Editor’s note: Additional details were added by Dave Meltzer
The Cruiserweight Classic finale won’t be the last we’ve seen of Kota Ibushi in WWE.
WWE announced on Thursday afternoon that Hideo Itami would be teaming with Ibushi in the second annual Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.
Ibushi has always been up for working dates in WWE but at least up to this point had not wanted to sign a full-time deal as he had things he still wanted to do in Japan. NXT has shown in the past they are willing to use people for attention even if they aren’t signed full-time, so this is not necessarily an indication Ibushi has been signed, although WWE has been wanting him for some time.
In addition to Itami and Ibushi, NXT Tag Team Champions The Revival, Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa, Andrade “Cien” Almas and Cedric Alexander, Bobby Roode and Tye Dillinger, and Tino Sabbatelli and Riddick Moss were officially announced for the tournament. The full field will consist of 16 teams, and WWE.com will reveal participants each day until it begins on NXT TV.
It was announced at NXT’s latest TV tapings earlier this month that the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic would return for a second consecutive year. The announcement aired on television last night, with William Regal introducing the tournament.
The tournament will conclude at NXT TakeOver: Toronto on November 19th.
Finn Balor and Samoa Joe defeated Rhyno and Baron Corbin in the finals of last year’s inaugural Dusty Classic before beginning their lengthy rivalry over the NXT Championship.