Nic Nemeth Comments on TNA Teams Not Featuring in Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

Nic Nemeth recently commented on TNA teams not being included in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic on WWE NXT despite the promotions being in a working relationship.

As noted, the participating teams for this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic were revealed during the weekend. Teams from RAW, SmackDown, NXT, EVOLVE, and Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide are set to compete in the tournament. Interestingly, no teams from TNA have been included in the tournament despite the promotion’s working relationship with WWE.

During a recent appearance on Unlikely, reigning TNA World Champion and one-half of the World Tag Team Champions Nic Nemeth was asked whether he’s upset that no TNA teams have been included in the tournament. Nemeth said that it does upset him, given TNA’s relationship with WWE, but he also admitted that “it’s not always the time and place for it.” He further touched upon the relationship, noting that both sides have benefitted from it.

Here’s what he said:

On TNA teams not being included in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

“It doesn’t, because myself and my brother are comically busy at the moment. But it does, as a TNA wrestler, not being the tag champs: yeah, it does. Because there’s a relationship there. We’ve had some moments where we got a lot of NXT people who were brand new, gave them a shot, gave them some TV time, got those reps in. It would be nice to see it replicated. But, of course, it’s not always the time and place for it. There were times for months where we were going back and forth all over NXT, our guys and gals were, and all over TNA. NXT guys and gals were showing up. Some people were going to RAW and SmackDown, and it led to Leon Slater getting some cool moments and Joe Hendry getting some cool stuff when he was still with us.

“So all of those moments can still happen, and they will when the time is right. It would be great to be represented out there. But also, I’m super busy right now, and I’m not interested in doing NXT as the world champion and tag team champion. But… down the line, I would love to see more of an interaction if we continue that relationship because it was really fruitful for both sides.”

On the WWE-TNA relationship

“I was very impressed with some young up-and-comers getting some reps with us and getting to see our guys. You know, you got to see Cruz Montana showing up on NXT before he showed up at NXT. So he’s doing in theory, his own vignette to let that audience know when you see me next time, I’m going to be kicking everyone’s ass, and that’s why you get that emotion and that reaction because he got to be over there a few times before that. So it’s, it’s been really positive for us. Hopefully, it’s been positive for them, and I would like to see more in the future.”

Listen to his comments below:

Please credit Unlikely and give an H/T to 411Mania for the transcription if you take quotes from this copy.