Dusty Classic matches, battle royal for Women’s title shot set for NXT

A battle royal will decide Rhea Ripley’s challenger for NXT TakeOver: Portland.

WWE has announced that a number one contender’s battle royal will take place on NXT next Wednesday, with the winner going on to challenge Ripley for the NXT Women’s Championship at TakeOver: Portland. The Moda Center in Portland, Oregon is hosting the TakeOver special on Sunday, February 16.

Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green, Dakota Kai, Vanessa Borne, Kayden Carter, Mia Yim, Santana Garrett, Io Shirai, Shotzi Blackheart, and Xia Li have been confirmed for the battle royal.

After Yim defeated Carter on tonight’s NXT, Green appeared and knocked both down. Robert Stone (formerly known as Robbie E in Impact Wrestling) then announced Green as part of the Robert Stone Brand.

Ripley became the NXT Women’s Champion by defeating Shayna Baszler for the title three weeks ago.

Ripley kicked off tonight’s NXT and was interrupted by Toni Storm, who challenged Ripley for Worlds Collide on January 25. The segment led to NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray, Shirai, Belair, and LeRae all coming down to the ring. Ripley, Storm & LeRae then defeated Belair, Shirai & KLR after dissension between Belair and Shirai.

The first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic will also conclude on next week’s NXT. Kushida & Alex Shelley will face The Grizzled Young Veterans, and Matt Riddle & Pete Dunne will take on Mark Andrews & Flash Morgan Webster.

NXT Tag Team Champions The Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish) defeated NXT UK Tag Team Champions Gallus (Mark Coffey & Wolfgang) and Imperium (Marcel Barthel & Fabian Aichner) defeated The Forgotten Sons (Wesley Blake & Steve Cutler) in Dusty Classic first round matches tonight. 

O’Reilly & Fish will face either Kushida & Shelley or Gibson & Drake in the semifinals. Barthel & Aichner will face either Riddle & Dunne or Andrews & Webster.