10 Wrestlers Who Could Give CM Punk His First AEW Loss
6. Adam Cole
Another of 2021’s big debuts - and probably the most surprising, at least timing-wise - has been biding his time in AEW since his September debut. He’s been ever present on TV, but has been featured mainly as part of a larger story involving The Elite, and lately the tension between his AEW pals and his friends from NXT.
Cole’s work in this unit has been great, but you don’t hire an Adam Cole to be just a part of a faction. The guy is one of wrestling’s great all-rounders and is surely primed for something big in 2022. Despite treading similar paths in their careers, Cole and Punk have thus far never locked up - and surely that’s due to change in AEW.
Punk hasn’t tangled with The Elite yet, and with Kenny Omega out of action, Cole could seize the reins of the expanding group. Despite disparate personas, the two have a lot in common, both well respected during their WWE tenure but with an obvious glass ceiling that made them jump ship.
Cole should absolutely be one of the guys AEW’s presence is based around, and he has expressed a deep desire to take on Punk. Defeating him could be precisely what he needs to cement himself at the top.