A new team is set for the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
After Wednesday night’s New Year’s Evil episode of NXT, WWE uploaded a video with Jake Atlas agreeing to team with Isaiah “Swerve” Scott in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Scott asked Atlas to team with him in the tournament and Atlas agreed after making Scott promise that there will be no shortcuts.
During the video, Scott asked Atlas why he was still fuming after their match against each other two weeks ago. Scott said he doesn’t look to the past, he looks to the future. Scott said he defeated Atlas, but that doesn’t make Atlas any less of a great competitor.
Scott defeated Atlas on NXT two weeks ago after using a headbutt to help him get the win. Scott wanted Atlas to shake his hand after the match, but Atlas refused and left the ring. Scott had previously declined a handshake from Atlas after Atlas defeated him on NXT last month.
The Dusty Classic will kick off with Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole & Roderick Strong vs. Breezango and The Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Ever-Rise taking place on NXT next Wednesday. WWE has also announced that a women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will be held soon.
Here are the teams that have been announced for the men’s Dusty Classic thus far:
Undisputed Era (Adam Cole & Roderick Strong)
Ever-Rise (Chase Parker & Matt Martel)
Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango)
Curt Stallion & August Grey
Killian Dain & Drake Maverick
Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner)
The Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake)
Legado Del Fantasma (Raul Mendoza & Joaquin Wilde)
Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory
Isaiah “Swerve” Scott & Jake Atlas
The team that wins the tournament will receive the Dusty Cup and a shot at Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch’s NXT Tag Team titles.