WWE: Will Adam Cole Appear at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III?

Another former Ring of Honor star reportedly headed to the WWE NXT brand.

It’s been a long time coming, but according to multiple sources, including Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer, former Ring of Honor Champion, Adam Cole has officially signed with WWE. There has been a lot of speculation over the past number of months that Cole would make his debut with the NXT brand, and it looks like those rumors could come to a head as early as this Saturday’s, NXT Takeover: Brooklyn III.

Since his send-off from Ring of Honor at this year’s War of the Worlds pay-per-view, Cole has arguably been the hottest free agent in professional wrestling, and fans have been wondering when exactly he’ll show up on WWE television. Meltzer also went on to state that the apparent reason for the delay in Cole’s debut is due to past legal issues between WWE and ROH. Cole’s contract with Ring of Honor was said to have expired on May 1st of this year, and it has now been four months since “The Panama City Playboy” has competed for a major wrestling promotion.

The big question now is, what happens next? WWE could hold off on Cole’s debut until they find a “perfect moment” for it to happen, or they could give the fans exactly what they want and have him appear at Takeover: Brooklyn III. With the news breaking this week, it would not be a major surprise if Cole was shown sitting ringside during the event, much like they’ve done in the past with debuting stars such as Bobby Roode and Drew McIntyre.

On the contrary, WWE officials could try something different with Cole’s debut, perhaps in the form of a match during the show. As of right now, NXT stars such as The Velveteen Dream and former indie darling, Kassius Ohno, are not booked to compete at the event. Perhaps one of them will be placed into an impromptu match or hold an open challenge, and Cole will be the one to respond. It’s anyone’s guess, really.

Another feasible option could be to place a debuting Cole in a match with his long-time adversary, Kyle O’Reilly. After many bouts over the ROH World Championship in the past, O’Reilly and Cole have developed fantastic chemistry, and would tear the house down if the two came face-to-face.

Similarly, former “Mr. Ring of Honor” himself, Roderick Strong, is not currently scheduled to compete at the event, and what better way to debut a former 3-time Ring of Honor champion than to face the man that was once synonymous with the brand’s name? It’s uncertain whether or not Strong will intervene in the NXT Championship match due to his heated rivalry with current champion, Bobby Roode, but if he is left off the card, a one-off match with Cole would surely bring the fans to their feet.

Whether they go with the classic appearing-at-ringside-angle, or a route similar to the suggestions listed above, do not be alarmed if “ADAM COLE BAYBAY” is heard echoing throughout the Barclays Center on Saturday night.

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How would you like to see Adam Cole debut in NXT? Let us know in the comments.