced that he had pledged to elevate the tag team division, and that this would be achieved through the return of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Fourteen teams will compete this year.
Fans will have to wait for the next announcement to discover the full list of 14 teams. For now, it has been confirmed that the field will include teams from NXT, AAA, EVOLVE, and teams from the main roster such as RAW and SmackDown.
Only one team has confirmed its participation, the Creed Brothers. Brutus and Julius Creed stated that they intend to win the tournament for a second time, as they did in 2022.
We must not forget that the winning team earns its name on the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic trophy and a shot at the tag team titles. The first matches will begin on NXT on September 22.
Also announced for NXT on September 22
In addition to the start of the Dusty Rhodes Classic, these matches will take place :
- The Catalina and Thea Hail vs Kelani Jordan and Zaria
- Dorian Van Dux, Sean Legacy and Zilla Fatu vs Birthright
The show will air in its usual time slot on Netflix.
