Welcome to the Fightful.com live coverage for tonight's episode of WWE NXT! Tonight we continue in round 1 of the second annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic as Rich Swann and No Way Jose take on Drew Gulak and Tony Nese! We also have the unveiling of Austin Aries partner for the classic, long rumored to be former ROH World champion Roderick Strong, be sure to come back here for all of the action at 8PM EST!
-We open with a video of how Samoa Joe injured Shinsuke Nakamura and how he came back last week and took the neck brace off and attacked Joe.
Rich Swann & No Way Jose vs Drew Gulak & Tony Nese
Swann and Gulak start it off and Swann shows off his athleticism while Gulak shows off his strength, Gulak getting a quick 2 count off of roll up. Swann hits a dropkick then tags in Jose, Gulak tagging Nese in quickly. Jose dances then drops Nese with a flapjack for a quick 2 count. Nese hits a series of kicks and a sweep for a quick 1 count then Jose hits a stalling suplex into a slam, tagging in Swann who hits a splash for a quick 2 count. Swann goes outside after Nese, but he and Gulak double team him to regain momentum as we go to commercial.
We come back with Gulak having Swann in a rear chin lock.then they hit each other with a double clothesline. Joe and Nese get tagged in then Jose drops Nese and turns him inside out with a clothesline for a close 2 count. Nese hits a jawbreaker then tags in Gulak, Jose hits a pop up right hand for another close 2 count then Swann sends Nese outside. Jose hits a uranagi on Gulak in the ring for the pin and the win.
Winner: No Way Jose & Rich Swann via pinfall
-They report about Hideo Itami's injury then recap SANITY's debut last week. We get an announcement for Tye Dillinger versus Bobby Roode at NXT Takeover: Toronto.
-We come back with Austin Aries being interviewed, but he doesn't reveal his partner just yet.
Bobby Roode vs Sean Maluta
They face off then lock up, Roode in control until he poses then Maluta drops him with a dropkick, mocking him afterwards. Roode drops Maluta then chokes him in the ropes, following up with chops in the corner. Roode whips him across the ring then drops Maluta with a spinebuster. Roode hits a DDT for the pin and the win.
Winner: Bobby Roode via pinfall
-Liv Morgan is interviewed in the back about her match last week and her feud with Billie Kay and Peyton Royce, quickly being attacked by them and drug out to the ramp where she's laid out with a big boot. They declare the division is theirs and call out Asuka before leaving.
Tucker Knight & Otis Dozovic vs Austin Aries & Roderick Strong
Aries and Otis start it off, Otis catching Aries and tagging in Knight who splashes into him. Strong gets tagged in then he and Knight chop each other before Knight drops him with a dropkick, tagging Otis in then they hit a double headbutt on Aries, sending him to the outside. Otis goes for a splash, but Aries stops him, Strong dropping him then chops him in the corner. Otis drops Aries then Strong drops him with a dropkick for a quick 2 count. Strong tags Aries in who hits Otis with a series of clubbing blows then a running knee. Aries tags Strong back in gets a quick 2 count off of a splash back breaker when he tags Aries back in. They get hit with a double suplex then he tags in Knight who drops the both of them. Knight splashes them both then gets sent out of the ring, Aries diving out after him then puts him back into the ring, tagging Strong in who hits a leg lariat for the pin and the win. This was a very competitive match, good showing for Strong, certainly not a squash match.
Winner: Austin Aries & Roderick Strong via pinfall
-Adrade Almas cuts a promo in Spanish, saying he's gotten no respect. He's not worried about it anymore and he only cares about himself.
Nikki Cross vs Danielle Camella
Nikki backs her into the corner and hits her repeatedly with forearms. Camella hits a suplex then Cross hits a neckbreaker before clawing at her own face then hits a fisherman's buster for the pin and the win.
Winner: Nikki Cross via pinfall
-Nikki attacks her after the match, Eric Young prying her off of her, hitting him with a forearm then attacking her again. Fulton has to drag her away, she's acting like a wild animal, biting the ropes and crawling around the ring, Fulton petting her on the head. She then gets up, acts normal again then leaves. We then get a plug for Shinsuke up next as we go to commercial.
-Shinsuke says he's not afraid of Joe and that he can come get the belt if he wants it, that he can do whatever he wants because he'll beat him with no mercy as Patrick Clark comes out and Shinsuke drops him with a kick, Joe coming down and trying to sneak attack, but Shinsuke sees him then hits a Kinsasha on Clark as we go off the air with Joe and Nakamura staring each other down.