El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Galeno have advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic after scoring a major victory over BirthRight’s Charlie Dempsey and Lexis King on WWE NXT.
The AAA World Tag Team Champions entered the quarterfinal bout facing an established NXT pairing with plenty of outside support around them. Dempsey and King had Uriah Connors and Arianna Grace nearby, while tensions surrounding the group escalated late in the match when Zilla Fatu arrived at ringside. Despite the distractions and a late momentum shift from BirthRight, Wagner and Galeno regained control and delivered a decisive finishing sequence to secure their place in the tournament’s final four.
For Wagner and Galeno, the win carries significance beyond simply surviving one round of the bracket. They are already recognized as the AAA World Tag Team Champions, and their NXT appearance gave them an opportunity to prove that their success can translate against WWE’s developing tag team field. Their victory over Dempsey and King ensures they remain a prominent factor in the Dusty Classic as the tournament moves closer to its conclusion.
Wagner and Dempsey Open With Technical Exchanges
The match began with El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Charlie Dempsey in the ring, immediately establishing a contrast between Wagner’s lucha libre-influenced offense and Dempsey’s grappling-oriented approach. Wagner gained an early advantage with an arm drag, but Dempsey quickly answered with a kick as he looked to slow the pace and bring the contest back in BirthRight’s favor.
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That opening exchange set the tone for a match in which neither team was able to maintain control for long. Wagner’s ability to move quickly and attack from unconventional angles was met by Dempsey’s physical, mat-based style. Both men appeared intent on creating an opening for their respective partners, with the tournament stakes adding urgency to every transition.
Lexis King and Galeno soon took over for their teams. Galeno immediately made an impact, flooring King with a shoulder tackle before following up with a senton. The sequence gave the AAA champions an early burst of momentum and left King searching for a way to reset the match.
King attempted to retreat to the outside in order to avoid further punishment, but the move only created another opening for Wagner and Galeno. Wagner launched himself with a dive that wiped out both King and Dempsey on the floor, demonstrating the speed and explosiveness that made the champions difficult for BirthRight to contain.
BirthRight Finds an Opening Late
As the bout progressed, BirthRight found a way to turn the contest back in its favor. Dempsey and King had to withstand the pressure from the AAA champions, but they remained in position to capitalize when Wagner went for a high-risk move.
In the closing moments, Wagner climbed to the top rope and looked to finish King with a Frog Splash. King avoided the full impact by getting his knees up, creating a painful counter that halted Wagner’s momentum at a critical moment. It was the kind of opening that could have allowed BirthRight to advance, particularly with Dempsey available to support King and their allies stationed at ringside.
Instead, the action outside the ring dramatically changed the dynamic. Zilla Fatu charged down to the ring and leveled Uriah Connors on the floor. The sudden appearance also sent Arianna Grace retreating into the ring. Fatu’s involvement removed Connors from the equation while adding another layer of chaos to an already tense closing stretch.
The interference around ringside did not directly decide the match, but it prevented BirthRight’s associates from providing a stable advantage. As attention shifted outside, Galeno took the opportunity to drive Dempsey into the barricade. That left King isolated in the ring at the exact moment Wagner and Galeno needed to make their final push.
The AAA Champions Seal the Quarterfinal Win
With Dempsey neutralized at ringside, Wagner returned his focus to King. He dropped King with a Michinoku Driver, leaving him down and vulnerable for the champions’ finishing combination. Galeno then went to the top rope and connected with a Frog Splash to score the pinfall victory.
The sequence was a fitting showcase of the pair’s chemistry. Wagner created the opening with the Michinoku Driver, and Galeno immediately capitalized with the aerial attack. After surviving King’s earlier counter to Wagner’s own Frog Splash attempt, the champions adjusted, took control of the situation, and executed when it mattered most.
The result eliminates BirthRight from the 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Dempsey and King had the experience and physicality to present a serious obstacle, and the presence of Connors and Grace suggested that BirthRight was prepared to use every available advantage. However, Wagner and Galeno weathered the group’s pressure and came through in the decisive moments.
Fatu’s arrival also leaves questions surrounding the issues involving BirthRight, Connors, and Grace. His attack on Connors was one of the biggest developments of the match’s closing minutes, and the confrontation may have consequences beyond the tournament itself. For this night, though, the immediate impact was clear: the chaos around BirthRight coincided with Wagner and Galeno taking control of their quarterfinal opportunity.
Dusty Classic Semifinal Field Takes Shape
Wagner and Galeno now move into the semifinal round, where the identity of their next opponents was set to be determined later on WWE NXT. Hank Walker and Tank Ledger were scheduled to face The Creed Brothers in another quarterfinal matchup, with the winner advancing to meet the AAA World Tag Team Champions.
That pending matchup presents two distinctly different potential challenges. Walker and Ledger have developed as a hard-hitting, energetic unit, while The Creed Brothers bring their own blend of athleticism, power, and amateur wrestling credentials. Either team would represent a difficult test for Wagner and Galeno, who have already shown they can adapt to a rugged NXT style in their win over BirthRight.
The other semifinal side of the bracket is already set. NXT Tag Team Champions The Vanity Project, Brad Baylor and Ricky Smokes, are among the remaining teams, joined by Romeo Moreno and Noam Dar. Their presence underscores how competitive this year’s field has become, with the reigning NXT Tag Team Champions still in contention alongside an AAA titleholding team and several hungry challengers looking to establish themselves.
For Wagner and Galeno, advancing through the Dusty Classic could further elevate their standing across WWE NXT. Tournament victories carry prestige on their own, but navigating a bracket that includes the NXT Tag Team Champions and other accomplished teams would make an eventual final appearance especially meaningful. The AAA champions have now passed their first major tournament test, and they are only two wins away from claiming one of NXT’s most notable tag team honors.
Momentum Builds for Wagner and Galeno
The quarterfinal victory reinforced the qualities that make El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Galeno such a formidable duo. They can wrestle at speed, absorb punishment, use the ring and the outside area to their advantage, and finish opponents with coordinated offense. Those elements were all on display against Dempsey and King.
BirthRight nearly changed the outcome when King countered Wagner’s top-rope attack, but the match ultimately showed the champions’ resilience. Wagner recovered from the failed Frog Splash, Galeno neutralized Dempsey outside, and the pair quickly turned a narrow opening into a conclusive win.
With the semifinal matchup still to come, Wagner and Galeno will have to prepare for whichever team emerges from Hank Walker and Tank Ledger versus The Creed Brothers. Their path is far from easy, but the AAA World Tag Team Champions have made a statement in the tournament: they are not in NXT merely to participate. After upsetting BirthRight, they are firmly in the race to win the 2026 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.