Top 10 AEW Debuts
7. Adam Cole
AEW All Out 2021 being the best damn Pay Per View in AEW history and possibly ever: Part 1
Why was Adam Cole (Baybay)’s debut so special? Because Adam Cole is special.
I can honestly say, without a doubt, Adam Cole is one of the best and most complete pro-wrestlers in the world today.
Wherever he’s been, whether it be ROH, PWG, NXT, and now AEW, he’s been recognized as elite. Pun most definitely intended.
He’s got everything, in-ring skills, mic skills, charisma, facial expressions, marketability, fan support, you name it. So, it was really surprising when news broke out that Cole’s WWE contract was set to expire way sooner than expected. Even with all of WWE’s regular firings, this seemed mind-boggling because Adam Cole is not a wrestler that you sleep on. It wasn’t even like Cole was a developmental guy, he was a top draw and arguably the greatest NXT champion of all time.
As soon as reports came forward that Cole had signed a contract extension but hadn’t renewed, fans started speculating about what he’d do next, and by that, I mean salivating over the prospect of his AEW debut.
It made perfect sense. Cole has many friends in AEW, particularly in the Elite section. On top of that, NXT wrestlers only have a 30-day non-compete clause. Cole was among the many names passed around as rumors for the speculated debuts at All Out 2021. However, no one saw the actual debut coming.
At the end of the show, Kenny Omega beat Christian Cage, and then the dastardly Elite beat up Cage, and the Jurassic Express. Omega gave a big speech about how there was no one alive who could step to him and the lights went out and the crowd went crazy with anticipation.
Now, the key here is that the fans were expecting Bryan Danielson, and as Roman Reigns, Rey Mysterio, Bray Wyatt, Batista, John Cena, Randy Orton, The Rock and so many others can tell you when the people want Bryan Danielson, they only want Bryan Danielson and literally no one else.
However, on that night, Adam Cole was over enough to get a thunderous ovation even after the crowd had exhausted all their energy chanting “Yes!”.
They cheered him as he entered, they cheered him as he walked, they cheered as he entered the ring and faced the Elite, the roared, “Adam Cole Baybay!”, they cheered when he kicked Jungle Boy, they cheered when he was kissed by the Young Bucks, they only “Ooh” ed when he confronted Tony Schiavone instead of booing, and they’re cheering him to this day.
Can’t wait till he turns on Kenny and turns babyface and the fans cheer for him louder. That man is unbooable. And also gorgeous.