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AEW’s signing of Adam Cole was arguably one of the biggest acquisitions made by the company in 2021.
He was a top star and former champion in NXT. WWE clearly wanted to keep him and had plans to elevate him to the main roster. But Cole decided it was in his best interest to join Tony Khan’s promotion.
When Cole made his debut at All Out back in September and became a part of All Elite Wrestling, fans were excited to see him unleashed in a new environment and reunited with his Elite stablemates.
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But since the initial excitement of his signing, Cole’s presentation has been questionable.
Wrestling legend Jim Cornette didn’t hold back in his criticism of Adam Cole’s booking as well, wondering if anyone in showbiz has ever fallen further than the former NXT Champion.
What have been the mitigating factors that have led to Cole’s perceived downfall?
Here we look at five mistakes the company has made with the wrestler so far.
#5. Adam Cole was overshadowed by Bryan Danielson on his AEW debut
Adam Cole’s shocking appearance after All Out was nearly perfect. There was just one problem. It was immediately overshadowed by another debut by Bryan Danielson.
This was problematic as it made the former NXT Champion look like a lesser star than the American Dragon.
The company should have spread out their debuts so that Cole could have gotten his own shine. Given that it was such a historic event, perhaps Tony Khan wanted to pack in as many surprises as he could to send the fans home happy.
The reaction to Cole’s debut wasn’t top news on the night, and that might have stunted his momentum before it even began. So Cole wasn’t presented as big of a deal as he should have been.
#4. AEW made Adam Cole a heel when he should have been a babyface
AEW immediately positioned Adam Cole as a heel by aligning him with the Elite and the Young Bucks. While that seemed logical, given their history, it might not have been the right move.
It’s clear that the former leader of the Undisputed Era is one of the most popular wrestlers in the industry.
His entire presentation makes for a perfect babyface, from his insanely catchy theme songs to super fun entrances. Fans can’t help but chant “Boom” and “Adam Cole BAY BAY” every time he enters an arena.
They clearly want to root for Cole no matter how dastardly he tries to be.
So why not keep him a good guy instead?
#3. Cole has only been involved in mid-card feuds
Many fans assumed that Adam Cole would be treated like a top star in AEW. He could have been put in the World Championship or TNT title picture immediately, and most people would have been engaged in the feuds.
He certainly has the credentials seeing as he was one of the faces in NXT and its biggest draw for the longest time.
However, his feuds within the company so far have been underwhelming. He joined the Young Bucks to form the SuperKliq in their feud against Jurassic Express, which saw them lose a 6-man street fight at Full Gear in 2021.
Cole then transitioned into a rivalry with Best Friends, culminating in a Lights Out match with Orange Cassidy on last week’s Beach Break. Again, he lost that blow-off match.
Because he’s not in the world title picture, some argue that he’s “regressed” or would be in a better position if he’d remained in WWE. Perhaps this is the company’s way of getting him acclimatized to the audience before pushing him into more prominent stories.
But it’s disappointing to see one of the most popular wrestlers on the roster be relegated to secondary storylines.
#2. AEW should keep Adam Cole and Britt Baker separate
AEW's power couple is clearly Adam Cole and Britt Baker. While those who follow the two stars on social media are aware of their relationship, the company hasn't publicly utilized them in a storyline until recently.
The couple appeared in the ring together for the first time against Orange Cassidy and Kris Statlander in a mixed tag team match.
While both wrestlers worked for different companies, Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., did not try and persuade her real-life partner, Adam Cole, to make the leap from WWE to join her.
Speaking to Kenny McIntosh from Inside the Ropes, Dr. Baker recalled the time before his signing, saying:
“It was kind of a tricky situation because I’m also good friends with Tony Khan and I admire him no end as a boss because he’s such a joy to work for. So, obviously, I wanted him [Adam Cole] to come work here, but I didn’t want to pressure him because he wasn’t unhappy at NXT either at that time.“I didn’t want to put pressure on him one way or another, so I kinda left that up to him.
“But he, from the outside, he knew what AEW was about because when we live together and he hears me talk about it all the time. He knew how much fun it was. I think, deep down, he always wanted to come to AEW, he just needed to get his ducks in a row and make a decision. And I can tell you now, I definitely don’t think he regrets it.”
Clearly, the couple is happy to not only be in the same company finally but working together as well.
Britt Baker is already a successful star in her own right and should be focusing on the women's division.
She doesn't need the rub from Cole and vice versa. While it's alright to acknowledge their relationship sparingly, it shouldn't be pushed down the audience's throats.
Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins are perfect examples of a couple who flourished on their own without relying on the rub of their partners.
Cole needs to be on his own and focus on establishing his AEW career instead of doing mixed tag matches with his more successful partner.
#1. AEW hasn't pulled the trigger on Undisputed Era vs. Elite faction war
When Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly joined AEW, fans were salivating at a potential Undisputed Era reunion with Adam Cole.
With Cole aligned with the Young Bucks, it makes for an intriguing situation as fans can speculate on where his true loyalties lie. It's a story that writes itself. For some reason, the company hasn't pulled the trigger yet.
Wrestling veteran Jim Cornette is one such critic who is unhappy with the former Undisputed Era's presentation as a faction in AEW.
Speaking on his podcast, Cornette said:
"You think about how NXT and WWE kept them (Undisputed Era) on the top, kept them interacting with top people, kept them away from following their worst instincts, and this comedy s**t. It's not happening here since nobody is in charge. There is no authority in AEW. As a result, Undisputed Era has been erased."
"They have lost the opportunity they had. They had a top group who fought for the top titles in the other company, where they looked like a million dollars, who had been must-see television. Now it's over before it started. Who gives a s**t about the Undisputed Era?"
Cornette has a point as it seems like Tony Khan is unable to capitalize on the former NXT faction's momentum by treating them as top stars right out of the gate, including Cole.
The only way to salvage the situation is to ignite a civil war between Cole's closest allies which paves the way for him to come out on top. But as long as that doesn't occur, Cole will be left spinning his wheels.
