5 things you need to know about Adam Cole

One of the biggest names in the wrestling world outside WWE is former three-time Ring of Honor world champion, Adam Cole.

The 28-year-old, nine-year veteran of the ring has put on exciting and interesting matches throughout his career, whether it was against Kyle O'Reilly, Jay Briscoe or Jay Lethal. Cole has continued to put on outstanding match after match, always featuring exceptional storytelling.

He has always appeared to be someone that does what is best for business, and what best serves the story being told in the ring. This was no more evident than his losses to Jay Briscoe and Christopher Daniels.

However, with freedom comes new opportunities. One of the biggest areas of discussion about Cole is a possible signing with WWE. Will it happen? Only time will tell for sure, but if or when it does happen fans will certainly be in for something special.

Here are five things you need to know about Adam Cole.

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#5 He had previous tryouts with the WWE

With each try out, Cole gained more confidence and developed his skillset along the way

It would be easy to suggest that Adam Cole's potential arrival in WWE is because of what he previously achieved. However, what isn't cited is that he had previous tryouts, with the company. Cole's early training in wrestling came under the Wild Samoans, developing his craft and earning a name for himself.

It was also at this time where he considered just how much competing for WWE meant to him, though he was not hired by the company at that time.

In 2013, he tried out for what was known then as Florida Championship Wrestling, the WWE developmental territory. This was while he was living in Florida and training at Afa the Wild Samoan's school.

Unfortunately, things didn't work out for him, but that in no way deterred the young Cole, as he continued to work at his craft, develop his character, leading to him capturing the Ring of Honor World Championship. By his own admission, he wasn't ready at the time for what was expected, of him. However, that was then and this is now.

#4 He was aligned with the Young Bucks before Bullet Club

Along with the Jacksons and Kevin Owens (Steen), Cole made up the faction known as the Mount Rushmore of Wrestling

Before he was part of the Super Kliq within Bullet Club, Adam Cole and the Young Bucks established a friendship and working relationship outside the formidable faction. In fact, their time together goes beyond Ring of Honor; while working together for the independent promotion Pro Wrestling Guerrilla in California, Cole, Matt and Nick Jackson, and former WWE Universal champion Kevin Steen (Owens) were collectively known as the Mount Rushmore of Wrestling.

Owens and Cole are the best of friends outside of wrestling and have been spotted hanging out with each other on various occasions.

The faction managed to be cross promotional, and during this time together they faced the likes of Chris Hero, Johnny Gargano, and Candice LaRae. Cole later formed a faction alongside Roderick Strong, Super Dragon and both the Jacksons, in what was known as Mount Rushmore 2.0.

This working relationship came to an end once he was unceremoniously excommunicated from Bullet Club.

#3 He was inspired by arguably the greatest wrestler of all-time

Michaels revolutionised the sport and it certainly played a huge role in Cole's career

When you compete in both North America and Japan it is fair to say that you have faced the best the world has to offer. However, no matter whom you have faced, there will always be someone somewhere that you looked to, someone that influenced you in the sport you love.

For Adam Cole, one notable influence is someone that is arguably the greatest wrestler/sports entertainer to ever lace up a pair of boots, someone who is a former World, Intercontinental, European and tag team champion and a WWE Hall of Famer.

Shawn Michaels is noted to have had one five-star after another during his career. For Cole, Michaels was not only an exceptional wrestler but an inspiration, whether it was his delivery of promos or his performance in the ring telling compelling stories.

Could he eventually follow Michaels’ career path to WWE? Only time will tell for sure.

#2 A current WWE backstage talent referred to him as the next Tully Blanchard

Corino called Cole the next Tully Blanchard -- an enormous compliment for the former Ring of Honor champion Cole

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to speak with current NXT trainer Steve Corino before a Ring of Honor pay-per-view. During the interview, I posed the question of who he feels could be the next Tully Blanchard, as Corino himself was once compared to that famed member of the Four Horsemen.

Here, was Corino's initial response to the question: "I would say to compare somebody to Tully Blanchard today, it is Adam Cole. He's got that natural cockiness to him that radiates. Unlike Tully back in the 1980s, and remember it was a different world where you just wanted to hate him, Adam Cole's become that guy that has become so cocky he's cool, and you want to be like him”.

When Cole was made aware of the comparison, this was what he said: “Well first of all, as far as getting a compliment like that, that's a double-edged sword, or double whammy, as far as a compliment goes because not only am I being compared to one of the all-time greats, but I'm being compared by one of the all-time greats himself that being Steve Corino..”

Cole thought of himself as being closer to the likes of Shawn Michaels or CM Punk during his time in Ring of Honor. Both were important influences on him in the ring, and he tried to pattern himself after them in the ring and on the microphone. However, the Blanchard comparison is still out there.

#1 He loved working with a former WWE manager

Despite what some have felt about Cornette, Cole loved working with him

Former WWE manager, colour commentator, and behind-the-scenes writer, Jim Cornette, has been many things to many people. While he has recently had his share of run-ins on social media with the likes of Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, along with a checkered past with Kevin Owens, Adam Cole's relationship with him is different.

Cole began with Ring of Honor when Cornette was the booker for the promotion and loved working with him. He said he felt he owed Cornette because it was Cornette that signed him to Ring of Honor.

Cole recalls that Cornette was paying attention to what he was doing and watching his matches, and that led him to be signed by the promotion. In fact, Cole was competing in dark matches for Ring of Honor for about a year, and after Cornette watched a pre-show promo, he encouraged anyone that would listen to stop and pay attention to Cole's mic work.

At the end of that day, Cole was offered a contract by Ring of Honor, which was the start of his career with the promotion.