WWE NXT returns to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with a card centered on tag team competition. The show is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. ET and will air on The CW Network in the United States, while international viewers can watch through Netflix.
The announced lineup features the start of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, one of NXT's most recognizable annual tournament traditions. A separate women’s tag team match will see Kelani Jordan join forces with Zaria against La Catalina and Thea Hail.
With both advertised bouts built around pairings rather than singles competition, this episode offers a significant opportunity for the teams involved to establish chemistry, gain momentum, and make a stronger case for their place in NXT’s evolving tag team landscape.
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Gets Underway
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic begins on this episode of NXT, bringing tournament stakes to the Performance Center. The tournament has long carried special meaning within WWE’s developmental brand, serving as a tribute to Dusty Rhodes and as a showcase for rising teams looking to break through.
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Zilla Fatu, Sean Legacy, and Dorian Van Dux are announced for action against BirthRight as the classic opens. The listed match presents a major early test for everyone involved, particularly because tournament settings can rapidly change how a team or alliance is viewed. A strong first performance can create momentum that carries through the bracket, while an early loss can end a team’s run before it has a chance to develop.
Fatu, Legacy, and Van Dux will be looking to make an immediate impression in a match connected to the Dusty Rhodes name. Tournament competition often places an even greater emphasis on cohesion, timing, and the ability to adapt under pressure. The opening night does not decide the entire classic, but it can establish which competitors are prepared for the demands of a sustained tournament run.
BirthRight, meanwhile, enter with the chance to stop that momentum before it starts. The group’s involvement gives the opening of the tournament an important obstacle for their opponents. A win at the beginning of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic would put BirthRight in a favorable position and ensure that they become a central part of the tournament conversation from the first night.
The exact path through the classic will develop as NXT reveals more of the tournament field and its bracket. For now, the September 22 show represents the beginning of a fresh race for the competitors involved. The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic has historically provided a platform for partnerships to take a meaningful step forward, and the opening match will set the initial tone for this year’s edition.
Kelani Jordan and Zaria Face La Catalina and Thea Hail
The women’s division will also be featured in tag team action when Kelani Jordan and Zaria meet La Catalina and Thea Hail. The match places four distinct competitors into a format where communication can be every bit as important as individual athleticism.
Jordan and Zaria have the task of finding a productive rhythm as a unit. Tag team bouts require competitors to manage the ring, capitalize on openings, and prevent the opposing side from isolating one partner. Even when two wrestlers bring considerable individual ability into a match, the challenge is translating that ability into a coordinated approach.
Across the ring, La Catalina and Hail will have the same goal: turn their pairing into an advantage and secure a notable victory. Hail’s presence adds another layer of intrigue to the match, while La Catalina has an opportunity to make an impact alongside her partner in a featured bout on NXT television.
There is no championship stipulation attached to the match, but the stakes remain meaningful. The NXT women’s division is always competitive, and victories in featured television matches can help shape who receives greater opportunities in the weeks ahead. A decisive win would give either duo momentum, while a loss could prompt questions about whether the partnership can remain effective.
The matchup also continues a busy night for NXT’s women’s roster. Tag matches can create unexpected rivalries and alliances, especially when four competitors with their own ambitions are required to share the spotlight. Whether Jordan and Zaria can quickly operate as a unified team, or whether La Catalina and Hail prove to be the more effective combination, will be a key question entering the broadcast.
A Tag Team-Focused Night at the Performance Center
Two announced matches may not tell the entire story of an NXT episode, but the current lineup gives the September 22 edition a clear identity. Both bouts depend on partnerships, and the start of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic puts a tournament spotlight on NXT’s tag team scene.
For the wrestlers participating in the classic, the pressure is heightened by the format itself. Tournament matches do not simply create a single-night result; they determine who advances and who is left waiting for another opportunity. Each round makes momentum increasingly valuable, so the opening contest will be watched closely for signs of which side is ready to handle that pressure.
For Jordan, Zaria, La Catalina, and Hail, the immediate objective is different but no less important. Their bout is an opportunity to demonstrate who can thrive in a team environment and who can seize control when the action becomes unpredictable. In a division where a major win can change a competitor’s direction, every advantage matters.
The WWE Performance Center remains the setting for the episode, with the Orlando crowd set to witness the latest chapter in NXT programming. The intimate environment can amplify the energy around a tournament opener, especially when competitors are trying to establish themselves from the opening bell.
How to Watch WWE NXT on September 22
- Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026
- Start time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: WWE Performance Center
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- United States broadcast: The CW Network
- International viewing: Netflix
Announced WWE NXT Lineup
- Kelani Jordan and Zaria vs. La Catalina and Thea Hail
- Zilla Fatu, Sean Legacy, and Dorian Van Dux vs. BirthRight in Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic action
The Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic opening and the women’s tag team showdown are the announced focal points heading into NXT. With the tournament beginning and multiple competitors aiming to establish momentum, the September 22 broadcast is positioned to deliver a consequential night of tag team wrestling from Orlando.
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.