Spoilers ahead for the September 22, 2026 episode of WWE NXT.
WWE NXT returned Tuesday night with a show built around one of the brand’s most recognizable traditions and several storylines moving rapidly toward their next major chapter.
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic officially returned, Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno pulled off an upset, Thea Hail and La Catalina scored a major victory over NXT’s two women’s champions, and Mason Rook finally went face-to-face with NXT Champion Grayson Waller.
The result was an episode that felt more like a setup for the next stage of NXT than a major-event-quality show — but there was enough meaningful development to keep things moving.
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Is Back
The night began with the return of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and WWE wisely leaned into the tournament’s history.
Cody Rhodes appeared in a video package discussing his father’s legacy and the importance of tag-team wrestling before the first-round action began.
That immediately gave the tournament some importance beyond simply being another bracket.
And the opening match delivered.
Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno Defeat Los Americanos
Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno defeated Rayo Americano and Bravo Americano to advance to the next round.
Los Americanos brought plenty of athleticism and teamwork, but Dar and Moreno were able to weather the pressure and find the opening they needed.
The finish came after the two isolated Bravo and connected with a high-low combination, allowing Dar and Moreno to secure the victory.
It was an energetic opening match and arguably one of the night’s best pure wrestling contests.
More importantly, it immediately established that the Dusty Classic isn’t simply going to be a parade of predictable favorites.
Dar and Moreno have now put themselves on the tournament map.
Thea Hail and La Catalina Score a Major Upset
The women’s tag match was another highlight.
AAA Reina de Reinas Champion La Catalina teamed with Thea Hail against NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan and NXT Women’s North American Champion Zaria.
On paper, Jordan and Zaria had the championship experience and physical advantages.
Inside the ring, however, their lack of cohesion proved costly.
The champions repeatedly struggled to work together, while Hail and Catalina found ways to exploit the openings.
The finish came when Hail confused Zaria and rolled her up for the victory.
The result immediately gives Hail momentum heading into her developing rivalry with Zaria.
It also continues WWE’s smart use of Catalina, who has become increasingly prominent across both WWE and AAA.
Thea Hail Is Getting a Championship Opportunity
The victory wasn’t just another tag-team win.
It has consequences.
Hail has now positioned herself for a shot at the NXT Women’s North American Championship, giving her storyline with Zaria a clear destination.
That’s exactly what the women’s division needed.
Rather than having the tag match exist in isolation, WWE used it to advance the championship picture.
Zaria may have the title, but Hail now has momentum.
And after being pinned, Zaria has something to prove.
Skylar Raye Takes Advantage of Chaos
Skylar Raye defeated Kali Armstrong, but she needed some unexpected help.
The match was competitive until Reina Volcan entered the situation and attacked both wrestlers.
Raye was able to recover quickly enough to capitalize and secure the victory.
It was an unusual finish, but it accomplished something important: Reina Volcan immediately looked dangerous.
The newcomer didn’t need a long speech.
She simply destroyed everyone in her path.
And Raye now has the biggest victory of her NXT career.
That’s a pretty effective introduction for both wrestlers.
The Creed Brothers Advance in the Dusty Classic
The Creed Brothers also advanced in the tournament by defeating Evolve’s Harley Riggins and Jax Presley.
Julius and Brutus Creed relied on their trademark combination of power and explosiveness, eventually putting the match away with a double sit-out chokeslam.
The victory was decisive, but there’s an interesting wrinkle to the Creed Brothers being back in the Dusty Classic.
They have already won the tournament once.
Now they’re attempting to become the first team to win it twice.
That’s a legitimate storyline WWE can build around.
The question is whether the Creeds can regain the excitement that surrounded them during their first NXT run.
BirthRight Steals One From Zilla Fatu’s Team
Zilla Fatu, Sean Legacy and EK Prosper suffered a frustrating loss to Lexis King, Uriah Connors and Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.
Fatu’s team appeared to have the match under control, but Arianna Grace provided the distraction that allowed BirthRight to steal the victory.
The official didn’t see the illegal tag, giving Stacks the opportunity to finish the match.
It’s a classic wrestling finish, but it also protects Fatu.
He wasn’t decisively beaten.
His team was outmaneuvered.
That leaves plenty of room for the feud to continue.
Cruz Montana Takes the Fight to DarkState
Cruz Montana also made his intentions clear when he went after DarkState.
Rather than waiting for the group to come to him, Montana took the fight directly to Dion Lennox, Cutler James and Osiris Griffin.
The confrontation further established Montana as someone willing to fight uphill rather than back down.
It’s a simple story, but sometimes simple works.
Mason Rook Finally Faces Grayson Waller
The biggest non-wrestling segment of the night came at the end.
NXT Champion Grayson Waller and number-one contender Mason Rook finally went face-to-face.
And Waller immediately tried to control the conversation.
The champion mocked Rook and repeatedly attempted to embarrass him before eventually allowing him to speak.
Rook held his own.
He argued that Waller doesn’t belong with The Vision and questioned whether Waller has the ability to live up to the status of NXT Champion.
Waller, meanwhile, continued to belittle his challenger.
The exchange was designed to establish Rook as the underdog and Waller as the arrogant champion.
It mostly accomplished that.
But the segment wasn’t without problems.
Some of Waller’s insults leaned heavily into jokes about Rook’s size, and the segment occasionally felt more repetitive than threatening. Wrestling Inc. also criticized the promo for relying too heavily on those jokes and called the ending a weak point of the show.
Still, the important part is that the championship program has officially moved into its next phase.
Rook Has Something to Prove
Mason Rook’s biggest challenge isn’t simply defeating Grayson Waller.
It’s proving that he belongs at the top of NXT.
Waller is already an established champion.
Rook is still trying to establish himself.
That gives the story a natural dynamic.
Rook doesn’t need to convince the audience that he’s the most experienced wrestler in the company.
He needs to convince them that he can survive on the biggest stage.
His willingness to stand in front of Waller and take everything the champion threw at him was a step in that direction.
What Worked
Best Match: Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno vs. Los Americanos
Fast-paced, energetic and a strong way to launch the Dusty Classic.
Best Storyline: The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
The tournament gives several teams an immediate objective and provides NXT with a useful way to showcase its tag division.
Best Development: Thea Hail’s Championship Opportunity
Her victory with La Catalina has direct consequences for the women’s North American Championship.
Best Moment: The Return of the Dusty Classic
Cody Rhodes’ involvement added emotional weight to the tournament’s opening.
Most Intriguing New Threat: Reina Volcan
Her attack on Raye and Armstrong immediately got people’s attention.
Best Character Development: Mason Rook
Rook didn’t back down when Waller tried to humiliate him.
What Could Have Been Better
The biggest issue was that the episode occasionally felt like a collection of setups rather than a fully satisfying weekly show.
The Dusty Classic matches were entertaining, but the Creed Brothers’ victory lacked some of the excitement associated with the tournament’s younger teams.
The Waller-Rook promo also could have been sharper.
Waller is capable of being one of NXT’s best antagonists, but the material about Rook’s size became repetitive. Rook had some good responses, but the segment would have benefited from more specific character-driven insults and less reliance on the same joke.
Still, the episode accomplished its main objectives.
Several matches had consequences.
The tournament advanced.
The women’s championship picture became clearer.
And the NXT Championship feud finally got a face-to-face confrontation.
Final Verdict
The September 22 episode of NXT was a solid night of television that did its job more through storyline advancement than spectacular matches.
The return of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic gave the show an important sense of tradition, while Noam Dar and Romeo Moreno immediately gave the tournament an upset worth talking about.
The women’s division also benefited from the night, with Thea Hail scoring a significant victory and positioning herself for a championship opportunity against Zaria.
But the most important storyline heading forward is Grayson Waller vs. Mason Rook.
Rook now has the opportunity to prove that he belongs at the top of NXT.
Waller has the championship and the confidence.
Rook has something else: momentum.
And next week’s confrontation could determine whether that momentum turns into something bigger.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Episode Scorecard
- Best Match: Noam Dar & Romeo Moreno vs. Los Americanos
- Best Storyline: Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
- Best Segment: Grayson Waller and Mason Rook’s confrontation
- Best Moment: The return of the Dusty Classic
- Biggest Surprise: Thea Hail and La Catalina defeating the NXT champions
- Best New Threat: Reina Volcan
- Biggest Winner: Thea Hail
- Most Intriguing Story: Waller vs. Rook
- Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
