Over the past sixteen years Ring Of Honor has developed a reputation for showcasing the future of pro wrestling prior to them becoming mainstream names. Examples of these man Included the likes of Bryan Danielson, Seth Rollins, Samoa Joe, and many more. But one thing that is in common with these performers Is that they were already somewhat well established on the independent wrestling scene, so ROH Had yet to make a true homegrown talent. That was until Adam Cole walked through the door, this is his story!
Chapter 1 Future Shock and early performances
( Adam Cole ) pictured right and (Kyle O Riley) pictured left.
When Adam Cole initially made his ROH debut at the young age of 20, he was quite the blue chipper prospect with a combination of boy next door looks and unparalleled athleticism. Yet he was still having a hard time connecting with the traditionally rabid and excitable ROH fanbase.
Which is why the decision was made to pair him with fellow newcomer Kyle O Riley, to try to hit the reset button and get both men over as major acts in the summer of 2010. That idea turned out to be an extremely successful one as both men raised their stock with incredible tag team performances against the likes of the Kings Of Wrestling, The Briscoes, and many others! They also spent time in PWG and other various independents earning valuable pieces of experience and notoriety that would serve them both well in their careers.
I personally remember very vividly as a young boy really getting behind them as a team and enjoying their highflying antics infused with MMA strikes and submissions, because it was a unique combination the likes of which I had not seen yet in Pro Wrestling, However the best was yet to come.
Chapter 2 early singles run and breakout moments
( Adam Cole with the ROH Television championship pictured above )
However in the early months of 2012 cracks began to show in this formidable unit. As a result of both men choosing using different sides during the Davey Richards versus Eddie. Edwards program, Kyle went with his real-life training and sparring partner Davey Richards and Cole Went with Eddie.
During this time both men were given major main event opportunities they had yet to have been afforded in the early stages of their careers. Such as a Tag Team match between the two new alliances. Which ended with Adam Cole getting the biggest victory of his career as he got a pinfall over the World Champion Davey Richards. At ROHs tenth anniversary show.
Kyle was so jealous after that big victory that he turned on his former partner, putting the final nails into the coffin of this once promising duo. Fast forward a few months and it led to the biggest singles match of these to men’s careers, in what was known as hybrid fighting rules, which was a match type loosely inspired by MMA .
During said match Kyle busted open Adam for real causing his mouth to be engulfed in blood. ( pictured below )
This has been recognized in the years since as a very integral moment In his career. By both the man himself and various wrestling historians, because in his eyes it proved to the fans he could legitimately go and that he was more than just another guy on the roster. After pulling out the victory he was then given a much earned standing ovation which set the stage for him winning the television championship by defeating then champion Roderick strong later that summer.
In the process he had became the youngest man to ever hold the belt at age 22, a record which actually still stands today. During that reign he held the title for 246 days, not only raising his own profile but also raising the prestige of the championship to unprecedented heights, thanks to his great matches with the aforementioned Kyle O Riley, Matt Hardy and more, eventually losing the championship to Matt Taven in March of 2013.
Chapter 3 World Title win and eventual Heel turn.
Elsewhere on the ROH landscape, something happened that sent shockwaves throughout the entire company, that being the shoulder injury of the world champion Jay Briscoe, thus for the first time in the company ’s illustrious history the title was made vacant in the summer of 2013. A 16 man tournament was made official Featuring a extensive list of ROH greats. Throughout the tournament, there was a noticeable change in the demeanor of Adam Cole as he was slowly becoming more aggressive and deranged in his pursuit of championship gold. This all culminated when he won the championship in the finals of the tournament.
He was then presented the championship by the former champion Jay Briscoe as the two men shared a very respectful handshake almost as if it was the passing of the torch from one ROH legend to the next. But alas this great moment was tarnished when Adam Cole then kicked the former champion in the back of the head as he sneered at the crowd, a new era was born.
Gone was the once mild mannered and respectful young man we had become so accustomed to over the years, in its place was a arrogant and sly villain who used numerous underhanded tactics to get his way, the likes of which he had used to bemoan greatly. This was also the time period where the now infamous catchphrase of Adam Cole Bay Bay was created as he used it to rub his tainted wins into the faces of the ROH faithful.
Personally, for me, this was a very exciting time to be a fan of Adam Because I was getting to see him play a fresh role and in the process that opened up numerous avenues that I had originally deemed impossible. Over the next 9 months he held a iron grip on the prestigious championship getting victory’s over some of the top babyfaces in the company such as Chris Hero, Kevin Steen, Jushin thunder liger, among others.
However he finally met his match in June 2014 during ROHs first live televised PPV Best In The World, as he battled the popular fan favorite Michael Elgin, who was actually the same person he defeated in the finals of the aforementioned tournament in a brilliant piece of long term booking.
He was then defeated ending his reign at 275 days, but ever the opportunist he didn’t slow down with big money matches because he then found himself in a major rivalry with the recently returned AJ styles! When they eventually squared off in September 2014 they had what I personally believe was the 2014 match of the year as both men hit a variety of incredible moves telling a great story as both men pined for the ever important victory!
After proving himself as a world championship caliber star, he was given the chance to main event the equivalent of ROHs Wrestlemania Final Battle 2014. Against the very man that put him in this career path Jay Briscoe, in the rarely seen Fight Without Honor and the first to be contested for the ROH World Championship. He then lost the brutal and bloody matchup and breaking his shoulder in the process, leaving him out for 4 months in his first major career injury. However, knowing Adam we all knew it was only a matter of time till he bounced back…..
( Adam Cole with the NXT North America Championship )
After that fight without honor with Jay Briscoe, he then spent the next Five months using a wide variety of rehabilitation techniques making sure that he would be back to 100% sooner rather than later. During this time he was being paid by ROH management his full salary despite the shoulder injury making him miss previously scheduled appearances. But fast forward five months and he was ready to make his return.
Chapter 4 return from injury and early feuds
In early May 2015 Coles former rival AJ styles was being advertised for a matchup in which he would face a mystery opponent. To the shock of everyone Adam Cole was the mystery opponent and he proved that he had not lost a step in a competitive match with AJ rekindling their rivalry for a second go-around.
This had eventually lead to a faction clash between the members of Bullet Club the Young Bucks and AJ, Versus the kingdom of Cole Michael Bennett and Matt Taven. Which had all came to ahead at Best In The World 2015, when Adam just barely lost the bout for his team after being put in a three on one situation. Since Bennett and Taven were checking on their manager Maria Kanellis who was injured at ringside.
After these well documented issues, Cole had began teasing a reunion with his old future shock partner Kyle O Riley Who had been doing very well for himself in a new tag team known as Redragon with the veteran known as Bobby Fish amassing a total of 3 ring of honor World Tag Team championship reigns for a combined 672 Days!
Sadly that reunion was not meant to be because in September 2015 Adam Cole cost Kyle O Riley his world championship opportunity against Jay Lethal, citing the reason being that Kyle just wasn’t good enough to be world champ. He had eventually lost to Kyle in a street fight Wrestlemania weekend of 2016 putting a pause button on one of the promotions greatest rivalries. Whilst leaving Cole at a loss for how to get his career back on track.
Chapter 5 Bullet Club Rebirth.
( Adam Cole in the modern bullet club T shirt )
After the devastating loss to Kyle Adam stayed uncharacteristically quiet on social media, as well as not appearing for any ROH events afterward. Just waiting in the shadows for his moment to strike. That moment had arrived in conjunction with an announcement from his old friends The Young Bucks where they had revealed that at the event known as Global Wars a new bullet club member would be announced to replace AJ styles after he had previously left to join WWE earlier that year.
During a championship bout with Jay Lethal and Colt Cabana, Cole and The Young Bucks made their mark by destroying both men with vicious and lighting fast superkicks and weapon shots to the astonishment of the lively Chicago crowd. The message was clear Cole was back and he was ready to get back the championship he once held and by any means necessary!
As the months went on he continued to play mind games with Jay Lethal as an attempt to slowly chip away at the almost always calm champions psyche, using tactics such as consistently interfering in his World Title defenses causing the once prestigious championships lineage to be drowning in a violent chaotic frenzy.
In the end, those tactics had proven to be successful because at Death Before Dishonor 2016, Adam had done something that had not been done for over 14 months as he defeated Jay Lethal for the ROH World championship.
( Adam with the ROH world title in his second victory )
However, the celebration was short lived as his old nemesis Kyle O Riley returned and gave Adam a Brainbuster on the title showing him that he had not forgotten the vile acts that had been done to him over the years.
Chapter 6 Final Feuds in ROH and record setting accomplishment
by his own admission, Cole was more seasoned and prepared to lead the company as a top guy behind the scenes this time around. Using his combination of impressive ring skills and captivating promos as he slowly grew into the role of a top guy for the promotion once again!
However, on screen, he was still the obnoxious irritant that fans had loved to hate over the years and ducking opposition around every corner. But that would come to a momentary halt as he was defeated by his old foe Kyle O Riley for the championship in Final Battle 2016.
He would win the championship back one month later in a shocking upset at New Japan’s biggest event of the year WrestleKingdom. Becoming the first and only person to hold the ring of honor world championship a record three times, and thus in a event arguably sweeter for the character getting the last laugh on his adversary by making Kyles championship reign the shortest in the company’s history at thirty three days.
He would lose the championship for the final time at Ring Of Honors 15th anniversary show to a company pioneer known as Christopher Daniels.
Karma would eventually catch up to him as he was kicked out of The Bullet Club both metaphorically and physically by The Young Bucks and popular British wrestling star Marty Scurll. therefore, passing the torch to ROHs next top anti-hero. ( photos of the event below )
He then left behind the company that he helped launch into the mainstream over the past seven years saying the following in an out of character speech the next night “ regardless of where I go from here this company will always be my home”
Epilogue Early WWE Success
Undisputed Era from left to right ( Roderick Strong, Adam Cole, Kyle O Riley and Bobby Fish. )
Since that emotional farewell In spring of last year, Adam has continued making history as part of his new venture in the WWE NXT brand alongside his fellow former independent wrestling cohorts Kyle O Riley, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong in a group known as the undisputed era. doing things such as taking part in the 2018 Royal Rumble and becoming the first ever NXT North America Champion at NXT Takeover Orlando during this past Wrestlemania weekend! While these accolades are certainly Impressive, if there’s one thing watching Adam Cole over the years has taught me it’s that the best is yet to come
