WWE confirmed during the October 27 edition of NXT on The CW that the brand’s next episode will air live on Wednesday, November 4, with Cody Rhodes set to appear. The announcement moves NXT off its usual Tuesday slot and places it directly opposite AEW’s Blood and Guts event, which is scheduled to take place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
According to WrestleZone, Rhodes’ appearance is tied to the conclusion of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, with the live Wednesday show set to crown the tournament’s winners. The tournament carries added significance for Rhodes given its namesake: his late father, Dusty Rhodes, the WWE Hall of Famer whose legacy the annual tag team classic honors.
SEScoops reported that Rhodes will personally present the Dusty Cup live on NXT that night, framing his presence as part of the tournament’s championship conclusion rather than a standalone segment. The outlet also noted that the shift to November 4 moves NXT off election night programming, placing the special broadcast squarely in competition with AEW’s Blood and Guts.
The head-to-head scheduling sets up a direct ratings and attention battle between WWE and AEW on the same night, with NXT leaning on the emotional weight of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finale and Cody Rhodes’ personal connection to the tournament as a centerpiece draw. AEW, meanwhile, will be running its Blood and Guts event in Jacksonville, a format built around high-stakes, violent stipulation matches.
WWE has not detailed the full card for the November 4 NXT special beyond confirming the live broadcast and Rhodes’ appearance alongside the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic conclusion. The tournament itself has run as an annual tribute to Dusty Rhodes since its inception, and crowning a winner live, with Cody Rhodes on hand, continues that tradition during a week when NXT is competing directly against a major AEW tentpole show.
Further details on the full lineup for the special Wednesday broadcast, including any additional appearances or matches beyond the tournament final, had not been announced at the time of these reports.
