Every Wrestling Rookie Of The Year: Where Are They Now?

13. 2010: Adam Cole

Essa Rios Lita
AEW

More than adept at the modern hybrid style with a defensive slant, boasting a level of charisma that promised to elevate the indie scene from its stuttering ROHbot doldrums at the turn of the 2010s. Adam Cole delivered on that promise and became a legend in WWE NXT after a tremendous PWG run.

Much of his work was excessive by the midpoint of 2019, but there's an argument to be made that he was agented with the subtlety of a...sledgehammer.

Before NXT's decline, he wrestled an all-timer of a WWE match against Johnny Gargano at TakeOver: New York. The drama he generated was off the charts.

The man with the best call-and-response in wrestling has experienced an uneven run in AEW, but the babyface with a cocky vibe deal is working in his ongoing programme with MJF. Better than the badass he tried to play opposite Chris Jericho, certainly.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!