Csonka: 12 Potential Dusty Rhodes Classic Tag Teams

– Welcome back to column time with Larry. Today I thought that I talk about some possible tag teams for this year’s Dusty Rhodes Classic. Now the tournament hasn’t been announced yet, but according to reports, the company is planning on keeping it an annual fixture for NXT. So today I will share 12 teams I feel will be or should be part of the tournament. The only rules are “have a take, be respectful of other’s opinions and don’t be a dick.” We all have opinions, we’re going to disagree, just be cool about it. NOTE: These are in no particular order of preference.

* NOTE: WWE has used talents from outside of NXT, but still under the WWE umbrella in the past, so for the list I am using NXT, WWE UK, & 205 Live talents.

12. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak: The first team I’d like to discuss today is the 205 Live duo of Tony Nese & Drew Gulak. Nese and Gulak were independent standouts, brought in for last year’s cruiserweight classic. They were EVOLVE regulars who were signed to bolster the 205 Live ranks after their CWC runs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak are far from flash, but are a good tag team (working together 18 times under the WWE banner), and unlikable little pricks; nee thinks he’s better than everyone and Gulak is essentially the fun police, looking to mold the wrestling world in his own image, because he thinks that his way of doing things is the best. They are a great little heel team that would be perfect to pair with someone like the Street Profits, who NXT is high on, but could benefit from working in a longer match with talented and experienced guys like Nese & Gulak.

11. TJP & Rich Swann: I think that a pairing of TJP & Rich Swann would not only provide another pair of talented guys to the classic, but provides some great storyline possibilities for the company. TJP beat Swann last year in the CWC, and Swann the got revenge this year. Throughout most of 2017, Rich Swann has been trying to get his friend to start acting like his old self once again, leading to some “friendly competition.” TJP had seemingly turned the corner, but his motivations have become less clear and things haven’t been quite as friendly. A tournament run could play into their current angle and possible culmination of the story, where TJP sees the light and Swann gets his friend back. That reunion could provide a really fun and highflying tag team to be born, even if it is short lived.

10. Mark Andrews & Jack Gallagher: With Mark Andrews largely exiled to the UK indie scene, due to the delay of the WWE UK project, and Jack Gallagher being largely used as filler material on 205 Live, I feel that these two gentlemen could be used well as a fun babyface tag team for the Classic. Mark Andrews & Jack Gallagher are both tremendous performers, and will only add to the in ring quality of the Classic. The odd couple style pairing could play very well if done correctly. They’d be great fodder for a team like Heavy Machinery; the fans love them and they have enough skill to be competitive early before the monsters (#SteaksandWeights) feast.

9. Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly: When Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly made their NXT debuts they did well, even if they lost. WWE smartly realized that at least for now, these two are easily better off as a team and will add depth to the NXT tag team division. They are an excellent team, finding success all around the world, and bring a ton of experience to the NXT roster. I’d say that coming off of their big angle and debut with Cole as a unit at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III, they feel like a great early pick for them to win the whole thing (which I would have happen), or at the very least make the finals.

8. Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch: these two may not currently be a tag team, but I agree with the suggestions that these two having a shit kicking feud will end up with these fine brawling lads will end up respecting each other, and form a tag team. Lorcan and Burch have won over The Full Sail faithful, working a hard hitting, no fucks given style that feels fresh in NXT and makes for exciting matches. They could play the role of underdogs who make a deep run due to their style being so different, but eventually fall to a superior and more full time team. Winning in the first and maybe even second round before a semifinal loss to a team like Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly would work out really well.

7. Mustache Mountain (Trent Seven and Tyler Bate): Mustache Mountain (Trent Seven and Tyler Bate) are another pair of guys in limbo, due to the delay of the WWE UK project. For as god as they are as singles performers, Mustache Mountain are an outstanding tag team that would be a positive addition to any tournament they are involved in. They have a great track record as a team, delivering in Fight Club Pro, RevPro, PROGESS, CHIKARA; winning tag team titles in CHIKARA & PROGRESS, proving along the way that they can work with anyone. With the WWE UK project being delayed, and with no launch date in the foreseeable future, it would be a crime to not use this skilled tag team.

6. The Street Profits: The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) have been with WWE developmental since 2016, with Dawkins being on his third tag team partner. They have largely been stuck in developmental limo, looking to find something that they could sink their teeth into, and something that they crowds can get invested in. And they have found that with the Street Profits gimmick. Their introductory promo videos have been fun, they are over, and in the very limited amount of action I have seen, they are a lot of fun and have potential. If paired with the right teams, the Dusty Rhodes Classic could be a good showcase for them as they work into having longer form TV matches.

5. Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado : Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado are a pair of skilled 205 Live guys that aren’t used nearly enough as they should be. In 2017 they have found themselves in tag team action 6 times, and have been a fun and exciting team. GI really like the pairing and since this is essentially me booking a portion of the field, giving them some time in NXT for the Dusty Classic wouldn’t be the worst move. The best use for them would be playing the fun high fliers bouncing around and giving Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss a good match and providing a strong win for Sabbatelli & Moss.

4. Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss: These guys have been working as a tag team since September of 2016, working approximately 61 matches together in regular tags and the occasional six-man tag. For the most part, they have been isolated on the NXT live events, but are part of the next wave of guys getting ready to make their move to the TV/touring side of NXT. The team seems primed to move up, because they can’t stay on the Florida loop forever. From all reports I’ve heard, they work very hard and have shown a lot of potential. It’ll be interesting to see if they get moved up and can deliver. TM-61 bounced them in last year’s Dusty Classic, so you have a natural story there and an easy second round match to make.

3. Heavy Machinery: Heavy Machinery (Otis Dozovic & Tucker Knight) have been teaming together since October of 2016, and have worked approximately 78 matches together in regular tags and the occasional six-man tag under the NXT banner. They’ve worked with most of the NXT roster on live events, including several matches with the various versions of Sanity. Heavy Machinery started to win over the live crowds, not just because they were big lads doing big lad things, but also because they became very charismatic, over the top and bombastic big lads doing big lad things. They got a run on NXT this year, earning a shot at the NXT tag team titles. Unfortunately their run for the titles were cut short when the Authors of Pain maintained their dominance and put them away, retaining the titles.

2. TM-61: TM-61 looked like they were close to breaking out, making the finals of last year’s Dusty Rhodes Classic, falling to the Authors of Pain. They were reportedly going to feud with the Revival (which had great possibilities), but Shane Thorne suffered a bad knee injury and had surgery in January, taking him out of action and killing the program. With the Dusty Rhodes Classic likely taking place in late 2017, and culminating at the Takeover over Royal Rumble weekend, the timeline matches up for a TM-61 return. A run in the tournament could provide for a quality redemption story, not only for the return from injury, but also for the team coming back and looking to win the tournament that they almost won last year.

1. Sanity: You can’t hold an NXT based tournament to crown the best tag team without the NXT tag team champions, Sanity. But not only are they the champions, but they provide an interesting dynamic as far as who competes in the matches. You can go Young & Wolfe, Young & Dain, or even Dain and Wolfe. The best part about having the champions in the tournament is that if you book it properly, you get two sets of contenders out of the deal. You have the champions make the semifinals, picking up dominating victories along the way. And then in the semifinals, you can have them lose to a viable contender in the non-title setting, which would entitle that team to a tag title shot down the line. It won’t hurt the champions, especially if you use an alternate pairing. And then you have a team, completely different from the champions and team that beat the champions, win the classic; boom, two sets of contenders and a few months worth of tag title programming is set.

– Credit to Cagematch for the match stats used here

– End scene.

– Thanks for reading.

“Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyye Felicia!”