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Who's going to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic?

  • Baron Corbin & Rhyno

    Votes: 3 6.4%
  • The Mechanics (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Jason Jordan & Chad Gable

    Votes: 32 68.1%
  • Finn Bálor & Samoa Joe

    Votes: 12 25.5%

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semi-Finals Matches at TakeOver: Respect + Finals at the Same Show

3K views 29 replies 25 participants last post by  TD Stinger 
#1 · (Edited)

Jason Jordan & Chad Gable vs. Baron Corbin & Rhyno
(Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals)

An opportunity to earn tag team supremacy will be on the line at NXT TakeOver: Respect, when Jason Jordan & Chad Gable take on Baron Corbin & Rhyno in the semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

At first, Jordan & Gable seemed like an unlikely tag team, with the eager Olympian Gable practically begging Jordan to join forces with him. But since they started teaming, the pair has found nothing but success. Their mastery of the mat game has catapulted them to the forefront of NXT’s tag team division. To earn their spot in the semifinals, Jordan & Gable defeated the duo of WWE Superstar Neville & Solomon Crowe in the opening round and The Hype Bros in the quarterfinals.

Edit: The Winners of this tournament will be presented a trophy by Cody Rhodes and Goldust! The sons of Dusty Rhodes! :mark:
On the other hand, Corbin & Rhyno were put together specifically for this tournament. The type of destruction and carnage they thrive on doesn’t require much in the way of teamwork. The two heavy-hitters demonstrated that in the opening round, where they eliminated the longest-reigning NXT Tag Team Champions in history, The Ascension. The Lone Wolf and The Man Beast followed up that performance in the quarterfinals with an impressive victory against independent scene standouts Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa.

It will truly be a clash of styles when these two teams step into the ring at TakeOver: Respect. But only one duo will advance to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Final. Who will it be? Find out Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, live and only on WWE Network!

Finn Bálor & Samoa Joe vs. Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder
(Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Semifinals)

The NXT dream team of NXT Champion Finn Bálor & Samoa Joe will face bracket-busters Dash Wilder & Scott Dawson in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic semifinals at NXT TakeOver: Respect, with the winning duo advancing to that night’s tournament final.

Bálor & Joe’s all-star alliance overcame former NXT Tag Team Champions The Lucha Dragons and the ever-popular Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady in the first and second rounds, respectively. Dawson & Wilder, meanwhile, secured their place in the semifinals with an opening round victory over Tucker Knight & Elias Samson, followed by an upset win in the second round over reigning NXT Tag Team Champions The Vaudevillains.

Though both teams find themselves one victory away from competing in the finals of the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, the similarities end there. The enigmatic NXT Champion and his hard-hitting ally, recognized as two of the top singles Superstars in sports-entertainment, have been headline fodder since their arrivals in NXT. Assembled for the sole purpose of winning the tournament, the team has proven successful, if experimental.

The calculating and grizzled pair of roughnecks Dawson & Wilder, in contrast, has forged a winning partnership over many months. What they sacrifice to Bálor & Joe in terms of recognition and singles accolades, they more than make up for with tag team experience.

Watch and see what team makes it to the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Final when NXT TakeOver: Respect airs live on WWE Network Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Final

It will be an emotional night at NXT TakeOver: Respect, as two teams battle it out to pay tribute to their mentor in the final of the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The American Dream’s family will be well represented on Oct. 7, as his sons, Cody and Dustin Rhodes, will be on hand to present a trophy to the tournament winners.

Full TakeOver: Respect coverage

The tournament was announced by NXT General Manager William Regal during the historic TakeOver: Brooklyn broadcast on WWE Network as a way for NXT to pay tribute to the late WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. In addition to the impact Rhodes made inside the ring, he also left a tremendous mark on NXT, where he served a mentor to the entire roster, helping them find their way in the sports-entertainment world.

Watch Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic highlights

In the month since, 16 teams have battled it out in tribute to the late Hall of Famer, leaving it all on the line in hopes of making it to TakeOver: Respect. Now, only four teams remain. They will square off in the semifinals early in the night, with the winners of each match returning to the ring for the final bout. The semifinal matches are:

NXT Champion Finn Bálor & Samoa Joe vs. Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder
Jason Jordan & Chad Gable vs. Baron Corbin & Rhyno

Who will win two grueling matches in one night, pay tribute to their mentor and walk out of Orlando, Fla., as the winners of the first Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic? Find out at NXT TakeOver: Respect, live and only on WWE Network, Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
I decided to give the semi-finals matches their own thread to discuss for the week until TakeOver: Respect.

As of this weeks NXT taping, all these matches were set up by all four teams winning their respective Round 2 match in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Both semi-finals matches AND the finals matches will happen in the same night. Meaning to win this tournament, the winners will have had to wrestle 2 matches in one night. A notable accolade.

We're down to the final four, good luck to all teams!

Edit: The Winners of this tournament will be presented a trophy from Cody Rhodes and Goldust. The sons of Dusty Rhodes! :mark:
 
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#2 ·
I'm predicting Gable & Jordan defeat Corbin & Rhyno, Balor & Joe defeat Dash & Dawson, then Gable & Jordan win the whole thing after Joe screws Balor and turns heel.

It makes sense for an actual tag-team to win the tournament. This also sets up Balor vs Joe for the NXT title and Gable & Jordan vs The Vaudevillians for the NXT tag titles at NXT Takeover: London.
 
#9 ·
This obviously makes the most sense but I'm never going to bet against HHH giving more accolades to Kliq 2.0 members, look at Rollins and Owens.

Safe money is on them winning the Dusty and then after the celebration one of them turns.
 
#4 ·
I'd like to see Gable and Jordan beat The Mechanics in the final, but a win over Joe and Balor would be nice as well. If they cant win, then my second pick is The Mechanics because it would do them a lot of good to win this tournament. Plus their gimmick is more appropriate to be as a team of common men winning "the Common Man's" tournament. :mark:
 
#5 ·
I'd put maybe $5 on the former shoot nation to win. I think the only team I can see NOT winning are corbin/rhyno, and the only team I really DON'T want to win are joe/balor.

I would LOVE to see gable/jordan vs mechanics in the finals. lord knows both being in the finals would be great additional exposure for the four of them, and would be a great way to start a lengthy feud of one-upsmanship between the two teams.
 
#6 · (Edited)
I honestly have no idea who will win. They have done a great job at keeping it unpredictable. Any of these 4 teams can win it and I would not be surprised. The Mechanics are the underdogs here as they have had very few matches on NXT tv and are a only getting hot recently. They upset the Tag champs so it would not be surprising if they got the upset win. I have my doubts about Joe and Balor winning. They have been teasing a Samoa Joe turn and I have a feeling that the tension will cause them to lose the match. Jordan and Gable are the dark horses. Really great wrestlers especially Gable and they starting to get good now and develop chemistry. I'm leaning towards Baron Corbin and Rhyno winning it. They just seem to work well together and there is no tension there. 2 established guys in NXT. I think they are the favorites. I would like Joe and Balor to win personally. It's a toss up. A lot of votes for Jordan and Gable. I would love to see them win then feud with the Vaudevillians. I mean they can really use the opportunity for a nice feud so we can see more of Gable. He is great from the little chances he has gotten but I'm curious to see how he will do in a longer match/ feud. Jason Jordan is also a promising talent. He got the size and speed and the look.
 
#7 ·
I think the Mechanics are going to beat Jordan and Gable in the final - mainly because I think Jordan and Gable can feud better as tweeners vs both Enzo and Cass and BAMF at this point while Mechanics go after the Vaudevillains. Jordan and Gable don't need the rub quite so much, they're both good on the mic and are going to have the titles within the year anyway. Neither of the makeshift teams should win, it devalues the division and no disrespect to the three vets but Dusty was all about his NXT kids.
 
#8 · (Edited)
I don't see what good it does anyone having Rhyno & Corbin win, unless they actually plan on making the pair a real tag team going forward, which just doesnt resonate with me.

Considering the reason this whole tournament is taking place, one would think that the winners would be a actual tag team who have come up through the developmental system in a real way. And I'd expect the winners to be faces too. Having a heel team who spent very little time (if any) learning from Dusty in developmental would be kind of insulting.

I think, come Takeover, we'll see Joe or Balor turn. All foreshadowing points to Joe, but that could also be foreshadowing a swerve. This won't be a result of earlier miscominication. It will be a premeditated attack. I couldn't say whether it will be in the semi or the final though, but I'd rather the semis to protect Mechanics.

Mechanics should be made to look good whether they get to the final or not. They have a win over the champs so are already in the title picture.

I think Rhyno will take the fall for his team, as I don't see two turns in the same tornement. There may be miscominication or a worked injury.

I think the goal for JJ & Gable through the semi and into the final is to complete that full face transformation, which the fans have shown to be recptive to.


Final will be JJ & Gable Vs. Mechanics or Joe & Balor, with JJ & Gable going over.
 
#10 ·
It will be an emotional night at NXT TakeOver: Respect, as two teams battle it out to pay tribute to their mentor in the final of the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. The American Dream's family will be well represented on Oct. 7, as his sons, Cody and Dustin Rhodes, will be on hand to present a trophy to the tournament winners.

The tournament was announced by NXT General Manager William Regal during the historic TakeOver: Brooklyn broadcast on WWE Network as a way for NXT to pay tribute to the late WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. In addition to the impact Rhodes made inside the ring, he also left a tremendous mark on NXT, where he served a mentor to the entire roster, helping them find their way in the sports-entertainment world.

In the month since, 16 teams have battled it out in tribute to the late Hall of Famer, leaving it all on the line in hopes of making it to TakeOver: Respect. Now, only four teams remain. They will square off in the semifinals early in the night, with the winners of each match returning to the ring for the final bout. The semifinal matches are:

- NXT Champion Finn Bálor & Samoa Joe vs. Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder
- Jason Jordan & Chad Gable vs. Baron Corbin & Rhyno

Who will win two grueling matches in one night, pay tribute to their mentor and walk out of Orlando, Fla., as the winners of the first Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic? Find out at NXT TakeOver: Respect, live and only on WWE Network, Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
:mark: :mark: :mark:
 
#11 ·
As others have said, I see Joe and Balor going to the finals only for Joe to screw Balor and turn heel. That will set up a huge match for when they to a Takeover in London. (As if they weren't going to sell the place out already)

So I see Gable and Jordan winning this and going for the tag titles. It makes sense to have an actual team win this rather than a team of random main eventers.
 
#12 ·
If Corbin/Rhyno win this then it has been a complete waste of time.

Jordan/Gable winning because of Joe/Balor turning on each other (although I'm not entirely sure who it will be) is the best scenario.

Positions Jordan/Gable as the next tag team title contenders to the VaudeVillains and sets up the NXT title match at the following TakeOver

Plus I want JJ and Ready, Willing and Gable to win as it would be "Sick"
 
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#13 ·
Corbin/Rhyno vs. Finn/Joe in the finals? If so, then for the first time in forever I'd say really FUCK YOU NXT BOOKERS.
 
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#14 ·
No chance in hell they'd book that. The NXT bookers are above that kind of trash, they recognize that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic should at least see a TAG TEAM mentored by DUSTY HIMSELF in the finals, even if they don't win. There's no way Bálor & Joe/Corbin & Rhyno takes place, unless HHH wants the NXT Tag division to have zero credibility whatsoever. I wouldn't be surprised if Bálor & Joe do beat the Mechanics, but Jordan & Gable are locks to win their semi-finals at the bare minimum.

After that, I guess you could say that JJ & Gable are either full fledged babyfaces or tweeners (and they work best as babyfaces to begin with), and they could bicker around w/the Mechanics for a while. The latter team says they beat the Vaudevillains in the quarterfinals, so they're owed a title shot; JJ & Gable claim they deserve one due to their victory of the tournament (should they win). Takeover: London - TRIPLE THREAT FOR THE TAG TITLES. On that same show, you could also book Enzo & Cass/Blake & Murphy in a Loser Leaves Town Nº1 Contender's match - Enzo & Cass win and get a title shot at the February Takeover, Blake & Murphy get called up to the main roster (aka they're depromoted).
 
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#16 ·
Idk what they're doing if Corbin doesn't win this tournament.

This tag team format is doing him huge favours. More than all those squashes combined did.

I'm however not as opposed to Gable anymore after seeing the flabby beard guys struggling for dear life in that backstage segment. He instantly looks better by default.
 
#17 ·
Yeah. NXT writers are real class and i don't think they put win on Balor/Joe or Corbin/Rhyno. Favourties are JJ/Gable but Mechanics are cool choice too. I see these two tagteams in great feud for championship.

Balor/Joe obviously going to split but i think that Finn will become heel, not Joe.

What they will do with Baron and Rhyno? I dont know. Maybe form stable that dominate whole division or something. Corbin have to gain some character and confidence.
 
#20 ·
Jordan and Gable would be a good fit for a team for how well they have been working together, but Balor and Joe could be winning the finals.
 
#21 ·
I actually badly want to see Finn Balor and Joe vs. Jordan and Gable, because it's two teams that feel like I would get a **** match out of them but I feel like it would help give Finn Balor and Samoa Joe more in-ring psychology and personality behind just being rugged guys from the independents who are known for legendary work elsewhere and Jordan/Gable could use it as a platform to move up the card very fast on NXT.
 
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#27 ·
Exactly my thoughts. As I've said in this thread earlier, if we'll get these two teams in the finals - FUCK YOU BOOKERS.
 
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