NXT: Kushida has found a partner for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team classic

When you look at the people who spearheaded NXT, Triple H is one of the names that come to mind. However, he did have help in the early days. Wrestling icon Dusty Rhodes was one of the other people who helped build NXT to what we know of it today in 2020. Dusty Rhodes would end up passing away in 2015. As a way to honor his legacy, WWE decided to hold a tag team tournament in his honor. Starting at NXT Takeover Respect in 2015, the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic has become a staple in NXT.

The previous winners include Finn Balor/Samoa Joe, The Authors of Pain, The Undisputed Era, and the team of Aleister Black and Ricochet. 2020 is no different and we are having another one. The teams involved in this year’s edition is interesting. We are seeing four teams from NXT and four teams from NXT UK. On the NXT UK side, we are seeing Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang), The Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson), Mark Andrews and Flash Morgan Webster, and Imperium (Fabian Aichner and Marcel Barthel). On the NXT side, we will see the Forgotten Sons (Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake), Matt Riddle and Pete Dunne, Undisputed Era (Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly), and Kushida and a mystery partner. As of this writing, the Undisputed Era and Imperium have advanced.

During the show, Mauro Ranallo would end up announcing who would be teaming with Kushida. It ended up being Alex Shelley, Many casual fans may not know who Alex Shelley is, but it’s safe to say that the hardcore fans know who he is. He is an 18 year veteran with stops in Ring of Honor, TNA Wrestling, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He gained a ton of notoriety as one half of the Motor City Machine Guns with Chris Sabian. He also teamed with Kushida in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Wrestling fans recently saw him at Ring of Honor’s Final Battle 2019 when he defeated Colt Cabana. We don’t know if Alex Shelley will become a part of NXT or is just working during this tournament.