Highlights

• Cody Rhodes announced two major tournaments that will shape the future of NXT, including the Men's NXT Breakout Tournament and the return of the Dusty Classic.
• Rhodes took on the role of special guest GM and sanctioned a massive NXT Championship match between Ilya Dragunov and Dominik Mysterio, sending shockwaves through the NXT universe.
• To maintain order, Rhodes appointed LA Knight as the special guest referee, ensuring a fair and enthralling contest for the fans to enjoy on Judgment Day.

In an electrifying start to NXT, Cody Rhodes set the stage on fire by unveiling two major tournaments that are set to dictate the narratives in the promotion over the next number of shows. Frankly, his announcements will affect most of the NXT roster. But, he added a couple of additional announcements that were set to shake up the rest of a jam-packed episode.

The first announcement revealed that following the exhilarating NXT Women's Breakout Tournament, Cody dropped a bombshell by declaring the imminent arrival of the Men's NXT Breakout Tournament, promising a surge of new talents ready to make their mark. No participants were named. But the surprises didn’t end there. Rhodes, with an air of authority, revealed the return of the Dusty Classic, marking its comeback in the tag team division. This announcement stirred excitement among fans, as the classic had been conspicuously absent since Cody’s tenure in WWE. It was the one announcement most fans saw coming when Cody was announced to appear on the show.

He then said he was taking on the role of the special guest GM for the night (appointed by Shawn Michaels). With the authority to do so, Rhodes then orchestrated another momentous development. With NXT champion Ilya Dragunov and Dominik Mysterio in the ring, he officially sanctioned a colossal NXT Championship match scheduled for later in the evening. The prospect of these two exceptional athletes clashing for the prestigious title sent shockwaves throughout the NXT universe.

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Knowing things could get out of hand if Judgment Day showed up, in a strategic move to maintain order, Rhodes strategically appointed the charismatic LA Knight as the special guest referee for the imminent championship bout. With Knight's presence, the NXT faithful can anticipate a fair and enthralling contest, ensuring that Judgment Day remains untainted by outside interference.

This Was a Crazy And Entertaining Way to Begin a Stacked Show

The NXT arena buzzed with anticipation as Cody Rhodes, with his masterful strokes, laid the groundwork for an unforgettable night of wrestling action, promising a future teeming with excitement, surprises, and unforgettable moments for the NXT universe to enjoy over the next few weeks.