On the Sept. 15, 2026 episode of NXT, NXT General Manager Robert Stone announced that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will be returning.
14 teams will compete in the tournament, a tradition dating back to 2015.
Previous teams to have won the cup include most recent winners Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin, 2022 winners The Creed Brothers, and more.
On Sept. 19, the first half of the bracket was revealed, featuring the following teams:
Birth Right (Channing Lorenzo & Uriah Connors)
Mini Vikingo & Chaz Starboy Hall
Fraxiom
DarkState (Cutler James & Osiris Griffin)
Romeo Moreno & Noam Dar
Los Americanos
NXT Tag Team Champions Vanity Project (Brad Baylor & Ricky Smokes)
Two teams will have a first round bye, which includes NXT Tag Team Champions The Vanity Project, with an additional team to be announced tomorrow.
The rest of the bracket will be revealed tomorrow.
Don't miss NXT as the tournament kicks off at 8 ET / 7 CT on The CW.
Teams announced for 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
