The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is officially coming back, and WWE is making this one a lot bigger than just NXT. During the WWE NXT episode on September 15, 2026, NXT General Manager Robert Stone revealed backstage that the tournament is returning — and teams from RAW and SmackDown are getting involved.
Stone didn’t reveal the bracket just yet, but he made it clear fans won’t have to wait long. He said on social media that the full field will be revealed later this week, with talent from NXT, Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown all included in the tournament.
That immediately makes this year’s Dusty Classic a different animal, because WWE isn’t keeping the field locked inside NXT. Main roster talent entering the tournament opens the door for established teams, unusual pairings and potential cross-brand matchups that normally wouldn’t happen on weekly NXT television.
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic was originally created in 2015 as a tribute to WWE Hall of Famer “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes following his death. The inaugural tournament featured 16 teams and ended with Finn Balor and Samoa Joe defeating Baron Corbin and Rhyno in the finals at NXT TakeOver: Respect. WWE has brought the tournament back multiple times since then, with the competition becoming one of NXT’s signature tag team traditions.
Dusty had a massive influence behind the scenes during NXT’s formative years, working closely with developing talent and helping performers find their characters and voices. WWE specifically created the tournament to honor that legacy, and previous editions have featured everything from established tag teams to unlikely pairings thrown together specifically for the tournament.
Now WWE is dusting it off again, only this time NXT isn’t keeping the party to itself. With RAW and SmackDown talent officially entering the mix, the bracket reveal later this week could produce some pretty wild combinations.
Which RAW, SmackDown or NXT team do you want to see entered into the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic? Let us know in the comments.
