Former NXT Tag Team Champion Alexander Wolfe made an appearance on the 1/20 episode of NXT. Wolfe’s Imperium group-mates Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel were defeated by Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado in the men’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. As Aichner and Barthel were leaving the ringside area, they were met by Wolfe who has been competing on NXT UK.
Beth Phoenix made her in-person return to NXT. She joined Vic Joseph and Wade Barrett at the commentary desk. Beth formally announced the beginning of the women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
"Tonight, we prepare to make history again." 👏 👏@TheBethPhoenix kicks off the first Women's #DustyClassic on #WWENXT! pic.twitter.com/cKtlJqLwkx
— WWE (@WWE) January 21, 2021
On next week’s episode of NXT, Santos Escobar is defending the Cruiserweight Championship against Curt Stallion.
Kacy Catanzaro debuted a new finisher which was a variation of a 630 splash. She and Kayden Carter picked up a win over Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez in the first round of the women’s Dusty Classic. NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai got her payback on Mercedes and interfered in the match.
SHOCK THE WORLD? THEY DID JUST THAT! 🤯 🤯 🤯@KacyCatanzaro & @wwekayden made jaws drop to the floor by defeating early favorite Toni Storm & @RealMMartinez in the first-round of the Women's #DustyClassic! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/gNPU2sKgTu
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 21, 2021
KUSHIDA pinned NXT North American Champion Johnny Gargano on tonight’s show. He and Leon Ruff advanced in the Dusty Classic by defeating Gargano and Austin Theory.
Scheduled for the 1/27 episode of NXT is Finn Balor and Kyle O’Reilly versus NXT Tag Team Champions Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. The men’s Dusty Classic matches for next week are listed as followed:
– MSK (Nash Carter & Wes Lee) vs. Killian Dain & Drake Maverick
– Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson & James Drake) vs. Leon Ruff & KUSHIDA
In the main event on 1/20, Timothy Thatcher tapped out Tommaso Ciampa in the Fight Pit. Thatcher is undefeated in the match.