NXT returns for one more show from Center Stage in Atlanta. Given that this was the former home of WCW Saturday Night, it makes sense that this show saw the beginning of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament take place. It looks like we may have a clear challenger for Andrade “Cien” Almas’ NXT Championship now as well. Before we get to that though, the first match in the third Dusty Classic tournament took place.
TM61 vs. The Authors of Pain –
  The first match in this year’s tournament just so happens to the a rematch of the finals of the 2016 edition of the tournament. The Authors of Pain won that match to win the Dusty Rhode Tag Team Championship trophy, but Shane Thorne and Nick Miller have just returned to TV and are looking to make an impact? Did they fare any better against Akam and Rezar this time around?

  At first, TM61 were on fire as they immediately lit into Akam with some strikes and blows. Rezar tagged into the match, causing the dynamic to shift drastically. The Authors of Pain then proceed to follow their usual formula of dominance as they punched down Nick Miller to the canvas. Both proceeded to punch and slam him. Miller had trouble leaving the corner of the ring where the Authors stood because every time that he got closer to tagging in Thorne, one member of the team would drag him back into their corner.
  Miller then countered with a DDT at last before finally tagging in Shane Thorne. He launched into Rezar with a lariat and cannonball in the corner of the ring before hitting a huge side press on the giant man. His momentum was halted once he ran into a boot from Rezar.
  The team hit a powerbomb neckbreaker, which would have gotten them the win of Nick Miller had not broken up the pinfall at the last second. Back into the match, Miller hit a moonsault to land himself and Thorne a nearfall over the former NXT Tag Team Champions, but Rezar broke up the pin. He then took out Thorne by giving him a nasty (and I do mean nasty) powerbomb onto the ring apron. This allowed for the Authors to hit the Last Chapter on Miller, allowing them to defeat the Australians again and move forward in the tournament.
Winners: The Authors of Pain

  NXT General Manager William Regal was being interviewed backstage, and he refused to pick a favorite to win the tag team tournament. The UK Champion Pete Dunne arrived and was asked about his match against Roderick Strong. “The Messiah of the Backbreaker” then walked up to Dunne and said that he was the better man in their match. Suddenly, The Undisputed Era arrived and Adam Cole mocked Strong for losing the match. Dunne pointed out that Cole hasn’t won a great number of matches on NXT either. William Regal then reentered the scene and separated all of the men before they could fight each other.
  Alexander Wolfe and Eric Young cut a promo backstage while Nikki Cross laughed maniacally in the background. They both promised to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament and keep their chaos going. Killian Dain then vowed that after defeating Aleister Black later on the show, that chaos will win.
Bianca Belair vs. Dru Renee –

  Much like a lot of Bianca’s other NXT matches lately, there was not a whole to this one. Belair started off the match by kicking Renee. She demonstrated her physical power by giving her two vertical suplexes back to back before slamming her down hard on the canvas. Within an instant, Belair hit a fallaway powerbomb to score another victory for herself.
Winner: Bianca Belair
  Lacey Evans was interviewed backstage and reiterated that she was in NXT to show that she is the most classy woman on the entire show. She pointed out that Dakota Kai was not classy at all, then she said that she intends on injuring Kai’s arm even more so. Shayna Baszler interrupted the interview, causing Evans to flee immediately. Baszler pointed out that Ember Moon has not accepted her challenge for another shot at the NXT Women’s Championship. Baszler said that Moon not accepting her challenge shows what kind of champion she is.
  Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight were training hard in the Performance Center. They pointed out that they were only rookies during the last Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. This time though, the boys are ready to win the whole shebang.
  Tommaso Ciampa made a surprise appearance as he came down to the ring with a crutch and a microphone to explain his actions against Johnny Gargano recently. Each time that Ciampa tried to speak he was met with an onslaught of boos. He violently slammed the microphone down outside of the ring, but he eventually picked it up and tried to speak again. Once more, the fans would not let him speak. He finally went to leave the ring, but on his way back, he suddenly yanked a fan’s Johnny Gargano sign and ripped it to shreds. He even took it into the ring and proceeded to beat it with his crutch. Ciampa finally stormed off to the back with the bent crutch and ruined sign still left in the ring.
Killian Dain vs. Aleister Black –
  This match was first teased after these two had a promo back and fourth with each other on a recent NXT show. With both men eager to get a shot at the NXT Championship, each man needed to win this match in order to be take into consideration.
  From the moment that the bell rung, Dain decimated Aleister Black as he ran him into the corner of the ring several times. Dain’s offense was relentless and it looked like he could not stop. Somehow, Black was able to fight back against “The Beast of Belfast” when he dodge his incoming corner splash. Black kicked the big man over and over until he fell onto his knees.
  Dain was able to dodge Black and then dish out a huge slam. This took Black out of the match for a little while. Killian then proceeded to wear Black down while the undefeated superstar tried to fight out of it. Dain hit two splashes on Black, and each one was enough to get him a very close near-fall.
  Black got back into the match by tripping Dain. Black hit a forearm in the corner before hitting a springboard moonsault on the giant member of SAnitY. He went for a move off of the top of one of the corner posts, but Dain detected him coming and swatted him down just in time. Dain went for another pin, but Black kicked out at two.
  Finally, Dain thought that he had the victory within his grasp. He attempted to get Black up on his shoulders for the Ulster Plantation, but once Aleister went up, he flipped Dain over and tried to go for a roll-up pin. Dain was able to kick out, but he was met with the Black Mass kick the instant that he got back to his feet. Black then successfully pinned Killian Dain, and was thus able to keep his undefeated singles match streak alive.
Winner: Aleister Black
  Black’s victory against Killian Dain would at least seem to suggest that Andrade “Cien” Almas’ next challenger has been declared. Given that Black has defeated just about every superstar on the NXT roster, the next logical step would be for him to challenge for the NXT Championship. Hopefully, the buildup to the next Takeover show in New Orleans will begin very soon.
  As for next week’s show, it was confirmed during the broadcast that Adam Cole will be facing Pete Dunne, following their confrontation earlier in the show. It was also announced that “The Bruiserweight’s” United Kingdom Championship will be on the line in that match. The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament will also continue on as The Street Profits face Heavy Machinery, and Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss face SAnitY’s Alexander Wolfe and Eric Young. What will happen on the road to NXT Takeover: New Orleans? We’ll find out soon enough. I’ll see you NXT time!