Adam Cole is considered by many to be one of the best wrestlers in the world today.
Cole has competed in promotions around the world and won multiple championships. His incredible career in PWG, Ring of Honor, and NXT is a testament to his body of work.
This list will be a retrospect of Cole’s 5 best matches across different promotions. Without further ado, let’s jump right into it.
Adam Cole & The Young Bucks vs. Matt Sydal, Ricochet & Will Ospreay (PWG Battle Of Los Angeles 2016)
Even if you aren’t a fan of Cole, you might still have stumbled across a clip of his trios tag team match from PWG Battle of Los Angeles 2016. This bout is considered by many as a high point in Adam Cole’s career.
Everything in this match, from the moves to selling to facial expressions, is excellent. What’s extraordinary about this match is it gets better as it progresses. Not one single performer in this trios tag war feels out of place at any point.
And the closing stretch is simply insane. The match perfectly captures the energy of old PWG in Reseda, California.
Adam Cole vs. Velveteen Dream vs. Lars Sullivan vs. Killian Dain vs. EC3 vs. Ricochet (NXT TakeOver: New Orleans 2018)
What happens when you put six gold-starved superstars in the same ring? You get this five-star classic at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans.
The April 7th pay-per-view event saw Adam Cole partake in a six-way ladder match to determine the inaugural NXT North American Champion. The match also featured current NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion EC3, Killian Dain, Lars Sullivan, Ricochet and Velveteen Dream.
Every superstar in this match brought something to the ring and created one of the most amazing matches in NXT history. The ladder match also saw Cole deliver five superkicks, including the one to an air-borne Ricochet, to a huge ovation from the crowd.
The Undisputed Era leader survived this ladder war to become the inaugural NXT North American Champion.
Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly (NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver 2021)
Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly had many epic battles on the independent circuit. The pair reignited their rivalry in Triple H’s version of NXT after Cole betrayed O’Reilly. The first match in their epic trilogy took place at NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver.
It was not a traditional match, but an unsanctioned war as both men had tried to kill each other in the build to this very brutal encounter. Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly featured some crazy spots, including both men going through the stage, as well as a brainbuster on the ringside steel steps.
The match really brought out O’Reilly’s violent side that he had kept at bay prior to Stand & Deliver. The Unsanctioned Match would lead to two more singles matches in 2021.
Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver: XXV)
Adam Cole’s rivalry with Johnny Gargano is considered to be one of the best rivalries in NXT history. This bad blood carried the black and gold era of NXT before the advent of Wednesday Night Wars in 2019.
Cole and Gargano squared off for the NXT Championship in their rematch from the critically acclaimed Best 2 out of 3 Falls at TakeOver New York. The two superstars once again brought their magic to the ring and created an awesome spectacle for the fans.
The match went a little over 30 minutes and saw Cole dethrone his archrival for the NXT Championship, kicking off his historic reign in the process.
Adam Cole vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver: New York)
This match claims the top spot on this list for a multitude of reasons. First, it was for the vacant NXT Championship, hence the incredible build to TakeOver: New York. Second, it had the notorious 2 out of 3 Falls attached to it.
Third, Gargano was heavily outnumbered during the match, but let his undying resolve do the work for him. Finally, the match had the fans emotionally invested from the opening to closing bell. Gargano was the sympathetic babyface against the conniving heel Cole and the Undisputed Era.
The match delivered on all fronts; it had a terrific opening sequence, the spots were well executed, the false finishes had the fans on their feet. In the end, the Rebel Heart defeated the Undisputed Player to clinch the NXT Championship.
What are Adam Cole’s five greatest matches in your opinion? Let us know in the comments section below!
