We’re up to the Quarter Finals of the 2021 Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and things are getting very interesting indeed. Tonight, we see Roderick Strong & Adam Cole of The Undisputed Era take on Timothy Thatcher & Tommaso Ciampa. Undisputed Era have beaten Breezango, while the thrown together team of Ciampa & Thatcher have beaten Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari. Whoever wins this one might be the favorite to win this entire side of the bracket.
Adam Cole & Roderick Strong Start Hot
Ciampa would start with an old rival in Cole, and quickly take him down to the mat. Cole would have to counter an early Fairytale Ending, before dodging some knee strikes and tagging in Strong. Strong was met by Thatcher, and they’d show they’re both experts on the mat.
When they got back to their feet, Strong won the strike exchange with a dropkick before taking Thatcher into the corner. The Undisputed Era lost control of Thatcher, who got Ciampa back into the match. A major brawl broke out as we went to a commercial break.
Through picture-in-picture, Ciampa made a comeback off a stunner onto the ropes. Thatcher tagged back in, and went to work on a downed Strong with a tight chinlock. A surfboard stretch punished the back of Strong, before leaning him down into a pinfall for two.
Ciampa tagged back in, and dropped Strong with a big forearm to the head. Thatcher tagged in, and went for the ground & pound before looking for the armbar. Strong was able to escape, but got locked up once again. A superplex after breaking out of a top rope choke hold let Strong get free, and we were back to Cole & Ciampa.
Tommaso Ciampa & Timothy Thatcher Work Things Out
Cole was on fire with a big pump kick to Thatcher & the Backstabber to Ciampa. Ciampa fought free of the neckbreaker, before taking an enziguri and the knee drop brainbuster. Cole wanted the Figure Four, but Ciampa got the tag to Thatcher instead. Thatcher would be put in the Figure Four, Strong got Ciampa with the Strong Hold, but broke free and saved Thatcher.
Strong was tagged in, and dropped with an open palm blow from Thatcher and a German Suplex. Ciampa hit a German Suplex of his own, and Thatcher set up a third, throwing Strong and setting up the knee strike from Ciampa, but Cole broke the pin up.
Ciampa set up Fairytale Ending, but Strong instead got the Angle Slam and tagged Cole in. Cole hit a superkick as Strong got the high knee, but Ciampa kicked out at two. Strong hit a suplex to set up the Last Shot from Cole, but Thatcher pulled Cole out of the ring.
Thatcher took Cole out, and Strong made his way out of the ring to help his partner. Strong made his way back into the ring, took the Willows Bell, and Ciampa gets the pin! Thatcher & Ciampa move to the semi-finals, where they will face Grizzled Young Veterans.
Ciampa & Cole are underrated as rivals in NXT, with their chemistry being incredible. Add in some hard hitting action from Strong & Thatcher, and this was a great addition to the storied history of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Match Rating: 3.5/5 (*** ½)
Can Thatcher & Ciampa win this tournament? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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