Nic Nemeth has addressed TNA’s absence from the 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, expressing hope for more crossover between WWE and TNA in the future despite the exclusion.
The full field for the Dusty Classic was announced on September 20, featuring 14 teams representing Raw, SmackDown, NXT and Lucha Libre AAA. No TNA teams were included in the tournament, which begins on WWE NXT, despite the ongoing working relationship between WWE and TNA.
Nemeth, the current TNA World and TNA Tag Team Champion, weighed in during an interview, noting that “it’s not always the time or place for it” when it comes to TNA talent appearing in NXT’s Dusty Classic. He indicated that while he was not upset by the omission, he would like to see more crossover between the two companies moving forward.
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is an annual NXT tournament named in honor of the late Dusty Rhodes and has historically featured teams from across WWE’s developmental and main roster brands. The 2026 tournament expanded to include AAA, reflecting WWE’s broader working relationships with outside promotions, but stopped short of incorporating TNA, a company with which WWE has maintained a partnership.
Nemeth’s comments come as WWE and TNA continue their collaborative arrangement, which has previously included talent appearances and shared storylines. No further details on future crossover plans between the two promotions have been announced.
