The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is making its return to WWE NXT.
NXT General Manager Robert Stone made the announcement during Tuesday night’s episode, confirming plans to revive the annual tournament as part of his ongoing efforts to strengthen the brand’s tag team division.
Speaking in a backstage interview, Stone pointed to recent additions and increased competition within the division before revealing the tournament’s return.
According to Stone, this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will feature 14 teams from across WWE and its partner promotions, including NXT, Evolve, AAA, Raw, and SmackDown.
While the full field has not yet been announced, WWE is expected to reveal the tournament brackets on social media later this week. The first-round matches are scheduled to begin on next week’s episode of NXT.
The most recent edition of the tournament was won by Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin, who defeated Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes in the finals. The duo, known as the WolfDogs, later went on to capture the NXT Tag Team Championship.
First introduced in 2015, the tournament honors the legacy of WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes and has become one of NXT’s most prestigious annual events. Since 2018, the winning team has earned a future shot at the NXT Tag Team Championship.
The return of the tournament could also create another opportunity for the recently returned Creed Brothers, who captured the Dusty Cup in 2022 before moving on to championship success.
At this time, WWE has not announced whether the women’s version of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will also return in 2026.
More details, including the participating teams and tournament bracket, are expected to be revealed in the coming days.
Nearly a month after leaving WWE, Ilja Dragunov’s next destination may finally be coming into focus.
According to Fightful Select, Dragunov is expected to join AEW in the near future, barring any unforeseen complications. While it remains unclear whether he has officially signed with the promotion, sources reportedly expect him to land there once outstanding issues are resolved.
That move may not happen immediately.
The report states that Dragunov is among several recently departed WWE talents from outside the United States who are currently dealing with visa-related hurdles following their exits from the company. Those issues have reportedly delayed potential appearances elsewhere, and there is no word on when they may be resolved.
Dragunov’s decision not to renew his WWE contract surprised many throughout the wrestling industry, leading to widespread speculation about where the former United States Champion would end up next.
Another question surrounding his future involves his ring name.
Because Ilja is his real first name, he would have no issue continuing to use it. The status of the “Dragunov” surname, however, is less certain. WWE filed a trademark application for “Ilja Dragunov” in 2020 during his NXT UK run, but publicly available records reportedly show no updates after October 2020, when the filing was listed as live and pending.
As a result, it remains unclear whether WWE ultimately secured rights to the name or if Dragunov will be able to continue using the identity he has competed under since 2012.
For now, the expectation is that Dragunov’s next chapter will begin once his visa situation is sorted out, though an official announcement has yet to be made.
AAA TripleMania 34 Night 2 took place on September 13 and featured title changes, surprise returns, a shocking heel turn, and a new AAA Mega Champion crowned in the main event.
Omos Wins La Copa Bardahl
The annual La Copa Bardahl match opened the show. The contest featured 15 competitors entering at timed intervals in a Royal Rumble-style format, but unlike a traditional battle royal, wrestlers could be eliminated by pinfall, submission, or being thrown over the top rope.
Several notable moments included Mr. Iguana showing no lingering issues with La Parka after their Night 1 confrontation, El Fiscal eliminating rival Abismo Negro Jr. only for Abismo to return and eliminate Fiscal moments later, and surprise appearances by both El Mesias and Niño Hamburguesa.
The match ultimately belonged to Omos. Entering at number 13, the giant dominated the field and eliminated the final nine competitors on his way to victory. Hamburguesa provided the strongest resistance, repeatedly attempting to knock Omos off the apron, while Mascarita Sagrada nearly orchestrated an upset by climbing onto Omos’ back near the ropes.
Despite the late challenges, Omos survived and tossed out both Mascarita and Hamburguesa to secure back-to-back La Copa Bardahl victories.
Order of entrance: 1. Mr. Iguana, 2. Abismo Negro Jr., 3. Histeria, 4. Mascarita Sagrada, 5. Taurus, 6. El Fiscal, 7. Laredo Kid, 8. Mecha Wolf, 9. La Parka, 10. El Mesisas, 11. Dinamico, 12. Texano Jr., 13. Omos, 14. Chris Carter, 15. Niño Hamburguesa.
Order of elimination: 1. Abismo Negro Jr. by El Fiscal, 2. El Fiscal by Abismo Negro Jr., 3. Taurus by La Parka, 4. Histeria by La Parka, 5. Dinamico by El Mesias, 6. Texano Jr. by Omos, 7. Laredo Kid by Omos, 8. El Mesias by Omos, 9. Mecha Worlf by Omos, 10. La Parka by Omos, 11. Chris Carter by Omos, 12. Mr. Iguana by Omos, 13. Mascarita Sagrada by Omos, 14. Niño Hamburguesa by Omos, Winner: Omos.
La Catalina Defeats Flammer to Win the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship
A historic title reign came to an end as La Catalina defeated Flammer to capture the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship.
Flammer appeared to have the match won after connecting with her running dropkick finisher, but Catalina fell through the ropes before a cover could be made. The champion became distracted while repeatedly looking toward the entranceway, seemingly expecting assistance from La Hiedra.
Catalina took advantage of the opening by knocking Flammer off the turnbuckles before following up with a running hip attack and a Busaiku Knee for the victory.
The loss ends Flammer’s remarkable championship reign at 1,126 days.
El Carnicero Defeats Psycho Clown in Mexican Street Fight
Weapons were plentiful in the Mexican Street Fight as El Carnicero battled Psycho Clown using kendo sticks, chairs, trash cans, tables, and a metal toolbox.
Psycho Clown nearly secured the win after delivering a splash through a table, but the impact slowed him down long enough for Carnicero to recover and kick out.
The match took a shocking turn when Pagano made his surprise return. Initially appearing to help Psycho Clown, Pagano instead stepped aside and allowed Carnicero a clear shot. Carnicero then blasted Psycho Clown in the head with the toolbox and scored the pinfall victory.
After the match, Pagano fully revealed his intentions by handing Carnicero a kendo stick and joining in the post-match assault, officially turning heel.
In a backstage segment, Dorian Roldan announced that he will personally induct AAA President Marisela Peña into the AAA Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class.
Roldan also discussed Rey Mysterio’s condition following Omos’ attack on Night 1. Dominik Mysterio showed little concern for his father and claimed Rey was not in attendance. Dominik instructed Omos to remain backstage for the evening, believing El Grande Americano would be on his own.
Fans were also shown Octagon Jr., who appeared wearing a neck brace while continuing his recovery from a serious injury.
Fenix Retains the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship
Fenix successfully retained the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship in a high-energy four-way match against Mini Vikingo, Jack Cartwheel, and Nathan Frazer.
The closing minutes featured a nonstop sequence of near falls and spectacular offense. Frazer nearly captured the title with a phoenix splash, while Cartwheel’s Black Arrow was also not enough to finish the contest.
Mini Vikingo came close after connecting with a corkscrew senton, but Fenix eventually regained control. After Vikingo tossed Cartwheel aside, Fenix returned to the ring and planted Vikingo with a Mexican Musclebuster to retain the championship.
Following the match, Los Perros del Mal stormed the ring and attacked all four competitors, leaving destruction behind as they stood tall.
Los Hermanos Wagner Win the AAA World Tag Team Championship
Los Hermanos Wagner answered the open challenge issued by the War Raiders and left Triplemania with championship gold.
The hard-hitting battle saw both teams trade momentum throughout the contest. War Raiders nearly retained after a double powerbomb on Wagner, but Galeno broke up the pinfall attempt.
Galeno later launched himself onto the champions with a tope con giro before rolling Erik back into the ring. Wagner connected with the Wagner Driver, and Galeno followed with a frog splash to secure the victory and capture the AAA World Tag Team Championship.
El Grande Americano Defeats Dominik Mysterio to Win the AAA Mega Championship
The main event saw Dominik Mysterio defend the AAA Mega Championship against El Grande Americano in a No Disqualification Match.
Americano started aggressively, taking the fight to the champion both inside and outside the ring. Dominik eventually gained control thanks to interference from Dorian Roldan, who repeatedly aided the champion throughout the contest.
Weapons played a major role as steel chairs and even the championship belt were used as offensive tools. JD McDonagh later arrived to help Dominik, but Los Americanos neutralized the interference, leading to a chaotic brawl involving multiple competitors.
Omos eventually made his presence felt, attacking Los Americanos before confronting Americano at ringside. The giant appeared poised to chokeslam him through the announce table, but Americano escaped, countered with a low blow, and drove Omos through the barricade.
Back in the ring, Liv Morgan emerged and shoved Americano from the top rope, allowing Dominik to hit a 619 and frog splash. Even that wasn’t enough to keep the challenger down.
The final moments saw Dominik accidentally knock out the referee before striking Americano with the AAA Mega Championship belt. Dominik followed with a frog splash attempt, but Americano avoided it and delivered a headbutt.
With the official still down, a surprising figure emerged. Rey Mysterio, wearing a neck brace and a referee shirt, ran to the ring and counted the decisive three-count.
As a result, El Grande Americano defeated Dominik Mysterio to become the new AAA Mega Champion and close Triplemania 34 Night 2 with championship gold.
In a rare occurrence, a WWE world title has changed hands at a live event. Stephanie Vaquer is once again the WWE Women’s World Champion.
In a surprising title change that took place away from television, Vaquer defeated Liv Morgan at a WWE live event in Santiago, Chile on Saturday, September 12. The championship bout was especially significant for Vaquer as it took place in front of her home country crowd, with Becky Lynch serving as the special guest referee.
Morgan appeared to have the match won after connecting with Oblivion and covering Vaquer for the pinfall. However, Lynch refused to complete the three-count and instead directed a pair of middle fingers toward the champion, drawing a strong reaction from the audience.
An angry Morgan then turned her attention to Lynch, but the distraction proved costly. Vaquer capitalized with a superkick before delivering her SVB finisher. She followed up with the Vaquer Inferno, a corkscrew moonsault, to score the victory and capture the WWE Women’s World Championship.
The win marks Vaquer’s second reign with the title. Her previous championship run lasted seven months before Morgan defeated her at WrestleMania 42 in April 2026. Morgan had successfully retained the championship against Vaquer in a rematch on Raw just days earlier.
Following the title victory, Vaquer celebrated with the Santiago crowd as fellow WWE stars Sol Ruca, IYO SKY, and Bayley joined her at ringside. SKY lifted the new champion onto her shoulders while Bayley later shared a backstage photo featuring the Chilean flag, reflecting on the special moment.
Morgan’s latest reign comes to an end after 147 days as champion. WWE has not yet announced whether she will receive an immediate rematch for the title.
The championship change is notable given how rarely WWE world titles switch hands at non-televised live events, making Vaquer’s homecoming victory one of the most memorable moments of the year.
WWE AAA TripleMania 34 Night 1 took place on September 11 and featured championship action, a major No. 1 contender’s match, and a headline bout between Rey Mysterio and Omos with significant implications for Night 2.
Mini Vikingo, Mascarita Sagrada & Adelicious Defeat Jack Cartwheel, Mini Abismo Negro & Lady Shani
The opening match saw Mini Vikingo, Mascarita Sagrada, and Adelicious score a victory over Jack Cartwheel, Mini Abismo Negro, and Lady Shani.
The bout was briefly halted early when Lady Shani suffered an apparent injury and was forced to leave the match. Despite the setback, the action continued with a fast-paced lucha libre showcase. The finish came after Mini Vikingo connected with a shooting star press on Mini Abismo Negro for the victory. Vikingo also gained momentum heading into the Cruiserweight Championship four-way match scheduled for Night 2.
Los Americanos Win Four-Team Elimination Match
Los Americanos emerged victorious in a tag team elimination match featuring LWO, Tokyo Bad Boys, and Fraxiom.
LWO were eliminated first after a miscommunication involving Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro, creating tension between the teammates. Tokyo Bad Boys were the next team eliminated, leaving Fraxiom and Los Americanos to battle in the final stage.
The closing stretch featured several near falls and impressive sequences from both teams. Fraxiom nearly secured the win following a Spanish Fly and phoenix splash combination, but Los Americanos rallied back. After targeting Nathan Frazer’s hand, Los Americanos finished the match with a springboard headbutt and side Russian leg sweep combination, allowing Rayo to pin Frazer for the win. Both teams showed mutual respect following the contest.
Marisela Peña Announced for AAA Hall of Fame
AAA announced that Marisela Peña will be inducted into the AAA Hall of Fame during Heroes Inmortales on October 24.
Roxanne Perez Becomes No. 1 Contender to the Reina de Reinas Championship
Roxanne Perez defeated Faby Apache, Natalya, and La Hiedra in a four-way match to earn a future AAA Reina de Reinas Championship opportunity at Worlds Collide.
Perez entered the match as the target of the other competitors, who frequently teamed up against her. During the closing moments, interference from Flammer backfired when Perez caused La Hiedra to collide with her ally. Perez immediately capitalized, hitting her sunset flip powerbomb finisher to secure the victory.
Following the match, tensions surfaced between Flammer and La Hiedra, although the two eventually left together.
El Grande Americano and Rey Mysterio Address Night 2
Ahead of Sunday’s AAA Mega Championship match, El Grande Americano praised Rey Mysterio’s influence on lucha libre and expressed confidence about challenging Dominik Mysterio.
Rey vowed to overcome Omos despite the giant’s size advantage, stating that he had faced larger opponents before and intended to finish what Omos started.
La Parka Retains the AAA Latin American Championship
AAA Latin American Champion La Parka successfully defended his title against Mr. Iguana and Laredo Kid in a triple threat match.
The contest largely featured one-on-one exchanges before tensions rose between Parka and Iguana near the finish. Mr. Iguana appeared close to victory after hitting his finisher on Laredo Kid, but Parka broke up the pin attempt.
After Iguana showed frustration toward the champion, Parka took advantage of the opening and delivered a Doomsday Device to Iguana. He then finished Laredo Kid with the Bonebreaker to retain the championship.
Los Perros del Mal Capture the AAA World Trios Championship
Los Perros del Mal defeated Psycho Circus to win the AAA World Trios Championship.
With Panic Clown unable to compete, Psycho Clown stepped into the match alongside Murder Clown and Dave The Clown. Outside interference and the numbers advantage ultimately proved too much for the champions to overcome.
In the closing sequence, Angel delivered a powerbomb from the turnbuckles to Murder Clown before Daga followed with a flying stomp. Angel then scored the pinfall to crown Los Perros del Mal as the new champions.
Omos Defeats Rey Mysterio in the Main Event
The night’s main event featured Rey Mysterio taking on Omos with major consequences attached. A Rey victory would remove Omos from AAA, while an Omos win would end his suspension.
Rey used his speed to frustrate the giant early, but Omos eventually took control with his power advantage. The match broke down when Dominik Mysterio attacked his father from ringside, prompting El Grande Americano to get involved.
After Omos accidentally struck the referee, Rey capitalized by using a steel chair and connecting with a 619 and splash. However, Omos kicked out at two. Dominik continued to interfere, attacking El Grande Americano with a chair before Rey ran directly into a massive boot from Omos.
Moments later, Omos delivered a chokeslam to score the decisive victory.
The assault continued after the match as Omos repeatedly attacked Rey, eventually chokeslamming him through the commentary table while Rey was strapped to a backboard. Dominik also targeted El Grande Americano with chair shots, damaging his ribs and throat ahead of Sunday’s AAA Mega Championship clash.
WWE AAA Triplemania 34 Night 1 Results
Mini Vikingo, Mascarita Sagrada & Adelicious def. Jack Cartwheel, Mini Abismo Negro & Lady Shani
TripleMania 34 takes place across two nights this week, beginning Friday, September 11, in Las Vegas before concluding Sunday, September 13, in Mexico City. It will mark the first two-night TripleMania in the event’s history.
Night 1 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT
Night 2 from the Arena CDMX in Mexico City at 9:00 p.m. ET / 6:00 p.m. PT
Night 1: Friday, September 11, 2026
Rey Mysterio vs. Omos: Singles match; if Omos loses, he is permanently banned from AAA.
AAA World Trios Championship: Los Psycho Circus (c) vs. Los Perros del Mal.
AAA Latin American Championship: La Parka (c) vs. Laredo Kid vs. Mr. Iguana.
Reina de Reinas #1 Contender Match: Nattie vs. Faby Apache vs. La Hiedra vs. Roxanne Perez.
Four-Way Tag Team Elimination Match: Los Americanos vs. Tokyo Bad Boys vs. Fraxiom vs. LWO.
Mixed Tag Match: Cartwheel, Lady Shani, and Mini Abismo Negro vs. El Hijo del Vikingo, Adelicious, and Mascarita Sagrada.
Night 2: Sunday, September 13, 2026
AAA Mega Championship: Dominik Mysterio (c) vs. El Grande Americano.
AAA Reina de Reinas Championship: Flamer (c) vs. La Catalina.
AAA Cruiserweight Championship: Rey Fénix (c) vs. El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Nathan Frazer vs. Cartwheel.
AAA Tag Team Championships: War Raiders vs. TBA.
Mexican Street Fight: Psycho Clown vs. El Carnicero.
NXT Women’s Championship Match: Kelani Jordan (c) vs. Jaida Parker
NXT North American Championship Match: Jackson Drake (c) vs. Tavion Heights
Tony D’Angelo, Mason Rook, & Saquon Shugars vs. EK Prosper, Cruz Montana, & Keanu Carver (The winners will compete next week to determine the next No. 1 Contender for the NXT Title)
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