Big Name Independent Star Signs With WWE

It has been rumored for months and we can now confirm it. Adam Cole has signed with WWE.

Cole’s signing has been widely expect in wrestling circles for several months, and the independent star has alluded to the fact that he would be signing a few times. The news was confirmed on Monday by PWInsider.

According to the report, Cole will report to the WWE Performance Center in Florida this week. He is expected to start his time performing in NXT rather than jumping up to the main roster right away. Cole’s arrival in NXT will certainly add to what is already becoming an amazing new birth for the developmental brand. A few months ago, NXT was reeling from all of their talented being depleted due to main roster call-ups. However, if you haven’t watched lately, NXT is on fire heading into NXT Brooklyn III.

It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Cole make an appearance in Brooklyn. The crowd there for SummerSlam weekend will be comprised of a heavy contigent of hardcores who will be very familiar with Cole’s previous work, and he would be assured a big time pop from the crowd at Barclays Center.

Cole has essentially done it all on the independent circuit. He is a three-time ROH World Champion and former PWG World Champion. Other notable promotions where he has worked include Combat Zone Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling. In May 2016, Cole joined the wildly popular Bullet Club. He was part of the stable for about a year, at which time he was kicked out of the group by Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks while Marty Scurll took his place.

Cole recently posted a widely shared video on Twitter where he ditched some Young Bucks merchandise and opted for a Revival WWE shirt instead.

This isn’t Cole’s first involvement with WWE. He previously took part in a tryout for the company in 2013, alongside fellow ROH wrestler (at the time) Mike Bennett. Jim Ross was part of that tryout.