Adam Cole

Real name: Austin Jenkins
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 190 lbs.
Date of birth: July 5, 1989
Hometown: Panama City, Florida
Pro debut: April 2008
Trained by: Jon Dahmer, DJ Hyde, Al Snow, Les Thatcher
Finishing move: The Boom

AUDIO: Gerweck interviews Adam Cole: The ROH product, CM Punk’s future, goals, and more

Biography

– In his early career, Cole occasionally competed as Adam Carelle
– On August 7, 2009, Carelle defeated Qeenan Creed to win the MCW Rage Television Title
– On November 6, 2009, Carelle defeated Rich Swann to retain the MCW Rage Television Title
– On November 7, 2009, Cole defeated VSK to win the WXW Ultimate Hybrid Title
– On November 21, 2009, Cole defeated Eric Enders to win the GBW Battle of Gettysburg Tournament
– On February 27, 2010, Cole defeated Ryan McBride in a Last Man Standing Match to win the MCW Rage Television Title
– On May 8, 2010, Cole defeated Sabian to win the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On June 12, 2010, Cole defeated Ryan Slater to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On July 10, 2010, Cole defeated Sonjay Dutt to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On July 18, 2010, Cole defeated Ryan Sawyer to win the WORLD-1 North American Title
– On August 7, 2010, Cole defeated Ryan Slater to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On September 10, 2010, Cole defeated BLK Jeez to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On October 9, 2010, Cole defeated AR Fox to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On November 6, 2010, Cole defeated Zack Sabre Jr to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– At Survival of the Fittest 2010, Cole made his first official ROH appearance. He qualified for the main match but lost out to Eddie Edwards
– On December 5, 2010, Cole defeated Ryan Sawyer to win the Shinya Hashimoto Memorial Legacy Cup
– On December 11, 2010, Cole defeated AR Fox & Tyler Veritas in separate singles matches to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On January 7, 2011, Cole defeated Ruckus to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On February 26, 2011, Cole defeated Joey Hayes to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On April 9, 2011, Cole defeated Sami Callihan to win the CZW Best of the Best Tournament. He had previously defeated Zack Sabre Jr, Jonathan Gresham & Akuma to reach the final
– On April 10, 2011, Cole defeated Rich Swann to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On May 14, 2011, Cole defeated AR Fox to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On June 11, 2011, Cole defeated Jonathan Gresham to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On August 6, 2011, Cole defeated Shiima Xion in a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match to win the RCW Cruiserweight Title
– On September 10, 2011, Cole defeated Greg Excellent to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On September 25, 2011, Cole defeated MK McKinnan to win the FCP Junior Heavyweight Invitational
– On October 1, 2011, Cole defeated Chuck Taylor to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On October 9, 2011, Cole defeated AJ Curcio to retain the CZW Junior Heavyweight Title
– On June 29, 2012, Cole defeated Roderick Strong to win the ROH Television Title
– On July 7, 2012, Cole defeated Delirious, Josh Daniels, Ricky Reyes, Ruckus & Sami Callihan to win the Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup
– On July 18, 2012, Cole defeated Chris Rockwell to win the vacant DREAMS Universal Title
– On August 3, 2012, Cole fought Michael Elgin to a no contest to retain the ROH Television Title
– On September 2, 2012, Cole defeated Michael Elgin to win the PWG Battle of Los Angeles Tournament. He had previously defeated Sami Callihan, Eddie Edwards & El Generico
– On September 15, 2012, Cole defeated Mike Mondo to retain the ROH Television Title
– On October 13, 2012, Cole defeated Eddie Edwards to retain the ROH Television Title
– On November 3, 2012, Cole defeated Kyle O’Reilly to retain the ROH Telvision Title
– On November 30, 2012, Cole defeated Caleb Konley to win the PWX Heavyweight Title
– On December 1, 2012, Cole defeated Kevin Steen to win the PWG World Title
– On January 5, 2013, Cole defeated BJ Whitmer to retain the ROH Television Title
– On March 23, 2013, Cole defeated Drake Younger to retain the PWG World Title
– On June 15, 2013, Cole defeated Sami Callihan in an Iron Man Match to retain the PWG World Title
– At Best In The World ’13, Cole defeated Roderick Strong by countout
– On August 9, 2013, Cole defeated Drake Younger & Kevin Steen in a Guerrilla Warfare Match to retain the PWG World Title
– On August 23, 2013, Cole defeated Chris Vice & David Storm in a 3-Way Match to win the NHPW Art of Fighting Title, but lost it back to Vice the next day
– Cole defeated Michael Elgin on September 20, 2013, at Death Before Dishonor XI in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the finals of the tournament for the vacant ROH title
– Over the next month, Cole would defend the ROH World Title against Mark Briscoe and Roderick Strong
– On October 19, 2013, Cole defeated Kyle O’Reilly to retain the PWG World Title
– On November 15, 2013, Cole defeated Jimmy Jacobs to retain the ROH World Title
– At Final Battle ’13, Cole defeated Jay Briscoe & Michael Elgin in a 3-Way Match to retain the ROH World Title
– On December 20, 2013, Cole defeated Chris Hero to retain the PWG World Title. He retained the belt against Johnny Gargano the next night
– At ROH’s 12th Anniversary Show, Cole defeated Chris Hero to retain the ROH World Title
– On March 7, 2014, Cole defeated Matt Taven to retain the ROH World Title. He defended the belt against Chris Hero the next day
– On March 28, 2014, Cole defeated Candice LeRae to retain the PWG World Title
– At Supercard of Honor VIII, Cole defeated Jay Briscoe in a ladder match to become the undisputed ROH World Champion, retaining his title and taking over Briscoe’s unrecognized “Real World Title”
– On April 18, 2014, Cole defeated Delirious to retain the ROH World Title
– At ROH/NJPW Global Wars, Cole defeated Kevin Steen to retain the ROH World Title
– At ROH/NJPW War of the Worlds, Cole defeated Jushin Thunder Liger to retain the ROH World Title
– On June 6, 2014, Cole defeated ACH to retain the ROH World Title. He retained against Tommaso Ciampa the next night
– On November 8, 2014, Cole defeated Adam Page, Hanson, Matt Sydal, Roderick Strong & Tommaso Ciampa to win Survival of the Fittest
– In late 2014, Cole suffered a shoulder injury, which would rule him out for several months
– Cole returned to action at ROH/NJPW War of the Worlds. On night 2, The Kingdom (Cole, Michael Bennett & Matt Taven) defeated The Bullet Club (AJ Styles, Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson)
– At Death Before Dishonor XIII, Cole defeated Dalton Castle
– On November 27, 2015, Cole defeated Bubblegum & El Ligero in an Elimination Match to win the PCW Cruiserweight Title. Over the next few days, Cole defended against Bubblegum and Ashton Smith, aswell as fighting PCW Champion Dave Mastiff to a draw in an Iron Man Match
– At Final Battle ’15, Cole defeated Kyle O’Reilly
– In early 2016, Cole joined The Bullet Club
– On April 9, 2016, Cole fought PWF Openweight Champion Joseph Black to a time-limit draw
– At Best In The World ’16, The Bullet Club (Cole, Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson) defeated Moose, Hanson & Rowe
– At Death Before Dishonor XIV, Cole defeated Jay Lethal to win the ROH World Title
– On September 22, 2016, Cole defeated Will Ospreay in Hiroshima, Japan to retain the ROH World Title
– At All-Star Extravaganza VIII, Cole defeated Michael Elgin to retain the ROH World Title
– On October 22, Cole defeated Silas Young to retain the ROH World Title
– In November 2016, Cole defended the ROH World Title against Chris Sabin & Jay Lethal
– At Wrestle Kingdom 11, Cole defeated Kyle O’Reilly to regain the ROH World Title, having lost it a month earlier
– On January 29, 2017, Cole defeated El Ligero & Jay Lethal to retain the ROH World Title
– On February 27, Cole defeated YOSHI-HASHI to retain the ROH World Title
– On March 4, Cole defeated Bobby Fish to retain the ROH World Title
– In May 2017, Cole was ejected from The Bullet Club by Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks
– On May 14, Cole was defeated by Marty Scurll in a Philadelphia Street Fight in what would be his last ROH match
– On June 10, Cole defeated Joey Janela, Zema Ion & Jonathan Gresham to win the IWC Super Indy 16 Tournament and with it, the IWC Super Indy Title
– On August 5, Cole & Britt Baker defeated Roppongi Vice (Rocky Romero & Beretta) to win the WrestleCircus Big Top Tag Team Titles
– On August 14, it was reported that Cole had signed a deal with NXT
– At Takeover Brooklyn III, Cole made his NXT debut alongside Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish, with the trio attacking new NXT Champion Drew McIntyre after his match with Bobby Roode. The trio would become known as ‘The Undisputed Era’
– On September 14, Cole wrestled his first NXT match, defeating Eric Young
– At Takeover War Games, The Undisputed Era defeated Sanity (Eric Young, Killian Dain & Alexander Wolfe) and The Authors of Pain (Akam, Rezar and guest, Roderick Strong) in a War Games Match
– Cole competed in the 2018 Royal Rumble, lasting around 7 minutes before being eliminated by the returning Rey Mysterio
– At Takeover: New Orleans, Cole defeated Lars Sullivan, EC3, Killian Dain, Ricochet and Velveteen Dream in a Ladder Match to become the first NXT North American Champion. Later in the show, he teamed with Kyle O’Reilly to defeat The Authors of Pain (Akam & Rezar) and Roderick Strong & Pete Dunne to retain the NXT Tag Team Titles for The Undisputed Era.
– In April 2018, Cole defended the NXT North American Title against Akira Tozawa and Oney Lorcan
– On June 19, Cole defeated Wolfgang to retain the NXT North American Title
– At EVOLVE 107, Cole defeated WALTER to retain the NXT North American Title
– At Takeover XXV, Cole defeated Johnny Gargano to win the NXT Title
– On the NXT:UK Hidden Gems special, Cole defeated Zack Gibson to retain the NXT Title
– At EVOLVE’s 10th Anniversary Show, Cole defeated Akira Tozawa to retain the NXT Title
– At Takeover Toronto 2019, Cole defeated Johnny Gargano in a Best Of Three Falls Match to retain the NXT Title
– On the September 4, 2019 episode of NXT, Cole defeated Jordan Myles to retain the NXT Title
– On the October 2, 2019 episode of NXT, Cole defeated Matt Riddle to retain the NXT Title
– On the November 1, 2019 episode of Smackdown, Cole defeated Daniel Bryan to retain the NXT Title
– At Survivor Series 2019, Cole defeated Pete Dunne to retain the NXT Title
– On the December 18, 2019 episode of NXT, Cole defeated Finn Balor to retain the NXT Title
– At Takeover Portland, Cole defeated Tommaso Ciampa to retain the NXT Title
– On the May 6, 2020 episode of NXT, Cole defeated The Velveteen Dream to retain the NXT Title
– At Takeover In Your House, Cole defeated The Velveteen Dream in a Backlot Brawl to retain the NXT Title
– At Takeover XXX, Cole defeated Pat McAfee
– Following Takeover Vengeance Day, The Undisputed Era separated, with Cole turning on O’Reilly
– Cole’s WWE contract expired following a match against O’Reilly at Takeover 36. He opted not to re-sign with the company
– Cole made his AEW debut at All Out 2021, aligning himself with former Bullet Club stablemates Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks
– Cole made his AEW in-ring debut on the September 15, 2021 episode of Dynamite, defeating Frankie Kazarian
– At the Rampage Grand Slam event, The Superkliq (Cole, Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson) defeated Jungle Boy, Luchasaurus & Christian Cage
– In December 2021, Cole reunited with the newly signed Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish in AEW
– On the Holiday Bash episode of Dynamite, Cole defeated Orange Cassidy
– At New Year’s Smash, Cole, Fish & O’Reilly defeated Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta & Orange Cassidy
– At St Patrick’s Day Slam 2022, Cole, Fish & O’Reilly defeated Adam Page, Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus
– At Double Or Nothing 2022, Cole defeated Samoa Joe to win the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament
– Cole suffered a severe concussion at Forbidden Door 2022 and would be out of action for nine months
– Cole returned to television on the January 11 Dynamite, cutting a promo to thank the fans for their support during his recovery period
– Cole wrestled his first match back on the March 29 Dynamite, defeating Daniel Garcia
– At Double Or Nothing 2023, Cole defeated Chris Jericho by referee stoppage in an Unsanctioned Match
– Cole was partnered with MJF in the Blind Eliminator Tag Tournament
– At Blood And Guts 2023, Cole & MJF defeated Sammy Guevara & Daniel Garcia to win the tournament. The duo would later be dubbed ‘Better Than You BayBay’
– On the All In 2023 pre-show, Better Than You BayBay defeated Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) to win the ROH Tag Team Titles
– At All Out 2023, Better Than You BayBay defeated The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles
– Cole suffered an ankle injury on the September 20 Dynamite, ruling him out of action for the remainder of the year. MJF would continue to defend the ROH Tag Team Titles, first in Handicap Matches, then with replacement partner Samoa Joe
– At Full Gear 2023, with MJF having suffered a kayfabe injury on the pre-show, Cole stepped up to face Jay White in the main event, despite still suffering from his legitimate ankle injury. MJF would return to wrestle the match before the bell rang.
– At Worlds End 2023, Cole was revealed as ‘The Devil’
– Cole returned to active competition at WrestleDream 2024, attacking MJF to resume their rivalry