Adam Cole is worried about nothing except shocking the system.
"The Panama City Playboy" is coming up on one full year in NXT. Adam Cole emerged on to the scene at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III alongside his now-faction-mates Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish--The Undisputed ERA. The group has since added a member in Roderick Strong and together they are currently running rough shot over NXT as Roddy and Kyle O'Reilly are the holders of the NXT Tag Team Titles and Adam Cole is the first-ever and current NXT North American Champion.
Cole will be defending that very title tomorrow night at EVOLVE 107 against the 6'4 Austrian big man WALTER. Prior to his NXT North American Title defense Sports Illustrated caught up with Adam Cole and during the interview Cole gave WALTER props; stating that he knows how good WALTER is but the outcome of the match will be none other than the champ retaining and heading back to NXT with the North American Championship.
“I would be lying if I said WALTER is not an extremely talented, tough, strong professional wrestler,” said Cole. “There is a reason I’m defending this title against him. I know how talented he is and I know how dangerous he is, but I’ve fought bigger, I’ve fought tougher, and I’ve won. WALTER is not going to be any different. I’m sure WALTER is going to give me the fight of his life, WALTER is going to push me to my limits, but I’m so used to being pushed to my limit, that’s just what I do. This is the biggest match of his career and it’s a big title defense for me, so we’re going to go at it with everything we have—and I’m fully confident that, when it’s over, Adam Cole is still going to be NXT North American champion.”
Adam Cole's former 'Bullet Club' faction-mates Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks are currently the top guns in NJPW. Omega being the IWGP Heavyweight Champion and The Young Bucks being holders of the IWGP Tag Team Championships and co-holders of the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Titles, The Undisputed ERA and 'The ELITE' resemble one another in terms of holding the gold in their respective companies. Adam Cole stated that if Kenny and The Bucks were to come to NXT they would fit in perfectly with The Undisputed ERA.
“Those guys would fit perfectly in the Undisputed ERA,” said Cole. “They’re exactly what the Undisputed ERA is all about: cutting-edge, going against the grain, doing what they want when they want. Obviously, a lot of people know my history with Kenny Omega, and I have a very long history with The Young Bucks, and those guys would fit perfectly. It’s like two peas in a pod.”
Adam Cole reflected on his NXT debut, discussed how his grandmother played a role in him chasing his dreams, and more. To read the full interview, click here.
