Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Returning To WWE NXT

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.

WWE NXT Preview 9/15/2026

WWE NXT tonight at 8/7c on The CW and Netflix (internationally).

  • NXT Championship #1 Contenders Match: Tony D’Angelo vs. Saquon Shugars vs. Mason Rook
  • Kali Armstrong vs. Lizzy Rain
  • DarkState vs. Sean Legacy & Dorian Van Dux
  • Myles Bourne apologizes

WWE NXT Preview 9/8/2026

WWE NXT tonight at 8/7c on The CW.

  • 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)

WWE Officially Retires Both Speed Championships On NXT

The WWE Speed Championships have officially come to an end.

During this week’s episode of WWE NXT, General Manager Robert Stone confirmed that both the Men’s and Women’s Speed Championships have been retired following developments at NXT Heatwave.

The decision came after newly crowned Unified Women’s North American and Speed Champion Zaria informed Stone that she would only be keeping the NXT Women’s North American Championship following her title unification victory over Wren Sinclair and Kali Armstrong. Zaria captured both championships at Heatwave, effectively merging the two titles into one.

In a backstage segment, Stone accepted Zaria’s decision and acknowledged that the Women’s Speed Championship would no longer exist. He then turned his attention to Lexis King, who entered the show as the reigning Men’s Speed Champion, and informed him that his title had also been retired.

The announcement didn’t sit well with King’s allies in BirthRight.

Charlie Dempsey questioned why the group seemed to be suffering setbacks, while King reluctantly handed over the championship. King insisted that nobody would ever take away BirthRight’s “birthright,” prompting Dempsey to declare that it was time for the faction to start taking what they wanted from the wrestling business instead.

King then appeared to have a plan in mind, leading Dempsey, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, and Arianna Grace out of Stone’s office as the segment came to a close.

The WWE Speed Championships were originally introduced as part of WWE’s partnership with X (formerly Twitter), with the titles defended exclusively in matches held under strict time limits ranging from three to five minutes. The concept served as the centerpiece of the WWE Speed series, which streamed on the social media platform.

After new episodes of WWE Speed stopped airing in July 2025, WWE moved both championships to NXT, where they remained active until this week’s official announcement.

With Zaria’s title unification and Stone’s confirmation on NXT, the WWE Speed Championships have now been formally retired, bringing an end to a unique chapter in WWE’s recent championship history.

WWE NXT Heatwave 2026 Results

WWE NXT Heatwave 2026 took place Sunday afternoon in Texas and featured multiple championship matches, several title changes, and a shocking conclusion to the NXT Championship main event.

Below are the full results and highlights from the show.

Unified Women’s North American & Speed Championship Match

Zaria def. Kali Armstrong and Wren Sinclair

The opening contest saw both the NXT Women’s North American Championship and Women’s Speed Championship unified in a Triple Threat Match.

Armstrong used her power advantage throughout the bout, while Sinclair relied on submissions and quick pinning combinations to keep both opponents off balance. Several near falls had the crowd believing the match could end at any moment.

Late in the contest, Sinclair trapped Zaria in the Wrench, but Armstrong pulled Sinclair to the floor before the hold could force a submission. After powerslamming Sinclair on the outside, Armstrong returned to the ring only to be met by a spear and an F5 from Zaria.

Zaria scored the pinfall victory to leave Heatwave with both championships.

Winner: Zaria via pinfall to become the Unified Women’s North American and Speed Champion


NXT Tag Team Championship Match

The Vanity Project def. Myles Borne & Tavion Heights (c)

The Vanity Project continued their rise in NXT by dethroning the reigning champions.

Borne and Heights controlled portions of the match with their power offense, but constant distractions from Myka Lockwood and teamwork from Bryce Baylor and Brad Baylor Smokes helped swing momentum in the challengers’ favor.

After a chaotic closing stretch involving all four competitors, Vanity Project connected with their Hit It and Quit It finisher on Borne. Smokes secured the pinfall to capture the titles.

Winners: The Vanity Project via pinfall to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions

Following the match, Heights attempted to comfort Borne as they made their way backstage.


Submission Match

Jaida Parker def. Nattie

The rivalry between Jaida Parker and Nattie came to a head in a hard-fought Submission Match.

Both women battled around ringside before taking the fight back into the ring, trading submission attempts throughout the contest. Interference from Lash Legend and Karmen Petrovic briefly shifted momentum before outside events changed the landscape of the match.

After targeting Nattie’s knee, Parker eventually trapped the veteran in a Sharpshooter. With nowhere to go and the pressure increasing, Nattie was forced to submit.

Winner: Jaida Parker via submission


NXT Women’s Championship Match

Kelani Jordan def. Kendal Grey (c)

One of the standout matches of the evening saw Kelani Jordan challenge Kendal Grey for the NXT Women’s Championship.

Jordan focused much of her offense on Grey’s injured ear, repeatedly attacking the area throughout the contest. Grey fought through the punishment and nearly retained after connecting with Shades of Grey and multiple Ankle Lock attempts.

Jordan survived everything the champion threw at her and capitalized late after driving Grey into the ring post. A moonsault finally put Grey away and crowned a new champion.

Winner: Kelani Jordan via pinfall to become the new NXT Women’s Champion


During the broadcast, NXT General Manager Robert Stone officially announced that Halloween Havoc will be the brand’s next Premium Live Event.


NXT North American Championship Match

Jackson Drake def. Myles Borne (c)

After losing the Tag Team Championship earlier in the night, Myles Borne attempted to salvage Heatwave by defending the North American Championship against Jackson Drake.

Borne entered the match heavily worn down from his earlier battle, and Drake wasted no time targeting the champion’s injured ribs and back.

Despite a spirited effort that included multiple powerbombs and a dive to the outside, Borne could not overcome the damage sustained throughout the evening. Drake delivered a 450 Splash to secure the victory and win the championship.

Winner: Jackson Drake via pinfall to become the new NXT North American Champion

The story did not end there. Following the match, Tavion Heights entered the ring seemingly to support Borne. Instead, Heights shocked the NXT audience by attacking his longtime partner, signaling a major heel turn.

A video package later aired featuring Kam Hendrix issuing a challenge to Mason Rook.


NXT Championship Fatal Four-Way Match

Grayson Waller def. Tony D’Angelo (c), Cruz Montana and Zilla Fatu

The main event featured four of NXT’s top stars battling for the NXT Championship.

The match quickly broke down into chaos as all four competitors fought throughout the arena. Cruz Montana delivered several highlight-reel moments, while Zilla Fatu repeatedly showcased his dominance with explosive power offense.

Late in the match, Zilla crashed through the announce table after Grayson Waller delivered a huge elbow drop from the top rope. That left Tony D’Angelo and Montana alone in the ring.

Montana appeared poised to capture the championship after hitting Spin The Block on D’Angelo. Before he could capitalize, Waller slid into the ring and stole the pinfall on the champion.

The opportunistic move earned Waller the biggest victory of his NXT career.

Winner: Grayson Waller via pinfall to become the new NXT Champion


WWE NXT Heatwave 2026 Results

  • Zaria def. Kali Armstrong and Wren Sinclair to unify the Women’s North American and Speed Championships
  • The Vanity Project def. Myles Borne & Tavion Heights to win the NXT Tag Team Championship
  • Jaida Parker def. Nattie in a Submission Match
  • Kelani Jordan def. Kendal Grey to win the NXT Women’s Championship
  • Jackson Drake def. Myles Borne to win the NXT North American Championship
  • Grayson Waller def. Tony D’Angelo, Cruz Montana and Zilla Fatu to win the NXT Championship

Heatwave closed with two new singles champions, new tag team champions, and Grayson Waller standing tall as the new face of NXT heading into Halloween Havoc.

WWE NXT Heatwave 8/30/2026

NXT Heatwave – live on the CW Network on Aug. 30 at 3 ET/Noon PT – Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, TX

CARD

NXT Championship – Fatal 4-Way Match: Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Grayson Waller vs. Cruz Montana vs. Zilla Fatu

NXT Women’s Championship: Kendal Grey (c) vs. Kelani Jordan

NXT North American Championship: Myles Borne (c) vs. Jackson Drake

Title Unification Match: NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria vs. WWE Women’s Speed Champion Wren Sinclair vs. Kali Armstrong

NXT Tag Team Championship: Myles Borne & Tavion Heights (c) vs. Vanity Project (Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes)

Submission Match: Jaida Parker vs. Nattie

WWE NXT Preview 8/25/2026

WWE NXT tonight at 8/7c on The CW.

  • AAA World Cruiserweight Championship Match: Rey Fenix (c) s. EK Prosper
  • Weaponized Steel Cage Match: Saquon Shugars vs. Dion Lennox
  • BirthRight vs. Sean Legacy, Noam Dar, Romeo Morena, and Dorian Van Dux
  • Kali Armstrong vs. Zaria (Armstrong will be added to the title unification match at Heatwave if she wins)

WWE NXT Preview 8/18/2026

WWE NXT tonight on the CW at 8/7c.

  •  AAA World Cruiserweight Championship #1 Contenders Match: EK Prosper vs. La Parka vs. Tristan Angels vs. Romeo Moreno
  • WWE Men’s Speed Championship Match: Lexis King (c) vs. Lucien Price
  • Myles Borne vs. Jackson Drake
  • If Drake wins, Vanity Project gets NXT North American Title and NXT Tag Team Title matches at NXT Heatwave.
  • Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey vs. Kelani Jordan & Kali Armstrong
  • Thea Hail vs. Nattie
  • Cruz Montana calls out Zilla Fatu

Zilla Fatu Makes WWE Debut, Attacks NXT Title Contenders During Main Event

A major new name has arrived in WWE.

Zilla Fatu made his long-awaited WWE debut during Tuesday night’s episode of NXT, interrupting a No. 1 Contender’s Match and immediately inserting himself into the NXT Championship picture.

The surprise appearance came during the show’s main event, which featured Cruz Montana and Grayson Waller battling for the right to challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship at Heatwave on August 30.

Zilla Fatu Appears During NXT Main Event

Prior to the broadcast, False Finish reported that Fatu had been spotted at the WWE Performance Center, with speculation growing that he had officially signed with the company. Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp had previously reported that discussions between WWE and Fatu had been ongoing since June.

Those reports appeared to be confirmed when Fatu emerged from the crowd during the closing moments of the match.

Montana and Waller had been engaged in a competitive back-and-forth contest, with both men coming close to securing a title opportunity. Montana appeared poised for victory after connecting with his Spin the Block finisher.

Before he could make the cover, however, Fatu stormed the ring and attacked both competitors.

Main Event Ends In Chaos

The interference resulted in the match being ruled a no contest.

Fatu laid out both Montana and Waller as the broadcast came to a close, making it clear that he has his sights set on the NXT Championship.

The attack leaves the title picture in question heading into Heatwave.

What Happens At Heatwave?

With the No. 1 Contender’s Match ending without a winner, it remains unclear who will challenge Tony D’Angelo for the NXT Championship on August 30.

WWE has not yet announced whether Montana and Waller will receive another opportunity to determine a challenger or if Fatu’s actions have earned him a place in the title match.

Given the way Tuesday’s episode ended, a multi-man championship match now appears to be a possibility.

Regardless of the final decision, Zilla Fatu made an immediate impact in his first WWE appearance and has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in NXT.

WWE NXT Preview 8/11/2026

WWE NXT tonight on The CW at 8/7c.

  • NXT Championship #1 Contenders Match: Grayson Waller vs. Cruz Montana
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship Match: Zaria (c) vs. Wren Sinclair
  • Izzi Dame & Niko Vance vs. Lizzy Rain & Shawn Spears
  • Lucien Price vs. Lexis King
  • Dion Lennox vs. Saquon Shugar