Does Adam Cole Deserve Another NXT Championship Opportunity?

From May 2019 to July 2020, one man dominated NXT. That man was Adam Cole, the longest reigning NXT Champion. By hook or by crook, Cole became NXT’s MVP for two years, but his inclusion in the upcoming NXT Title match at Takeover has become a subject of controversy.

What transpired on NXT?

On NXT, Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano and Kyle O’Reilly competed in a #1 contender’s triple threat match. All three superstars put on a wonderful performance to cement themselves as worthy challengers for Karrion Kross.

In a shocking turn of events, Adam Cole returned after a two-month absence and took out all three wrestlers. The referee deemed the match a no contest and Cole cut a promo on how he’s the true #1 contender. He won the title exactly two years from now and he will face Kross even if NXT General Manager William Regal disagrees.

Out came Kross, who not only accepted Cole’s challenge but raised the stakes. He told Regal he wanted to face Gargano, Dunne and O’Reilly as well. Regal granted his wish and Cole gets another title shot as soon as he returns to NXT. However, does he really deserve to be in the title picture?

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Does Adam Cole deserve another NXT Championship opportunity?

Before we discuss whether he deserves a title shot, let’s look at Adam Cole’s credentials. Cole is only one of two NXT Triple Crown Champions [alongside Johnny Gargano] and is the longest reigning NXT Champion. Along the way he’s wrestled three five-star matches in NXT; two against Gargano and one ladder match where he became the inaugural North American Champion.

Cole has competed in the Royal Rumble, defended his title at Survivor Series, holds a victory over Daniel Bryan and has competed in every War Games match in NXT; winning two of them. Based on pure merit, Adam Cole is the greatest NXT superstar of all time across divisions.

The decision to put the Panama City Playboy in the NXT Championship scene was a rushed decision, but a sensible one. WWE wrote him off after his brutal affair with Kyle O’Reilly two months ago and needed to bring him back. Most importantly, he isn’t ready for the main roster yet.

So yes, Adam Cole deserves to be in the NXT Championship match at Takeover: In Your House. He could even win the match and become a two-time NXT Champion. And who wouldn’t want to see him and Kyle O’Reilly tangle once again with the NXT Championship on the line?

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