What They Did Next: WWE 2021 Releases - Part 2
6. Adam Cole
When Adam Cole's contract came up for renewal, the smart money was on him joining Britt Baker in AEW. And yet those in the know placed Adam in the room with Vince McMahon on multiple occasions, talking about plans for his main roster debut. Nobody was sure if WWE could broker a deal that would see him sticking around. Rumour has it they didn't even try.
Adam Cole, one of the most consistent performers on the planet, was going to be made a manager on the main roster and he was to be renamed simply because Vince didn't want him being mixed up with Michael Cole. It's clear to all why he left.
With a fully expired contract, Cole wasn't held back by the dreaded non-compete clause and was able to show up at All Out in September, his debut swerving a crowd that was fully expecting Bryan Danielson to walk down to the ring. Since that moment he's gone on to be the linchpin in multiple groups and storylines because, clear to everyone by WWE main roster management, Adam Cole belongs in the ring.
And that is undisputed.