Adam Cole Is Really Bothered By People Calling NXT ‘Developmental’ For WWE

WWE has a few operating brands right now and NXT has always been viewed as the main roster’s developmental territory. It was FCW prior to that, and OVW prior to that. Adam Cole has an issue with people who still consider NXT as WWE’s developmental brand.

While talking to After The Bell, Adam Cole said that it bothers him “a lot” to hear people refer to NXT as WWE’s developmental brand. He has worked hard to help elevate the NXT roster to something even greater than that.

“It bothers me a lot, to some extent though. I always try to be a glass half-full guy in a lot of ways. Of course, there is an aspect to NXT, or The Performance Center, where of course, there is developmental. There are people who get hired with wrestling experience, with no wrestling experience, and it’s the process of hopefully getting to that point where they end up on NXT Television. But to say the roster of the guys who are on NXT every single week, as far as developmental goes, I really do believe that we are on the same level as the guys on RAW and the guys on SmackDown.

“The process of development though is something that happens all the time. I’ve been wrestling for over 13 years, and I’m constantly developing. I don’t ever want to get out of developmental. It’s so cool for me to be around guys like Shawn Michaels, HHH, or Matt Bloom, whom they themselves are open to admitting that they’re still learning. If those guys are open about learning, we definitely better be open to it. I’ve always kept that mentality. I’ve always kept that thought process. If I’m not getting better every single year, every single match, then I have to get out of it. I’m proudly developing in that sense.”

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Adam Cole is very proud of everything that the black and gold brand has been able to accomplish. They have grown a lot since he signed on. WWE has not called his name for the main roster yet, and some have considered him an NXT “lifer.” We’ll just have to see if Vince McMahon ever picks him for a call-up. In the meantime, he will do whatever he can to keep people interested in NXT.

Cole has a battle coming up against Kyle O’Reilly at the Great American Bash. Perhaps those two will battle for the final time during that USA Network special.

What’s your take of Adam Cole’s comments on NXT? Sound off in the comments!