Nic Nemeth believes there is still plenty of potential in the working relationship between TNA and WWE NXT, even after no TNA teams were included in the announced field for the upcoming Dusty Tag Team Classic.
On September 20, WWE NXT revealed the full lineup for its next Dusty Tag Team Classic. The tournament field includes teams connected to WWE’s three brands as well as AAA, prompting questions from fans over the absence of any TNA representation. The omission stood out because TNA and NXT have previously exchanged talent and used their partnership to create appearances across both programs.
Nemeth, one half of the current TNA Tag Team Champions alongside his brother Ryan Nemeth, addressed the situation during an appearance on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez. He made clear that he understands why a TNA act may not fit every NXT event, while also acknowledging that he would like to see the relationship produce more crossover opportunities in the future.
Nemeth says the Nemeth brothers are already busy
Asked whether the lack of TNA names in the Dusty Classic bothered him, Nemeth initially pointed to the schedule he and Ryan Nemeth are currently carrying. He said the brothers are “comically busy at the moment,” making a tournament appearance less practical for them personally.
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That did not stop him from considering the matter from the wider perspective of a TNA wrestler. Nemeth said that, away from his own circumstances as a reigning champion, he could understand why TNA talent and fans might have hoped for a place in a tournament involving an organization with which TNA has an established connection.
“It does, as a TNA wrestler, not being the tag champs, yeah, it does,” Nemeth said of the lack of TNA involvement. “Because there’s a relationship there.”
The Dusty Tag Team Classic is one of NXT’s recurring fixtures and gives the brand a platform to spotlight established pairings and introduce new combinations. With teams from WWE, NXT-associated talent, and AAA included in the announced lineup, the lack of a TNA team naturally led to speculation about whether the crossover relationship had changed.
Nemeth did not frame the omission as a sign that the connection has ended or that either side has moved away from future collaboration. Instead, he emphasized that a cross-promotional appearance needs an appropriate creative and logistical opening. In his view, being left out of one tournament does not erase what has already happened between the promotions or rule out further interactions.
“It would be nice to see it replicated,” Nemeth said, referring to prior exchanges between the companies. “But, of course, it’s not always the time and place for it.”
Past TNA-NXT exchanges created meaningful exposure
Nemeth reflected on the periods in which talent moved back and forth more frequently between TNA and NXT. He noted that NXT wrestlers received opportunities to gain television experience through appearances with TNA, while TNA performers also showed up on NXT programming. The arrangement, he said, was useful for newer wrestlers seeking experience in front of larger audiences and for established talent looking to broaden their visibility.
He described stretches where performers from both sides were appearing across the respective promotions, while some names also made their way to WWE’s Raw and SmackDown. That broader exposure created notable moments for wrestlers including Leon Slater and Joe Hendry during Hendry’s time with TNA.
Nemeth specifically cited the value of allowing developing performers to get meaningful reps. Television time, unfamiliar opponents, and different audience environments can all serve as important parts of a wrestler’s growth. From his perspective, the exchange was not merely about surprise cameos; it provided a tangible opportunity for talent to develop and for viewers to become familiar with performers they may not normally see.
That history is why Nemeth remains optimistic about the relationship’s long-term possibilities. Rather than treating the Dusty Classic lineup as a final statement, he suggested that the kinds of moments fans have seen before can return when the circumstances align.
“All of those moments can still happen, and they will when the time is right,” Nemeth said.
A champion’s perspective on a potential NXT appearance
Nemeth also drew a distinction between wanting TNA represented in NXT and wanting to personally enter the Dusty Classic right now. As both a world champion and a tag team champion, he said an NXT run is not something he is presently pursuing. His comments indicate that he sees a difference between a mutually beneficial crossover and simply making an appearance because a partnership exists.
That position leaves the door open for other TNA wrestlers to potentially benefit from the connection. A tag tournament could be a natural setting for a visiting team, but it also requires that the participants, championship commitments, and storyline direction all align. Nemeth’s response was measured: representation would be welcome, but a crossover should serve a purpose rather than happen solely to fill a space in a lineup.
“I’m super busy right now, and I’m not interested in doing NXT as the world champion and tag team champion,” Nemeth said. “But… down the line, I would love to see more of an interaction if we continue that relationship.”
The remarks are notable because Nemeth is speaking as someone whose status gives his appearances added weight. A reigning champion crossing into another promotion can generate immediate attention, but it can also require careful planning to ensure the appearance protects the importance of the titles and the wrestler’s primary commitments. Nemeth did not close the door on appearing in NXT; he simply said it is not his focus at the present time.
Cruz Montana offered as an example of crossover value
To illustrate why he believes the partnership has been productive, Nemeth pointed to Cruz Montana. He said Montana appeared in NXT before later showing up there again, helping establish familiarity with the audience. In Nemeth’s view, those earlier appearances gave viewers a reason to respond when Montana was subsequently presented through a vignette and positioned as a wrestler arriving to make an impact.
Nemeth explained that repeated exposure can help create an emotional reaction. Rather than asking viewers to immediately invest in an entirely unfamiliar performer, a promotion can build recognition through earlier appearances. The effect is especially valuable for emerging names, who often need time and multiple touchpoints before an audience understands who they are and why they matter.
His praise for Montana also underlined the developmental side of the TNA-NXT connection. For Nemeth, the partnership has helped young wrestlers gain chances they might not otherwise receive, while TNA viewers have also been able to see NXT talent in different settings. That two-way benefit is why he called the relationship positive and expressed hope that it has been equally valuable on the WWE side.
“It’s been really positive for us,” Nemeth said. “Hopefully it’s been as positive for them, and I would like to see more in the future.”
No TNA team in this field, but no dismissal of future possibilities
The announced Dusty Tag Team Classic field will move forward without TNA participants, at least based on the names revealed on September 20. Nemeth’s comments, however, offer little support for the idea that the omission should be read as a rejection of future crossover plans.
Instead, he presented a practical case for patience. Not every event will be the correct vehicle for a TNA appearance. Not every TNA champion will have the availability or interest to step into NXT at a particular moment. But the prior exchanges have shown that there can be value in giving performers from both rosters the chance to work in front of different audiences.
For fans hoping to see the relationship continue, Nemeth’s outlook is encouraging even if it does not provide a specific date, team, or event for the next crossover. He would have liked to see TNA represented in the Dusty Classic, particularly given the existing partnership, but he does not view the tournament’s field as the final word.
The current TNA Tag Team Champion sees more potential ahead, especially if future appearances can once again give younger wrestlers valuable experience, create fresh television moments, and introduce talent to audiences that may not have encountered them before. For now, the Dusty Tag Team Classic will not include a TNA pairing, but Nemeth’s position is that the door remains open when the right opportunity arrives.
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.