The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic returns to WWE NXT.
NXT CEO Robert Stone was confirmed as such on Tuesday eveningmaking good on his promise recently heard on “NXT” Heatwave. “Well at Heatwave I said I wanted to strengthen the tag team division,” he said backstage with Emily Agard. “I feel like I’ve done it. I brought back the Creed Brothers and all the wrestlers you see, they leave everything in the ring. That’s why I’m so excited to officially announce that I’m bringing back the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. There will be 14 teams from AAA, SXT, NXT and Evol.
As of this writing, the opponents for the 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic have yet to be revealed. The official brackets are expected to be released on social media later this week. The tournament itself begins next week with two opening round matches.
The most recent tag team tournament saw Braun Breaker and Baron Corbin Defeated Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes in the finals. Breaker and Corbin, known together as the WolfDogs, then went on to capture the NXT Tag Team Championships shortly after.
Named after the late WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, the classic was first released in 2015. The Creed Brothers, who recently returned to the NXT brand, won the 2022 rematch. Since 2018, all winners have received a future NXT Tag Team Championship match.
Whether or not the women’s edition of the Dusty Rhodes Classic will return this year remains to be seen.
