Adam Cole is one of the faces of NXT, having been a multi-time NXT Champion and involved in some of the big matches in the history of the brand.
Despite having a weekly show on USA Network, NXT has been labeled as "developmental" with those moving from NXT to Raw or SmackDown being announced as "call ups." Cole has been outspoken regarding his belief that NXT is not developmental, and once again addressed those criticisms on WWE After The Bell.
"It bothers me a lot, to some extent," Cole replied when asked about NXT being developmental. "I try to be glass half full in a lot of ways. Of course, there is an aspect to NXT and the Performance Center where there is developmental. There are people who get hired with wrestling experience, no wrestling experience, and there is that process of hopefully getting to the point where you end up on NXT. To say that the roster of NXT guys, as far as developmental goes, I really do believe we're on the same level as the guys on Raw and SmackDown. The process of development is something that happens all the time. I've been wrestling for over 13 years and I'm constantly developing. I don't ever want to get out of developmental. It's so cool for me to be around guys like Shawn Michaels or Triple H or Matt Bloom. They are open to admitting that they are still learning. If those guys are open about learning, we definitely better be open to it. I've always kept that mentality and thought process that, if I'm not getting better every year and every match, I have to get out. I'm proudly developing, in that sense."
Cole signed with WWE in 2017, making his NXT debut at TakeOver: Brooklyn III.
He is scheduled to take on Kyle O'Reilly at NXT Great American Bash. You can view the current lineup for the show by clicking here.
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