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RING OF HONOR TELEVISION REPORT: LOOKING AT THE RISE OF ADAM COLE TO THE WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE

By Richard Trionfo on 2013-12-22 00:50:39
Final Battle was last weekend and it is time to take a look at the man who walked into the final show of the year with the Ring of Honor World Title, and then left the Manhattan Center with the Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Title. This week, we take a look at Adam Cole.

Kevin Kelly is in studio and he welcomes us to a look at one of the fastest rising stars in professional wrestling, Adam Cole. He joined Ring of Honor in 2009 at the same time as Micahel Elgin, Tommaso Ciampa, Michael Bennett, and Kyle O’Reilly.

As part of Future Shock, with Kyle O’Reilly, Adam came into his own and they wrestled The American Wolves, Wrestling’s Greatest Tag Team, The Briscoes, and The Kings of Wrestling.

We see footage from the match between Future Shock and the Kings of Wrestling from Honor Takes Center Stage Night 2.

The match is joined in progress.

Hero flips O’Reilly off Claudio’s back and Kyle tags in Cole. Cole with a missile drop kick to both men followed by forearms. Cole with a head scissors to Claudio. Hero with a back senton onto Cole’s knees. Cole with a forearm in the corner. Hero with an Irish whip but he runs into a boot and Cole with a leg lariat from the turnbuckles.

Cole with a waist lock but Hero with a standing switch. Cole with an enzuigiri to Hero. Claudio pushes Hero out of the way and he misses a bicycle kick. Cole with a drop kick that sends Claudio to the floor. Cole with a slingshot into a head scissors. Kyle with the running drop kick off the apron into Claudio.

Cole with a cross body on Hero for a near fall. Cole with a front face lock and Kyle tags in and he kicks Hero and gets him on his shoulders. Cole with a super kick but Kyle misses a discus clothesline to Hero. Hero with a roaring elbow to Cole followed by one to O’Reilly. Claudio tags in and he gets Kyle up for a suplex but Hero pulls him down to set up for a double team move, but Cole trips Hero.

Kyle with a tornado DDT that includes a kick to Hero’s head as he goes around. Kyle rolls through into a guillotine choke. Hero with a kick to the head but Kyle holds on to the guillotine. Hero with another kick and Kyle continues to hold on. Claudio gets to his feet and Hero sets for a roaring elbow to the back of the head but Cole cuts him off with a super kick.

Cole with a super kick to Claudio and Cole with a suicide dive onto Hero. Claudio escapes with Swiss Death to O’Reilly. Hero tags in and they hit stereo kicks to Kyle’s head for the three count.

There was some tension when Kyle started to train with Davey Richards. Eventually, they broke up and Cole teamed with Eddie Edwards while Kyle teamed with Davey Richards.

At the 10th Anniversary Show, Cole and Edwards faced O’Reilly and Richards. We go to footage from that match when Cole pinned Davey with a cross body.

We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time to take a look at the match between Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly at Best in the World 2012.

O’Reilly escapes a suplex with a knee and then both men with simultaneous boots and they go down. The referee starts his count. Cole and O’Reilly exchange punches and since there is blood, we go to black and white. They continue to exchange punches. Kyle and Adam with rapid fire punches. Kyle with a series of Kawada kicks but Cole fires back with slaps. Kyle with slaps to Cole.

Kyle with a knee and Cole with a leaping head butt. Kyle with a leaping knee. Cole rolls Kyle to the mat and then hits a kick to the knee to get Kyle on the mat. Cole with a super kick and both men are down.

They both get back to their feet at nine. Cole has a super kick blocked and Kyle with a discus clothesline but Cole pops up to his knees. Kyle with kicks to the chest while Cole fires back with forearms. They block a few kicks but Kyle with a kick to the back of the head followed by a forearm and Saito suplex.

Kyle gets to his feet and then Cole gets up. Kyle with a guillotine choke but Cole counters and hits a shoulder breaker. The referee starts his count and Cole gets to his feet first. Cole with a super kick to Kyle and Kyle falls to the floor. Cole goes to the floor and he sends Kyle back into the ring and Kyle struggles to stay on his feet.

Kyle collapses when Cole Irish whips him. Cole says that it is over, but Kyle applies the cross arm breaker. Cole counters into a Cloverleaf. Kyle with an arm bar submission but Cole rolls through and applies a figure four leg lock. Kyle taps out.

After the match, Cole offers his hand to Kyle for the Code of Honor but Kyle slaps Cole and leaves the ring.

We go to comments from Jay Lethal. He says that he is torn inside because he is trying to cling on to the Adam Cole that he traveled with and talked about being big successes in wrestling. This new Adam Cole that takes short cuts is a real jerk. Jay says that he doesn’t like him.

Steve Corino says that everyone is surprised at the attitude change from Adam Cole. Steve says that he always knew that Adam would become a big star. In three years, Adam went from a boy to a man. When they write the history of ROH, they won’t care about Kevin Steen, Davey Richards, Eddie Edwards, or Roderick Strong. They will only talk about the icon, Adam Cole, just like Matt Hardy.

We go to commercial.

We are back and Kevin Kelly mentions that Cole went on to win gold for the first time when he won the Television Title against Roderick Strong with the Florida Key.

One of the people who helped with the attitude change for Cole was Matt Hardy. We hear Matt’s comments from the November 10, 2012 episode of Ring of Honor Television.

At Final Battle 2012, Cole faced Matt Hardy in a Non-Title Match. The match is joined in progress.

We are back and Cole kicks Hardy out of the corner. Hardy with a Side Effect and he gets a near fall. Hardy with another Side Effect but Matt picks up Cole and hits another Side Effect but Cole kicks out. Hardy with one more Side Effect and he gets a near fall.

Hardy with a kick and he sets for the Twist of Fate but Cole sends Hardy into the turnbuckles. Cole runs into a boot. Hardy goes to the turnbuckles for a screaming elbow to the back of the head. Hardy sets for the Twist of Fate again but Cole with a super kick. Cole gets a near fall.

Both men struggle to get back to their feet and Cole is the first one up. Cole kicks Hardy until the referee pulls him off Hardy. Cole with more kicks and a warning. Hardy with a kick and Cole counters the Twist of Fate with a back slide and a near fall. Cole with a Twist of Fate for a near fall.

Hardy goes to the apron and he drops Cole on the top rope. Hardy with a waist lock and Cole with an enzuigiri and a Shining Wizard for a near fall. Cole with a kick to the midsection but Hardy with an Irish whip. Cole with an elbow but Hardy with Splash Mountain power bomb. Hardy prepares for the Twist of Fate and Cole avoids it again. Cole tries for the Florida Key but Hardy goes to the floor. Cole hits the Florida Key on the floor and both men are down.

Cole gets a near fall when they return to the ring. Hardy with a Twist of Fate but Cole kicks out. Hardy goes to the turnbuckles for another elbow but Cole pulls Hardy off the ropes. Cole applies a figure four leg lock again. Hardy tries to roll through to reverse the hold but Cole rolls through again. Hardy gets to the ropes. Cole with a waist lock but Hardy with an elbow and a low kick when the referee was blinded. Hardy with an inside cradle for the three count.

Adam Cole became more aggressive in 2013. Cole lost the Television title to Matt Taven and then he got a chance to win back the title in a Three Way Dance against Taven and Matt Hardy.

Cole eliminated Hardy after a kick to a tender area on Hardy’s body and an inside cradle.

Cole was given a chance to contend for the title, but before he could get the match against Steen, Jay Briscoe won the title. Cole would get his shot at the title against Jay Briscoe at Border Wars.

Jay Briscoe is asked to comment on Adam Cole and he gives a profanity laced tirade about Cole before storming off.

We go to commercial.

We are back with a look at the post match actions of Adam Cole after his loss to Jay Briscoe at Border Wars. Cole teases a super kick to Briscoe but he storms out of the ring.

Cole suffered loses to BJ Whitmer and Roderick Strong. Cole refused to comply with the Code of Honor.

Kevin talks about a change in Cole’s style and his desire to simply win matches. Cole won at Best in the World by count out against Roderick Strong.

Adam Cole was put in the Ring of Honor Title Tournament and he started his path to the World Title. We go to commercial.

We are back and it is time to take a look at Cole’s performances in the Ring of Honor Tournament.

Cole’s first opponent was Mark Briscoe and Cole won with a super kick followed by a Jay Driller.

Cole’s next opponent was Jay Lethal and Cole won with the Florida Key.

In the semi-finals, he defeated Tommaso Ciampa by pinfall after kicks to the head before locking in the figure four leg lock.

Cole faced Michael Elgin in the finals at Death Before Dishonor.

Match Number One: Adam Cole versus Michael Elgin for the Ring of Honor World Heavyweight Championship

They shake hands before the match starts, but Elgin was holding his neck as he made his way to the ring.

Elgin continues to hold his neck before locking up. Elgin pushes Cole to the mat and Cole sits in the corner before getting up. Cole with a side head lock but Elgin with a shoulder tackle and Cole stays on his feet. Elgin with a shoulder tackle and Cole goes to the floor. Cole returns to the apron and then gets back into the ring.

Cole with a waist lock but Elgin with a back elbow. Elgin catches Cole on a leap frog attempt and Elgin with a power slam for a near fall. Elgin sets for a buckle bomb but Cole with a back drop. Cole tries for the Florida Key but Elgin sends Cole to the floor. Cole returns to the ring. Elgin with a waist lock and Cole with a standing switch.

Elgin with a take down into a front face lock. Cole with a reversal into a front face lock of his own. Elgin with a wrist lock and Cole with a reversal. Elgin rolls through and he hits a drop kick. Elgin holds his neck again. Elgin with a series of Irish whips and then he presses Cole over his head and he slams Cole to the mat and gets a near fall.

Elgin holds his neck again. Elgin gets Cole up for the delayed vertical suplex but Cole gets back to his feet and Cole with a swinging neck breaker and Elgin is down and he holds his neck. Cole picks up Elgin and he snap mares Elgin and he drives a knee into Elgin’s back. Cole with a drop kick for a near fall. Cole with a snap mare and a cravate.

Elgin with a reversal and he hits a belly-to-back suplex and both men are down. Elgin gets a near fall. Elgin with a chop to Cole followed by a forearm. Cole with a DDT and he gets a near fall. Cole continues to focus on the neck and he applies a rear chin lock. Elgin with elbows to get out of the hold. Elgin with forearms but he misses a back fist.

Cole leaps on Elgin’s back and he applies a sleeper. Elgin falls to a knee but he gets back to his feet and he backs Cole into the turnbuckles. Cole with a bicycle kick but Elgin with a kick. Cole with an enzugiri but Elgin stays on his feet. Elgin tries for an O’Connor Roll but Cole holds on to the ropes. Elgin with a discus forearm but he misses a charge into the corner.

Elgin with an uranage in the corner and both men are down. Elgin with clotheslines to the throat and back of the neck. Elgin with a running clothesline into the corner and he sends Cole to the opposite corner for another clothesline. Elgin sends Cole off the ropes and hits a spinning side slam for a near fall.

Both men take their time getting back to their feet but Elgin is up first. Elgin tries for a deadlift German suplex but Cole gets free and he hits an enzuigiri. Cole with a Shining Wizard but Elgin kicks out at two. Cole pulls Elgin into the center of the ring for the figure four but Elgin kicks Cole to the floor. Cole with an enzuigiri from the floor when Elgin got into the ropes.

Elgin hits a delayed deadlift German suplex from the apron and gets a near fall. Elgin holds on to the waist lock and hits another German suplex and gets another near fall. Elgin sets for a buckle bomb but Cole runs Elgin into the corner. Cole runs into a boot and Elgin with a German suplex into the turnbuckles. Cole gets Elgin up for a Death Valley neck breaker and he gets a near fall.

Cole gets to his feet first and Elgin kicks Cole while Cole tries for the figure four again. Cole with a kick to the head followed by a second kick to the head. Elgin blocks a third kick and he connects with forearms. Cole joins in the exchange and Elgin goes ambidextrous and gets the advantage. Cole with a boot. Elgin has a bicycle kick blocked and Cole with a bicycle kick of his own.

Elgin with clotheslines to Cole against the ropes and he sets for a final one. Cole follows Elgin to the ropes but Elgin side steps him and Elgin with another German suplex. Cole misses a clothesline with the right arm but does not miss with the left and he gets a near fall. Elgin with a lariat and he gets a near fall.

Cole rolls to the apron while Elgin is still on the mat. Elgin gets up while Cole is still on his knees. Elgin wants to hit the deadlift superplex and Elgin puts Cole on the turnbuckles. Cole with forearms to the back and he hits a sunset flip power bomb followed by a kick to the head for a near fall.

Elgin gets Cole up for a suplex but turns it into a uranage and he gets a near fall. Cole rolls to the apron again. Cole with a shoulder and he tries for a springboard move but Elgin stops him with a drop kick. Elgin picks up Cole and hits a Super Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Elgin hits the buckle bomb but Cole comes out of the corner with a bicycle kick. Elgin responds with a back fist and Cole rolls to the floor.

The judges move from the table as Cole rolls under the table. Elgin goes to the floor and he moves the table. Elgin tries to pick up Cole but they both g to the apron. Elgin sets for a power bomb through the table but Cole drops to his knees. Cole with forearms and Cole tries for a German suplex through the table. Elgin with back elbows.

Elgin with a belly-to-back suplex off the apron but Cole turns his hips and he gets a lateral press as both men go through the table. The referee starts his count. Other officials make their way to ringside to check on the wrestlers. Cole gets in at fourteen while Elgin is still on the floor. Elgin gets back in at nineteen.

Cole gets to his feet and he waits for Elgin to get up. Cole with a super kick and Florida Key but Elgin kicks out at two. Cole picks up Elgin in the corner and he puts Elgin on the turnbuckles. Cole goes to the turnbuckles for a super German suplex but Elgin with elbows. Elgin knocks Cole to the mat and Elgin is met with a bicycle kick.

Cole sets for a superplex but Elgin counters with a super sit out power bomb followed by a buckle bomb. Cole with a jackknife cover for a near fall. Elgin blocks a super kick and Elgin with a forearm to the back of the head and a back fist. Elgin with another buckle bomb and he gets Cole up for the sit out power bomb but Cole’s leg catch the referee and he is down.

The referee was out of position and could not make the count. Elgin shows some frustration. Cole is on the floor recovering from what just happened to him. Elgin crawls to the floor and he gets Cole and rolls him back in. Elgin gets to the apron and Cole with a drop kick to the knee when Elgin comes back into the ring. Elgin’s left leg is caught in the ropes. Cole tries to take advantage and he applies the figure four leg lock.

Cole gets a near fall but Elgin gets his shoulders up. Elgin gets to the ropes and Cole has to release the hold. Elgin rolls to the apron and Cole hits a slingshot DDT onto the apron and then Cole with a suplex on the floor and he gets a near fall when they return to the ring.

Cole goes to the turnbuckles and he hits a double jump flip piledriver for a near fall. Cole almost hits the referee but he stops short. Elgin is down on the mat and Cole tries to think about what he needs to do to win the match. Cole tries to pick up Elgin but Elgin is not moving. He gets Elgin up and Cole tries for the Florida Key but Elgin backs Cole into the corner. Cole with a kick to the knee.

Cole tries for a second double jump flip piledriver but Elgin counters and he drops down and gets a near fall. Elgin with the Crossface but Cole gets a near fal with a rollup. Elgin with a forearm but Cole with a bicycle kick to the chest and then one to the back. As Elgin bounces off the ropes, he tries for a clothesline but Cole ducks it and he hits a German suplex. Cole with another German suplex followed by the Florida Key for the three count.

Winner: Adam Cole

After the match, Adam Cole celebrates his victory over Michael Elgin. Jay Briscoe comes to the ring with the title belt. Will Jay give Adam the title belt? Did he win with honor in the eyes of Jay Briscoe?

Jay walks slowly across the ring and he feels that Adam won with honor because he hands him the World Title belt, with some hesitation.

Adam takes the belt and he thanks Jay and shakes Jay’s hand. Jay turns around and Cole hits Jay in the back with a super kick. Cole hits Elgin in the head with the title belt.

Adam stands over a downed Elgin and Briscoe while holding the title belt over his head.

We go to credits.

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