Why Adam Cole Debuted With Other Former ROH Talents

TheSportster

By Jim Parsons

Published Aug 27, 2017

When Adam Cole made his NXT Debut, many were curious why WWE put him in a faction with other former ROH talent, but there is a reason.

Those in the WWE Universe who watched NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III saw an incredibly excellent pay-per-view, and highlighting the card was the debut of recently signed Ring of Honor (ROH) alumni Adam Cole. Cole has long been seen as one of the best wrestlers not in the WWE and his debut, while a surprise as to the timing, was not a surprise in general. It was only a matter of when he'd make his way to a WWE ring and how long it might take for him to become a star in NXT was never a question.

That said, it was interesting the WWE chose to have Cole join forces upon his debut with fellow former ROH wrestlers in Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly. All three leap-frogged over other NXT talent and immediately impacted the main event scene as the trio took out newly crowned NXT Champion Drew McIntyre. Sneak attacking McIntyre, the group made people quickly forget the new champ just ended an almost year-long reign for "Glorious" Bobby Roode in the night's main event contest.

Roode went on to join SmackDown Live and Cole, along with his two running mates, look to be the new heels of NXT during a time that the promotion could use an influx of reputable talent. Almost everyone knows Cole has the potential to be a big star on his own. The question then becomes, why put him in a stable?

Dave Meltzer indicated in the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Fish were put with Adam Cole in NXT to compensate for Cole's lack of size. The WWE felt in order for Cole to be a believable main event heel character, he needed to be taken seriously and that the only way to be seen as a legitimate threat was to physically measure up. On his own, he can't match the sheer size and strength of the current champion, management gave him a faction to run with.

Speculation is that Cole, for now, is too small to be a contender on his own. When you consider that McIntyre is 6'5" and 254 lbs there is some merit in that argument. But, most astute wrestling fans know that Cole has the talent to compete with the best and it shouldn't take long for him to prove it.