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0 out of 7
Credit: WWE.com
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic has taken over WWE NXT. This tournament is no longer just a one-sex team experience as women will now compete at the same time as men.
The January 20 edition of NXT included three big games in the Dusty Classic. First, for the men, Johnny Gargano has teamed up with Austin Theory. The two members of The Way would face their recent rivals Kushida and Leon Ruff.
Lucha House Party also switched from Monday Night Raw to participate in the tournament. Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado were hoping to win against former NXT tag team champions Marcel Barthel and Fabian Aichner.
The first round of the Women’s Dusty Classic began with underdogs Kacy Catanzaro and Kayden Carter fighting two of NXT’s most dangerous women. Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez were after Io Shirai, but were happy to make history in the tag team tournament first.
This all set for the main event where Tommaso Ciampa would step into the NXT Fight Pit against the man who brought him to the Black and Gold Mark, Timothy Thatcher. All that could be predicted was outright violence.
This show had a wrapped card that was promised a week ago, setting up some of the best wrestlers in the world to come out and compete at the highest level.
1 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Austin Theory showed an impressive ability to counter the speed of Leon Ruff and Kushida, keeping heels in the game after Johnny Gargano grew overconfident. The theory, however, made the big mistake of trying to fight Kushida, who was able to easily counter him.
The Heels thought the best strategy was to isolate Ruff. The Path seemed consistent throughout his dominance, though Ruff struggled. He kicked off a raised neck cutter and hit a springboard to bring the tag to his partner.
Kushida planted The Rebel Heart outdoors with a DDT, then locked the North American champion NXT in a cross armbreaker. Theory barely saved his mentor. Ruff dove on Theory out of the action, then pinned The Rebel Heart clean with a double underhook suplex.
Result
Kushida and Ruff fight. The Way by Pinfall to progress in the Dusty Rhodes Men’s Team Classic.
Classroom
B +
Analysis
Gargano and Theory instantly established chemistry as a team of labels. The Rebel Heart found a rhythm with the young star that no one else could. Hopefully they will continue to work as a team, even if it wasn’t their time in the men’s Dusty Classic.
Kushida pinning Gargano clean was a surprise but a welcome one. The Japanese superstar has gained some serious momentum lately. It almost seems inconceivable that he won’t win the NXT North American Championship next month.
2 of 7
Pete Dunne cut a pre-recorded promo on Finn Balor, explaining that he was better than the prince and they both knew it.
Ashante Thee Adonis tried to get a few good shots, but Karrion Kross suffered a serious neck injury on a trio of suplex Saito, sealing an outright victory. Then he locked up the Kross jacket.
NXT showed a video package for MSK where Ember Moon put on the innovation of Wes Lee and Nash Carter.
Result
Kross def. Adonis by pinfall.
Classroom
re
Analysis
What Kross needs right now is a chance to fight worthy opponents. He has to do more than just hit a few suplexes and win. Adonis is established enough that he can have a small offense. Instead, he was crushed like every other talent in the Performance Center.
We’ve all seen it at this point. It is clear that Kross can be dominant. He can take over a minute to wrestle and still looks dominant. The important thing is to help the former NXT champion get back into ring form before facing Finn Balor.
3 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Imperium tried to set a steady pace early on, but Lucha House Party was too explosive. Gran Metalik stepped into the action and dove on Marcel Barthel with a touch off the shoulders of Lince Dorado. The luchadors fought on the outside and were criticized by Barthel and Fabian Aichner on the hard floor.
Metalik retaliated with a hurricanerana springboard and a moonsault springboard towards Aichner for an imminent fall. Lucha House Party then hit a dropkick / sunset flip powerbomb combination, forcing Barthel to save his partner from the fall. The action failed as the two teams moved closer to the signing team’s finishers.
Dorado ultimately allowed Barthel to hook up with a superkick and shooting star press for the win. Alexander Wolfe appeared on stage to watch Barthel and Aichner after their loss.
Result
Lucha House Party def. Imperium by pinfall to progress in the men’s Dusty Rhodes Classic.
Classroom
A
Analysis
This game had potential, but it was absolutely beyond all expectations. Barthel and Aichner struggle so often in sprints that it was nice to see them having the time and working like real heels. Lucha House Party pushed Imperium with incredible moves all over the place.
It was great to see Metalik and Dorado working with so much motivation. It was the best the team had watched in years. While the Imperium deserves a major run in NXT down the line with only a short NXT Tag Team Championship reign so far, it was time to take a chance to put on an underutilized team.
4 of 7
Credit: WWE.com
Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez admitted backstage that they weren’t friends, but they wanted to win and they felt better than anyone. General Manager William Regal introduced Beth Phoenix, who highlighted how important and historic it is for women to finally have their own Dusty Rhodes Classic.
Kayden Carter set a pace from the start that Mercedes Martinez ruined by crashing Kacy Catanzaro with a rocking snap. Toni Storm stepped into the action but ran into a circular saw in a purely motivated Carter.
Catanzaro crashed into Martinez on the outside, sending the two into the announcement table. Storm planted Carter with a German suplex, then locked up a one-legged Boston crab. Io Shirai attacked Martinez on the outside, leaving Storm to take a leg lock to set up a 630 corkscrew for the win.
Behind the scenes, Carter and Catanzaro have made it clear that they will win the entire tournament. A fight broke out between Storm and Shirai after the outcome.
Result
Carter and Catanzaro fight. Storm and Martinez by pinfall to progress in the women’s Dusty Classic.
Classroom
B +
Analysis
It was a real arrival for Carter and Catanzaro. Arguably the only true female team in NXT, the two worked hard to secure an opportunity like this. By working with absolute veterans, they’ve done the best job of their careers.
If it was necessary to win a team which was not constituted, the situation was well set up. The two heels are arguably the closest to defying the genius of heaven for the NXT Women’s Championship. This perfectly sets up Shirai against Martinez in the upcoming NXT TakeOver.
5 out of 7
Malcolm Bivens waited outside William Regal’s office while Tyler Rust called for a match against Bronson Reed. Bivens wanted Rust to face an easier opponent, but he just tried to motivate Rust after the contest was over.
The Colossal dominated Rust while Bivens seemed unsure of how to train his client in this rather impromptu match. Even though Rust found a few openings, he still couldn’t stop the taller man from crashing him with the Avalanche for three. Then the manager told his client to let him choose the battles next time.
Result
Reed def. Rust by fall.
Classroom
C +
Analysis
The idea of Reed vs Rust was better than the execution. The talented wrestlers worked well together, but there wasn’t much history and focus in the competition. The Colossal works well with those who are confident in their ability to improvise and build a story.
Bivens and Rust are a clumsy couple. It might come together soon and it’s good to see Bivens on TV again. However, the manager is always on the lookout for his ideal client.
6 out of 7
Finn Balor demanded a match with William Regal’s Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, and the NXT GM only agreed if the NXT champion could find a partner. The prince cashed in a favor and asked Kyle O’Reilly to team up with him. The Undisputed Era star agreed.
Legado del Fantasma took the ring as Santos Escobar mocked the entire roster. He was certain he was the absolute best NXT champion. As he put Raul Mendoza and Joaquin Wilde on, Lucha House Party arrived and began to brawl with the trio. Curt Stallion arrived to help free the heel ring.
Drake Maverick put on MSK, but he was sure he and Killian Dain would win the Dusty Classic.
Classroom
VS
Analysis
The series of segments leading up to Balor asking O’Reilly to team up with him worked; However, it’s ridiculous that NXT thinks fans couldn’t believe the Prince could team up with his recent biggest rival. The two have been helping each other as much as they have been hurting each other for weeks.
Legado del Fantasma vs Lucha House Party is a fun rivalry that thankfully didn’t end early. This segment was a waste of time, but it was good of WWE to finally recognize the No.1 contender for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. The stallion does not yet want to dethrone Escobar.
7 out of 7
In the pre-match weigh-in, Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher almost got into a fight, but William Regal pulled them apart.
The two started above the Fight Pit where The Blackheart brutalized the technician early on. The two fell from the top into the steel pit below. Thatcher turned the action by targeting the left elbow with suplexes and nudges. The heel smirked as he nearly broke his opponent’s fingers.
It was only with a low blow that Ciampa resumed the fight, hitting the Willow’s Bell for a close knockout. The Dark Heart planted Thatcher with the fairytale ending, then went for a submission, but the heel fought back. He trapped Ciampa’s leg in the steel and used a stretcher silencer to force a tapout.
The two looked at each other with mischief and a tinge of respect to end the night.
Result
Thatcher def. Ciampa by submission.
Classroom
B +
Analysis
Thatcher needed to win this game, and that’s exactly what he did. He looked amazing fighting the best Ciampa could give him. He got creative but never played scared. He went after Ciampa to the point that The Blackheart resorted to more underhanded tactics to stay in the fight.
It was what was needed. It was physical and brutal. The technical side of the two men sold excellently. The lighting made it difficult to watch in a few moments, but the goal was finally achieved. Thatcher came out looking like an unstoppable monster in his match style.
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