Adam Cole: Pat McAfee Will Wrestle For The ‘First And Last Time’ At TakeOver XXX
Photo Credit: WWE
Former NXT Champion Adam Cole is going from the main event to a marquee matchup against a wrestling guest. Pat McAfee will face Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX, a match that follows an intense confrontation on Pat’s podcast. Cole sees McAfee as an invading force, an outsider who doesn’t belong in the wrestling ring, and he expanded on those thoughts in a recent interview with TV Insider.
When asked about his goals for the match, Adam Cole said that he wanted to ensure that Pat McAfee knows that he’s stepping outside his comfort zone. McAfee has trained on and off for wrestling over the years, but never dedicated himself, so his presumption that he can compete is the crux of the issue. “I pretty much am going to make him realize he was not near ready to step into the ring with me. As far as I’m concerned it will be the first and last time he wrestles in NXT.”
It’s also important for Cole that Pat realizes that he’s taking a spot that could be filled by more talented NXT talents:
There is a locker room full of guys who would kill to be on this show. Some of them are not going to be on this show because Pat McAfee is taking their spot. When you say that out loud, that is crazy. My main goal is to make him regret this decision. He is offensive to me. Offensive to our locker room. I’m excited to move past this. I can’t wait for TakeOver, but I’m excited to put this behind me.
Looking past the match, Cole said that he wants to someday regain the title he recently lost to Keith Lee. “For so long being NXT champion, to this day it’s probably the proudest moment of my career. To be able to say I was the longest-reigning NXT champion. When you look at the past champions, it’s the best of the best.” Cole finds it hard to have the confidence he had while holding the gold, but he still feels like he’s the best the Yellow and Gold brand has to offer.
RELATED: Bronson Reed On His Mindset Going Into NXT TakeOver XXX, Learning From Shawn Michaels