WWE NXT Results: Austin Theory & Johnny Gargano vs. Leon Ruff & KUSHIDA [Dusty Classic Match]

For months now, Austin Theory has been helping out Johnny Gargano. From helping him defeat Damien Priest at Halloween Havoc, and helping him regain the NXT North American Championship from Leon Ruff, he’s paid off big for Gargano. Now Gargano looks to give Theory an accolade in WWE, by teaming up for the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic.

However, their first challenge is KUSHIDA & Leon Ruff. They’re aware of how Ruff can be dangerous, but few have seen KUSHIDA’s full potential in NXT yet. Will things go the Gargano Way, or is Gargano in for another Ruff night?

Which Way Will This One Go?

Leon Ruff would start alongside Austin Theory, and get thrown across the ring with ease. Crowd was behind Ruff, who nabbed a headlock but was shoved off into a shoulder tackle. Theory got tripped up and hit with a dropkick, only to come back by catching Ruff on his shoulders. Ruff tried to hit the Crucifix Bomb, but was countered.

KUSHIDA would be tagged in, and instantly pick Theory apart with ease. The armbar would be applied, and Theory had to stomp the foot and fling KUSHIDA head first into the mat before tagging in Gargano. Gargano would stomp a mudhole in KUSHIDA, before taking time to gloat and KUSHIDA got moving.

Some forearms to the face stunned Gargano, who retreated to his corner to tag in Theory who got a big rolling dropkick on KUSHIDA. Theory got some submission offense on KUSHIDA, before tagging in Gargano for a double back elbow into a no look high five. That’s some serious chemistry.

Johnny Gargano & Austin Theory Have Complete Control

Gargano got a snapmare into a kick to the neck of KUSHIDA, before Theory came in for a big suplex. KUSHIDA countered the suplex, and tagged in a fresh Leon Ruff who dove in with a dropkick. He’d chop Theory down with kicks, before landing in position on the shoulders for a Blue Thunder Bomb.

Ruff was now the one isolated, and The Way was running away with this match. Quick tags in and out and cutting the ring in half is tag team wrestling 101, and Gargano knows this from his time in #DIY. Add in Ruff being no match for the power of Theory, and it was easy to tell that Ruff didn’t get much offense during the picture in picture break.

Coming back from the break, Ruff took a neckbreaker for a near fall. He’d finally find an opening when he managed to kick Theory in the face, and almost got the tag before KUSHIDA was yanked off the apron by Gargano. A backbreaker neckbreaker combo got a two count on Ruff, before Theory went for a powerbomb.

KUSHIDA Shuts The Champion Down

Ruff managed to counter and get on the ropes, and hit the leaping cutter and finally tagged KUSHIDA back into the match. KUSHIDA was feral in his attack on Gargano, and Theory couldn’t do much to stop him as he set up a tornado DDT on the floor. Back in the ring, Gargano dodged the arm kick and got the rolling kick, before being locked in the cross armbreaker, Theory having to save the match.

A rolling forearm would be absorbed by Gargano, before Theory tagged in and hit a fisherman buster to the knee. We almost saw Gargano hit a #DIY superkick in the middle of the ring, before Ruff ran the interference.

KUSHIDA would hit the hip-toss and cartwheel dropkick combo, before hitting a hammerlock assisted northern lights suplex to pin the NXT North American Champion!!

Austin Theory & Leon Ruff in this match were really good, but Gargano & KUSHIDA are downright excellent. That’s clearly a planned match for the next NXT Takeover event, and it might be a match of the year contender. This was another solid addition to the legacy of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Match Rating: 3.55/5 (*** 1/2)

KUSHIDA & Leon Ruff will take on Grizzled Young Veterans next, will they be able to keep winning? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.

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