Adam Cole

Adam Cole's WWE contract reportedly does not expire until later this week.

According to Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio, Cole's WWE contract is up at the end of the week, meaning he isn't yet a free agent and can't yet negotiate with other companies.

It was also reported by Fightful Select (h/t Comicbook.com's Connor Casey) that Cole's WWE contract expires Friday, and the expectation is that WWE will make at least one more contract offer in an effort to get him to stay.

Cole lost to Kyle O'Reilly in a 2-Out-of-3 Falls match at NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday. It is widely believed that it was Cole's final NXT match, and there has since been plenty of speculation regarding him potentially signing with AEW.

While no substantiated reports have established that Cole to AEW is imminent, some within AEW have teased the possibility of it happening.

After Cole lost to O'Reilly, The Young Bucks changed their Twitter bio to make references to Cole, while Kenny Omega posted a photo of Cole on Instagram.

Cole worked closely with The Young Bucks and Omega in both Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro-Wrestling and is known to be friends with them. Also, Cole's girlfriend, Britt Baker, is the reigning AEW women's world champion.

Several former WWE stars have signed with AEW since being released over the past several months, including Miro, Malakai Black and Andrade El Idolo.

Also, former WWE star CM Punk debuted for AEW last week, and Daniel Bryan is rumored to be signing with AEW as well.

The 32-year-old Cole signed with WWE in 2017 after a successful run in ROH that saw him hold the ROH World Championship three times.

Cole has worked almost exclusively in NXT for WWE, and he was the longest-reigning NXT champion of all time. Cole did have a few main roster moments, though, including beating Daniel Bryan in a match on SmackDown in 2019 and beating Pete Dunne at Survivor Series 2019.

It was reported earlier this month by Fightful (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Joshua Gagnon) that Cole met with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon backstage at SmackDown.

McMahon was said to have taken a liking to Cole on a personal level, and the wheels were set in motion for pitches to be made for Cole's move up to the main roster.

It is unclear if WWE has made any official contract offers to Cole since that meeting, but based on multiple reports, Cole has not signed a new deal with WWE as of yet.

While Cole doesn't have prototypical size, he is one of the best talkers in the business and an excellent heel, which could make him a success on WWE's main roster, AEW or any other wrestling company.

It will be a big deal when Cole finally does make a decision, but it looks as though he won't be able to make his next move until next week at the earliest.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

In perhaps the final chapter of their rivalry, Kyle O'Reilly defeated Adam Cole in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match at NXT TakeOver 36 on Sunday night.

O'Reilly and Cole split the first two falls to set up the decisive steel cage match.

Cole appeared to have O'Reilly in a vulnerable position when he handcuffed him to the cage. Somehow, O'Reilly managed to apply a heel hook on his one-time friend. With nowhere to escape to and no way to break the hold, Cole tapped out.

Just a couple of weeks before the pay-per-view, the 2-out-of-3 Falls stipulation was announced with O'Reilly choosing a basic singles match, Cole choosing a Street Fight and NXT general manager William Regal choosing a cage match as the deciding third fall.

Cole and O'Reilly had been at each other's throats ever since the dissolution of Undisputed Era at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day in February.

The stable saved Finn Balor from a post-match attack at the hands of Pete Dunne, Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, only for Cole to lay out both Balor and O'Reilly with superkicks.

Cole then put O'Reilly on the shelf in subsequent weeks by suplexing him on the steel steps, which is something they would proceed to do to each other multiple times during their feud.

The former Undisputed Era stablemates clashed for the first time in NXT when they met in the main event of NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver in an unsanctioned match. O'Reilly was victorious when he drove Cole's head into a steel chair with a top-rope knee.

That was far from the end of their rivalry, as Cole was out for revenge and said their match at Stand & Deliver didn't even count since it was unsanctioned.

As a result, they met again on the special Great American Bash episode of NXT. Cole turned things around in the rematch by beating O'Reilly to even the series at 1-1.

Cole winning did little to quell the issues between them, and when it became clear that neither Superstar would rest until they put the other down for good, Regal booked the match for TakeOver 36.

Given Cole's uncertain contract status with WWE, as reported by Wrestling Inc's Raj Giri, there was some question whether Sunday could be the date of his final match with the company.

O'Reilly winning could be a sign that Cole is off to wrestle elsewhere, or it could mean the time has finally come for him to join the main roster.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

WWE is reportedly putting all hands on deck in order to retain Adam Cole.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Jason Ounpraseuth of Wrestling Inc) said writers have been instructed to write main-roster storylines for Cole, who is set to become a free agent after SummerSlam on August 21.

Cole has been with NXT throughout his time in WWE, becoming one of the most decorated stars in the brand's history.

His impending free agency led to some speculation he would be soon heading to All Elite Wrestling given he has several ties to the promotion. Cole's longtime girlfriend, Britt Baker, is the AEW women's champion, and he is a former member of the Bullet Club with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.

"It's no secret he comes to AEW sometimes and hangs out in the back," Baker said on Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette. She continued:

"His best friends are the Bucks and Kenny, so he’s got tons of friends there. I know this is going to create probably a little bit of controversy but I would love to work in the same company one day. I think that would make things a little bit easier. With that being said, I’m probably never leaving AEW because that’s my home."

Cole's fit on the main roster has always been a little iffy because guys of his stature are not typically featured at the top of the card in WWE. Meanwhile, AEW has several top stars who do not fit in the traditional WWE mold.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).