10 Wrestlers WWE Must Sign After WrestleMania 33

5. Adam Cole

Shelton Benjamin
WCPW/Oli Sandler@ The Ringside Perspective

If any independent wrestler is custom-built for immediate WWE success, it’s Adam Cole. The current Ring Of Honor World Champion is a born sports entertainer and the most charismatic performer on almost every American show he appears on. An excellent promo, Cole’s character work as a cocky, despicable heel is second to none, and he’d need little refinement at the Performance Center.

In the ring, Cole is safe, clean, and concise, with very few rough edges to iron out. That’s not to say he’s not exciting, however: Cole is an excellent technical wrestler, and his work with guys like Kyle O’Reilly and Jay Lethal showcases the full breadth of his ability.

Cole has been linked with WWE for a while. Dave Meltzer once speculated that Cole has an open NXT contract waiting for him whenever he decides that it’s time to make the jump, and this has never been closer to happening. Cole’s current ROH deal expires at the end of April, and speculation suggests that he isn’t planning on re-signing with the company.

This means we could be seeing Adam Cole grace a WWE ring as soon as May, and it’d be a perfect fit. He’d need to drop his belt and wind-up his business in the Bullet Club, but those are just semantics, and won't stand in his way.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.