WWE announced through a press release that Tommaso Ciampa and Timothy Thatcher will team up in the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. The pair will take the place of Ashante Thee Adonis and Desmond Troy to face Tony Nese and Ariya Daivari this Friday at 205 Live.
The latest episode of NXT, Adonis went head-to-head with Carrion Kross and was injured. His teammate Desmond Troy tried to help him but ended up getting hit by Kross. They were not allowed to compete in the tournament by the WWE medical team and their position was vacated.
On the other hand, Ciampa and Thatcher have been starring in a rivalry for weeks. They recently faced each other in a Fight Pit Match, where Black Heart managed to make his rival perform by making a leg lock. After the fight Ciampa approached Timothy in the parking lot and they both showed respect towards each other. The former NXT champion told him about the vacancy available at the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and hours later, General Manager William Regal announced that they would fill that spot.
Along with the last fight of the first round of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, 205 Live will have a women’s fight for the first time in its history. Rookies Gigi Dolin (Priscilla Kelly) and Cora Jade Elayna Black will face The Way a duo of Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell as part of the Dusty Rhodes Women’s Tag Team Classic.
Billboard 205 Live January 22, 2020
Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic
Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher vs. Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari
Dusty Rhodes Women’s Tag Team Classic
The Way (Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell) vs. Gigi Dolin & Cora Jade
