Report: Adam Cole’s WWE contract expires after SummerSlam weekend, here’s why he signed short-term deal after Great American Bash

It’s been reported that Adam Cole’s WWE deal will expire at the end of August.

Cole, 32, is the longest reigning NXT champion of all-time and has been a crown jewel for WWE’s NXT brand.

Cole is a man fans are desperate to see on the main roster, but they might not get the chance now

Wrestling Inc are reporting that Cole had been rumored to have his contract expire in 2024, but his deal is expiring this month after SummerSlam [August 21].

It’s worth noting NXT will hold TakeOver 36 the night after SummerSlam from the Capitol Wrestling Center on August 22. As it stands, that would be Cole’s last contracted appearance.

“Cole’s contract was actually up after the Great American Bash, but he extended it.

“Cole has a lot of options in front of him, including companies who are not even in the current wrestling space,” Wrestling Inc wrote.

WWE

Adam Cole is the longest-reigning NXT champion ever

talkSPORT understands Cole extended his deal in order to put over Kyle O’Reilly at TakeOver.

It’s not common practice for their to be a non-compete with a contract’s expiry, but as part of the extension, Cole also managed to ‘kill the non-compete clause’ he would have had to fulfil.

Of course, it’s not out of the question that Cole could stay with WWE and re-sign.

Triple H, the leader of NXT, will do everything in his power to convince the former leader of the Undisputed Era to stay. The Game has publicly waxed lyrical about Cole on many, many occasions.

Cole [right, center] with AEW EVPs The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega

However, Cole’s real-life partner, is AEW Women’s champion Britt Baker. Cole is also a former Bullet Club member – like The Elite – and has history with many of AEW’s current roster in Ring of Honor, PWG and beyond.

There’s certainly a compelling case for AEW, although we don’t know what Cole is thinking or likely to do at this stage.

However, if he wanted to re-sign with WWE, it’s likely he would have done so by now rather than taking a short-term deal.

WWE

Cole has been one of Triple H’s prized assets

The Undisputed Era that Cole led with O’Reilly, Bobby Fish and Roderick Strong was one of WWE’s hottest factions of the past decade.

They broke up earlier this year with Cole programmed against O’Reilly – they’ve met twice thus far with one win apiece.

Strong branched off to lead a new stable called Diamond Mine and Fish is floating around the roster as singles competitor.

Undisputed Era – Roderick Strong, Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly

WWE have been exercising budget cuts over the past four months and have released a slew of top stars as a result with Bray Wyatt being the latest victim.

However, if Cole decided to leave the company before ever getting a real run on the main roster, that would no doubt be a big blow.