Semi-Finals For Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Confirmed On WWE NXT
The matches are set for next week!
On the January 8 episode of NXT, Mauro Ranallo announced that Kushida's mystery partner for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic would be Alex Shelley, reuniting The Time Splitters for the first time in five years.
This excited many fans and Shelley made his NXT TV debut on last night's episode, as he and Kushida faced Grizzled Young Veterans. The Time Splitters' reunion did not go to plan, however, as James Drake pinned The Technical Messiah for the victory, eliminating them from the tournament.
Fans can rest easy, however, as Shelley seems to be sticking around in NXT for a while. In a post-match interview, he put NXT's tag teams on notice and vowed he and Kushida would "regroup" and "get better."
In the second tag team match of the episode, Pete Dunne & Matt Riddle teamed together for the first time as The BroserWeights took on Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster. After a back and forth contest, in which both teams picked up numerous near falls, Dunne & Riddle gained the upper hand.
Webster was put out of commission by The King Of Bros with a Gotch Driver on the outside. Following this, Andrews, aware of his partner's fate, tried to land a Shooting Star Press on Dunne, but The Bruiserweight countered with a vicious punch to the mouth. With Andrews prone in the centre of the ring, Dunne tagged in his partner and they debuted their tag team finisher. After Dunne hit The Bitter End, Andrews' plummetted towards the mat only for Riddle to deliver The Final Flash. The former MMA fighter then covered his opponent for the 1-2-3.
After the match, commentator Beth Phoenix confirmed the semi-finals of the Dusty Cup would be held on next week's episode. The Undisputed ERA will take on Grizzled Young Veterans, while The BroserWeights will face Imperium.
This excited many fans and Shelley made his NXT TV debut on last night's episode, as he and Kushida faced Grizzled Young Veterans. The Time Splitters' reunion did not go to plan, however, as James Drake pinned The Technical Messiah for the victory, eliminating them from the tournament.
Fans can rest easy, however, as Shelley seems to be sticking around in NXT for a while. In a post-match interview, he put NXT's tag teams on notice and vowed he and Kushida would "regroup" and "get better."
In the second tag team match of the episode, Pete Dunne & Matt Riddle teamed together for the first time as The BroserWeights took on Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster. After a back and forth contest, in which both teams picked up numerous near falls, Dunne & Riddle gained the upper hand.
Webster was put out of commission by The King Of Bros with a Gotch Driver on the outside. Following this, Andrews, aware of his partner's fate, tried to land a Shooting Star Press on Dunne, but The Bruiserweight countered with a vicious punch to the mouth. With Andrews prone in the centre of the ring, Dunne tagged in his partner and they debuted their tag team finisher. After Dunne hit The Bitter End, Andrews' plummetted towards the mat only for Riddle to deliver The Final Flash. The former MMA fighter then covered his opponent for the 1-2-3.
After the match, commentator Beth Phoenix confirmed the semi-finals of the Dusty Cup would be held on next week's episode. The Undisputed ERA will take on Grizzled Young Veterans, while The BroserWeights will face Imperium.
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons
