Adam Cole's Last 10 Losses, Ranked Worst To Best
Elijah King
Published Mar 27, 2026
Adam Cole (Bay Bay!) has been one of All Elite Wrestling’s biggest stars since his debut at the All Out Pay-Per-View last year, quickly becoming one of the company’s top heels. While some viewers believe his AEW run has been lackluster, it is hard to deny Cole's fantastic promo and character work, as well as highly exciting in-ring prowess, have dazzled viewers both in AEW, and previously in NXT as leader of the ‘Undisputed Era’.
RELATED: Adam Cole's 10 Best AEW Matches So Far
A top tier star wherever he goes, Cole is rarely defeated in singles competition but when he is, it is always a significant moment. Which losses rank as Cole’s best in terms of match quality and the story told?
10 Vs. Orange Cassidy, Lights Out Match, AEW Dynamite #122 – Beach Break
While this did fail to live up to the billing of a ‘Lights Out’ match, this was still a very good and highly entertaining main event. Great, brutal spots as you’d expect throughout with a good story to boot as Cole targeted Cassidy’s arm and Cassidy sold very well in turn. The dynamic was great also with run-ins from the likes of the Young Bucks and Danhausen making his debut from underneath the ring. Lots of fun with an invested crowd and a spectacular ending with both men flying off the stage as Cassidy handed Cole his first, unofficial, AEW loss. Strong effort top to bottom.
9 Vs. Keith Lee, NXT North American Championship & NXT Championship, NXT TV #408 – Great American Bash 2020: Night 2 Taping
A great match in this Winner Takes All bout with both Lees NXT North American Championship, and Cole’s NXT Championship, on the line. A unique clash of styles as Cole utilized his explosive offense to disarm the powerhouse Lee as the match slowly heated up. While the lack of a crowd did hurt this slightly, it did not take away from an excellent performance from both men, particularly Cole.
Throwing everything he possibly could at Lee for some nail-biting near falls yet unable to prevail, the drama and intensity was splendid in the final stretch. Lee would ultimately conquer Cole to become double champion in a historic moment and a very strong match-up.
8 Vs. Finn Balor, NXT Championship, NXT TV #443
A great match between Cole and Finn Balor here, with Balor defending his NXT Championship after defeating Cole for the vacant title a few months beforehand. A slower pace in the first two-thirds but clever, good in-ring work regardless.
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However, the final third was where this became phenomenal with excellent exchanges, counters, and moments as Kyle O’Reilly’s distraction proved crucial with Balor retaining triumphantly. The drama in the final stretch was also stellar, with a great performance from both men in a very strong main event.
7 Vs. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, Texas Deathmatch, AEW World Championship, AEW Rampage #37
A great Texas Deathmatch here between Adam Page and Cole, as Page defended his AEW World Championship against Cole for the second time. While not quite reaching the same level as their Revolution bout, this achieved its desired outcome with great brawling, brutal spots, and a blistering closing stretch. The crowd was invested throughout with superb moments of storytelling as well. An emphatic ending as Page wrapped barbed wire around the head of Cole, hitting the Deadeye through a table for the win to retain in a very strong world title bout.
6 Vs. Finn Balor, NXT Championship, NXT TV #417 – Super Tuesday II
Another excellent match here between Cole and Balor for the vacant NXT Championship. Good early mat work with a slower middle section, but once it heated up this was everything fans would expect from two wrestlers as talented as Balor and Cole. Great targeting of the leg by Cole and subsequent selling by Balor, with a blistering final few minutes where the two threw everything at one another yet kicked out each time. The drama was superb with Balor finally emerging victorious after a 1916 from the top rope to be crowned NXT Champion for the second time. The finish was a tad abrupt but otherwise, stellar bout overall to open the show.
5 Vs. Jay White, ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, & Kazuchika Okada, IWGP World Heavyweight Championship, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door
A frenetic four-way for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship as ‘Switchblade’ Jay White defended against Kazuchika Okada, Adam Page, and Cole. Stellar in-ring action throughout with each star getting an opportunity to shine, with the U.S. crowd hot for Okada in particular. The pace was excellent also as the match built in intensity and drama splendidly, with fantastic sequences and clever storytelling interwoven particularly with Cole and White. An abrupt finish with White pinning Cole to retain due to Cole being injured during the action, in an unfortunate ending to an otherwise excellent match.
4 Vs. Kyle O’Reilly, 2 Out Of 3 Falls, NXT TakeOver 36
This was a great 2 out of 3 falls match at NXT’s TakeOver 36, although it did not achieve the same level as their Unsanctioned bout a couple of months earlier. Stellar in-ring work throughout with captivating storytelling as always, with O’Reilly scoring a roll-up for the first fall in surprising fashion. The second fall street fight is where the action increased with intense, brutal use of weapons and fantastic spots throughout.
Cole would score the second fall, but O’Reilly persevered fighting back valiantly forcing Cole to submit for the third fall inside a Steel Cage. While still a stellar match-up, the story suffered at times due to a disheartening Performance Centre crowd as well as an abrupt ending. But, regardless, a great final bout for Cole in NXT/WWE and a deserved win for O’Reilly.
3 Vs. Karrion Kross, Johnny Gargano, Pete Dunne, Kyle O’Reilly, Fatal 5-Way, NXT Championship, NXT TakeOver: In Your House 2021
Very strong Fatal 5-Way match here for the NXT Championship at NXT TakeOver: In Your House 2021. While viewers at the time were split on Kross’ performances, he held his own as a monstrous presence, although the match heated up significantly when the other four tremendous performers involved traded dazzling sequences, maneuvers, and fast-paced spots in a blistering sprint. Despite this, each superstar delivered their role splendidly with any competitor looking like a possible winner. The drama was off the charts in the final stretch, but Kross would retain after locking in a sleeper on O’Reilly. Stellar match-up.
2 Vs. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, AEW World Championship, AEW Revolution 2022
This was a spectacular main event bout at the Revolution PPV earlier this year, with Adam Page defending his AEW World Championship against Cole. The dynamic was excellent with the sneaky Cole opposite the prideful Page, as Cole targeted Page’s arm early. The in-ring action was stellar throughout with the final third particularly enthralling.
RELATED: Every Hangman Page AEW World Title Match, Ranked From Worst To Best
Terrific sequences, breathtaking near falls, and fluid maneuvers here with a lack of selling the only flaw. The finish was superb as well with the Dark Order ridding ReDragon from ringside as Page hits both Cole’s finisher, and the Buckshot Lariat, to retain in a sensational main event from Cole and Page.
1 Vs. Kyle O’Reilly, Unsanctioned Match, NXT TV #448 – TakeOver: Stand & Deliver – Day 2
An absolute war between Cole and Kyle O’Reilly in this epic Unsanctioned match that lasted just over forty minutes. The action was utterly brutal as both men sold their disdain for the other incredibly well, with an array of incredible sequences and a fantastic integration of weapons to boot. The physicality, intensity, and emotion were off the charts as O’Reilly valiantly fought back even after taking a ridiculous amount of punishment.
The spots were simply unbelievable leaving viewers’ jaws dropped with their extreme nature in a true battle, as O’Reilly survived to emerge victorious after a vicious knee drop involving both a steel chain and chair. The only downside here was the frustrating Performance Center crowd once again. Otherwise, incredible match top to bottom and Cole's greatest loss in recent memory.
