Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Returns To NXT

While it had been known since earlier this month that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic would be returning, the official announcement on NXT revealed a couple of details about the tournament’s schedule.

A video with William Regal announcing the 2018 Dusty Classic aired on last night’s episode of NXT. In addition to noting that it will begin airing in two weeks, Regal revealed that the winners of the tournament will get a shot at the NXT Tag Team Championship held by Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly at TakeOver: New Orleans on April 7th.

#WWENXT GM @RealKingRegal has announced the return of The #DustyClassic… and a huge opportunity awaits the winning team! pic.twitter.com/sDpktiwXMv

— WWE (@WWE) February 22, 2018

Three of the first round matches for the eight-team tournament were taped in Atlanta, Georgia earlier this month. Those were: The Authors of Pain vs. TM61, The Street Profits vs. Heavy Machinery, and SAnitY vs. Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss. There will be one more first round match, with the tournament set to continue and possibly end at NXT’s tapings at Full Sail University on Mar. 7.

That taping will finish building to TakeOver: New Orleans. Wesley Blake and Steve Cutler did a promo at the last tapings indicating that they’ll be one of the two teams in the final first-round match.

Finn Balor and Samoa Joe won the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in 2015, and The Authors of Pain won it in 2016. The tournament didn’t take place last year.