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Adam Cole became the latest big name in wrestling to make headlines with news of him becoming a free agent later this month. Wrestling Inc. first reported that the former NXT Champion's contract is set to expire after Summerslam this year. This came as a surprise to many fans, but it also apparently surprised WWE as well.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select then updated that the company believed his contract expired in December this year, but it instead expired in June after the Great American Bash. The deal was extended past this year's Summerslam, so both sides could reevaluate things. This makes for quite an interesting scenario off the heels of both CM Punk and Daniel Bryan potentially joining AEW.
Adam Cole's girlfriend Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. is the current AEW Women's World Champion. Some of his best friends in the business are the company's EVPs. All of this could open the door to the WWE Superstar being the latest to join All Elite Wrestling.
In this article, let's take a look at five dream matches for Adam Cole in AEW.
#5. Adam Cole vs. Jungle Boy
One of the main reasons why many fans believe Adam Cole may leave WWE is because the only thing left for him to do in NXT is move up to the main roster. A jump to RAW or SmackDown makes everyone skeptical of his chances. This is because Vince McMahon is not known for pushing NXT call-ups well with NXT Champion Karrion Kross being the latest example.
McMahon also doesn't have the best track record with superstars of a smaller stature like Adam Cole. When looking at AEW, there are a few competitors who have seen new heights of success in their career with the company despite not being the biggest superstars. A lot of these stars are also very young in their careers, with Jungle Boy being among the most popular.
The Jurassic Express member has been viewed as one of the best up-and-coming stars in wrestling. His AEW World Championship Match against Kenny Omega on the June 26th AEW Dynamite episode showed that he has big time potential to be a future main eventer for the promotion. A feud and encounter with Adam Cole could only further his development.
Their in-ring styles are quite similar as well. Although they are of a smaller build, both men possess technical wrestling ability as well as a good amount of agility. They could gel very well with one another. Adam Cole is also an excellent promo and could help Jungle Boy on that end of his game. This has huge upside for the growth of Jungle Boy could be a nice introduction for Cole in AEW.
#4. Adam Cole vs. Darby Allin
Speaking of young stars for Adam Cole to face in AEW, Darby Allin is one who has been in the headlines himself. His promo for AEW Fight For The Fallen 2021 caused many to speculate whether he would be the first opponent for CM Punk in All Elite Wrestling following him saying "the best in the world." With Allin saying that he wasn't referring to Punk, could he be referencing another free agent?
Darby Allin is another competitor who probably wouldn't get the same success that he has achieved in AEW in WWE. The former TNT Champion has worked with top stars in the promotion such as Cody Rhodes and Jon Moxley. A feud with Adam Cole would bring lofty expectations based on both men's individual history.
Cole has worked extremely well with superstars of similar stature to him, both on the independent scene and during his time with WWE NXT. His best matches against the likes of Johnny Gargano and Kyle O'Reilly stand as the best in all of WWE in that period. Meanwhile, Darby Allin has had bangers on Dynamite against Jungle Boy and John Silver for the TNT Championship.
Adam Cole's style has created wonderful moments with high flyers similar to Darby Allin. Cole's superkick to a moonsault-ing Ricochet at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV is one of the coolest spots many fans have ever seen. He could potentially catch a Coffin Drop-ing Darby Allin with a superkick as well.
Darby Allin is at home in more extreme situations, as seen in the Coffin Match vs. Ethan Page most recently. Adam Cole is another star who has delivered in these types of encounters, coming from his upbringing in CZW. These two men would put on a phenomenal No Disqualification Match. Cole and Allin just seem like a match made in heaven, or hell for that matter.
#3. Adam Cole vs. Chris Jericho
Adam Cole has plenty of history with a multitude of top stars in AEW from his time in PWG, NJPW and WWE NXT. However, arguably the biggest acquisition for All Elite Wrestling is someone who hasn't crossed paths with Adam Cole: Chris Jericho. The first ever AEW World Champion has been very consistent in working with individuals that he has never feuded with before in the promotion.
Chris Jericho has spent the last year in AEW feuding with MJF and Orange Cassidy. Both new stars to mainstream wrestling fans over the past decade have gained a lot from working with Le Champion. Adam Cole has accomplished quite a bit during his time with WWE. However, he has never worked with the top stars on the main roster despite a brief run before Survivor Series 2019.
Chris Jericho has to be considered one of the greatest promo guys in the history of the business. Regardless of the character he plays, Jericho has always been able to articulate his intentions and issues with other characters. When he has been against equally talented talkers, it has brought the best out of Jericho. From The Rock to CM Punk, he knows when to step up his game.
Adam Cole has developed into an exceptional promo guy over the course of his career. Chris Jericho may present his biggest challenge in being someone who could quite possibly better him on the mic. Cole is also a top notch worker that can hide the weaknesses that Jericho now has at his age. This could be a career-defining feud for Cole in many ways due to Jericho's legacy.
#2. Adam Cole vs. Hangman Page
As previously mentioned, Adam Cole has a lot of history with several members of the AEW roster. His time in NJPW led to his introduction into the Bullet Club stable. Cole has long been friends with The Young Bucks, with the three men being apart of the Mount Rushmore faction at PWG. The group was a natural progression to the Bullet Club.
The three men also brought Hangman Page into the group. The former AEW World Tag Team Champion was very young and hadn't accomplished much yet in wrestling. His introduction into the Bullet Club brought more success to his career than ever before. He became a star during his recurring role on the Being The Elite series.
Before Adam Cole's arrival to WWE, The Bullet Club and The Young Bucks made an emphatic split from Adam Cole with Matt and Nick Jackson delivering a superkick to their former friend. One of Cole's final opponents before leaving for WWE NXT was against Hangman Page. However, Page and Cole are very different now compared to then.
Adam Cole has gone on to become the longest reigning NXT Champion in the history of the brand, while Hangman Page is arguably the most popular star in all of AEW. Both have seen their careers soar to new heights and have achieved more in their time apart. The two Adams would now make for perfect opponents inside the squared circle.
With Adam Cole looking to get revenge on The Elite for the way that he was treated before leaving for WWE, he could aim his vengeance towards Hangman Page. Whereas the Young Bucks made their decision, Page didn't have to stand with them and could have sided with Cole, especially considering where his relationship with The Elite led to.
The cocky Adam Cole could point out all the flaws in the millennial anxious cowboy. Hangman Page has experienced plenty of setbacks in his time at AEW, most recently losing his Number One Contendership for the AEW World Championship. Cole could present yet another hurdle for Page to overcome in his journey to the top prize.
#1. Adam Cole vs. Kenny Omega
The aforementioned alliance with Adam Cole and The Young Bucks also affected all three men's relationship with Kenny Omega. Cole's entrance into the Bullet Club created a battle of alpha males between him and Omega that became a central storyline on Being The Elite. Whether it was for the affection of the Jackson brothers or in karaoke, it seemed Cole and Omega were always at odds.
There were many teases at a potential Adam Cole vs. Kenny Omega showdown that inevitably were never paid off. Due to Cole leaving for WWE, no promotion was ever able to book this dream match. The battle for Bullet Club supremacy was then shifted to Kenny Omega vs. Cody Rhodes, but a Cole exit from WWE would give AEW the opportunity to open that door once again.
Adam Cole has always been the leader of most of the stables that he was a part of. Cole led the Undisputed Era to dominance in WWE NXT. Becoming the longest reigning NXT Champion in the brand's history, the WWE superstar prophesied that his stable would win all the gold and they did just that. Many fans might not be aware that this wasn't his only successful faction.
At PWG, Adam Cole was apart of the Mount Rushmore stable that also featured Kevin Owens and the Young Bucks. This allowed Cole to become the PWG World Champion. The Bullet Club was the only group where he didn't have an outright leadership position.
The friction between Omega and Cole came from this. Kenny Omega was the clear leader of the Bullet Club after excommunicating AJ Styles from the stable on his way to WWE.
In similar fashion, Omega ordered a hit on Adam Cole, which led to The Young Bucks giving their former friend his superkick exit from the group. They also gave Cole a poisoned Monster energy drink that killed him off on BTE.
In addition to this lengthy history of animosity, Kenny Omega and Adam Cole are two of the most successful stars in wrestling right now. Not only did Cole win the NXT Championship, he was also only the second man to win the triple crown on the brand, winning the NXT North American Championship and holding the NXT Tag Team Championships.
Meanwhile, Kenny Omega has won the top prize in NJPW, IMPACT Wrestling, AAA and AEW. He is currently called 'The Belt Collector', holding the AAA Mega, IMPACT World and AEW World Championships.
Adam Cole could come for Omega's spot at the top of All Elite Wrestling. He could even bring up the fact that he feels The Cleaner has also feared him, thus why they have been at odds.
With this matchup, you have two of the most decorated and accomplished in-ring competitors of their generation. They are also excellent promo guys that can properly build this up as the high profile encounter it deserves to be. This is why Kenny Omega is the biggest and best dream match for Adam Cole in AEW.
