The scene opened in the Combat Zone Wrestling “dojo” in Philadelphia, where Adam Cole had started training back in 2007, while he was still a senior in high school. On the wall was a photo of Cole with the CZW Junior Heavyweight Championship, which Cole had won in 2010. 15 years later, Cole’s 553-day reign was still the longest reign in the history of that championship, and although since then Cole had gone onto much greater successes, recently he felt like success had been hard to come by. That was why Cole was back in CZW; there was nothing like going back to the place where you started to remind you how far you had come. Standing in the ring with Cole was his longtime friend and tag team partner, Roderick Strong. Until reuniting with Strong last year, Cole had spent much of the past few years pushing himself as a “lone wolf”, determined to achieve success on his own. But having Strong by his side had reminded him that success was much easier to come by when you had someone in your corner. Cole and Strong spent a few minutes training together, before taking a break and exiting the ring. After taking a sip of water, Cole looked up at the camera. With a cocky smirk, Cole ran a hand through his hair before stepping forward and beginning to speak.
Adam Cole: It’s that time of year again… Last Survivor. Thirty men enter, one man stands tall. The winner gets a golden ticket straight to the main event of Fallout, where a shot at one of the most prestigious prizes in all of professional wrestling the EBWF World Championship, awaits. A championship that, quite frankly, should have been mine a long time ago. But, nah, see, there has always been someone in the way. Someone pulling the strings to keep Adam Cole from ascending to the top where he belongs.
Cole sneered, shaking his head.
Adam Cole: For years, I have been the workhorse of this company. I’ve held the Breakout Championship. I’ve held the Gateway Championship. I’ve held both championships at the same time, and I issued open challenges each and every week. I have proven myself time and time again, not just in EBWF but throughout my 17-year career in this business. But the EBWF World Championship? Somehow, it’s always just out of reach. Funny how that works, huh? Almost like Wes Ikeda and Chris Jericho are afraid of what will happen when Adam Cole takes that title and becomes the face of this company. But guess what, boys? You can’t stop destiny. And my destiny starts at Last Survivor, about 15 minutes into the main event, when I enter the men’s Last Survivor match at number twelve. And three spots later, my right-hand man, Roderick Strong, enters at number fifteen.
Roderick Strong, who was standing beside Cole with his arms crossed, smirked and nodded.
Roderick Strong: And together, we’re gonna run through that match like a goddamn wrecking ball.
Cole nodded.
Adam Cole: You see, the other 28 guys in this match? They’re walking into OUR house. This is The Unleashed’s domain now, and we’re not just here to survive… we’re here to DOMINATE. And, oh, trust me, Roddy and I aren’t coming alone. We’ve got a little surprise in store... someone who makes us even more dangerous. But we’ll keep that one under wraps for now. Wouldn’t want to ruin the suspense.
Cole chuckled and winked at the camera before turning his attention to the competition.
Adam Cole: So, let’s talk about the so-called ‘competition’ in this match. Rey and Dominik Mysterio. Two guys who have been hanging around EBWF for way too long without doing a damn thing. Rey, are you even wearing a mask these days? Who the hell knows? Who the hell cares? The only thing worse than an old-timer taking up a roster spot is a little nepotism project like Dominik getting a free ride just because of daddy’s legacy. The kid's got nothing. No presence, no skill, no business being in this match.
Roderick Strong: And they think they’re gonna stand a chance against US? Give me a break.
Adam Cole: Then there’s Rex Steiner. Big, scary dude, right? Yeah, if you’re an out-of-shape old man. Your father Rick, your uncle Scott, Bill Golderg… so far, Rex, the only thing you’ve done is take down relics from the past. You think that makes you a threat to me? You’re nothing but another guy riding on your family’s name. If your last name wasn’t Steiner, you’d be wrestling in front of twenty people at a bingo hall somewhere.
Cole shook his head in mock disappointment.
Adam Cole: And the nepotism continues… Austin Gunn. Oh, man. “The Lone Gunn”, huh? You’re trying so hard to escape the shadow of your father, but the truth is, Austin, you’ll never be more than Billy Gunn’s kid. You almost were. I mean, most people have forgotten about this by now, but I remember when you actually won the Last Survivor match in 2022! And let’s be real - that was one of the lowest moments in EBWF history. Do you know what else I remember, Austin? I remember that you never got your World Title shot, and that it was “allegedly” because of a knee injury…
There was a hint of cynicism in Cole’s voice, and he rolled his eyes before continuing.
Adam Cole: Please. The smarks know the truth, and I do too… Wes Ikeda pulled you from that match because even he knew that putting you in a pay-per-view main event would have tanked the buy rate.
Roderick Strong: And yet, he’s still here, still thinking he’s relevant.
Adam Cole: And speaking of people that aren’t relevant, Brian Cage and Mads Krugger. Is EBWF running some kind of charity programme for big, brainless brutes? Roddy and I already put those two meatheads in their place on Warfare last week, and I can’t wait to do it again. Cage and Kruger, they’ve got all the muscle in the world, but zero ring awareness or intelligence. Strength only gets you so far when you’re too damn stupid to use it effectively. The Unleashed have already proved we’re superior.
Cole paused for a moment and asked Strong to pass him a clipboard. Strong did so, and as Cole looked down at the names on the clipboard, he smiled.
Adam Cole: Say his name, and he appears… but I don’t believe in Joe Hendry. Look, I get it. You’re funny. You’ve got charisma. People on the internet believe in you. But here’s the reality of the situation, Joe… you’re just a modern-day Zack Ryder. Getting yourself over on social media doesn’t mean you’re cut out for the main event; you can have all the charisma and creativity in the world, but it doesn’t count for shit if you can’t back it up in the ring. You like your hit songs, don’t you Joe? Didn’t your theme song make waves in the UK charts a few months ago? Well, when I step into that ring with you Joe, there’s gonna be two hits. First, I hit you with a superkick. Second, you hit the floor when I throw your ass over the top rope.
Roderick Strong: Short-lived EBWF career.
Adam Cole: Here’s hoping! I pray to God that he doesn’t end up having a long career her like The Miz… because I absolutely despise The Miz. This guy is the poster boy for mediocrity. He’s held the EBWF World Title several times, and that is a crime against professional wrestling. And his tag team partner, Matthew Riddle? He’s an even bigger joke! Honestly, Roddy, I am praying that Riddle gets selected for a “random” drug test before the show, so he gets suspended and denied the opportunity to stink out the arena. And I mean that in more ways than one.
Cole smirked, running a hand down his face as he feigned exhaustion. When he looked at the next name on his list, Cole raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Adam Cole: Oh… Seth Rollins. Now, here’s a guy I actually respect. Like me, he came up through Ring of Honor. We never crossed paths there, which is probably for the best. If we had, I would have outshone you so much, you never would have gotten called down to Florida.
Roderick Strong: Tough break, Seth.
Adam Cole: Then there’s James Storm. This guy is the current Breakout Champion? What a joke. The only thing that “cowboy” has broken out of recently are the jeans that don’t fit him anymore!
Strong laughed as Cole smirked. However, as Cole looked back at his clipboard, his face darkened.
Adam Cole: And then there’s Chris Jericho. My sworn enemy, and the man I would drive out of EBWF for good if I could. Unfortunately, the poison is rooted in too deeply. Chris, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. You’re a gatekeeper. You’re supposed to be building new talent, to secure the future of this company, but instead you’re here to hold them down, so you can cling to relevance. You might have won the Last Survivor match last year, but the only reason that happened is because I didn’t enter. I hate you, Jericho, and I would love nothing more than to throw you over the top rope and be the man who finally puts you out to pasture.
Roderick Strong: That’d be poetic justice.
Adam Cole: Moving on, who’ve we got next… well, it’s The Big Show! Or as I like to think of him, Captain Insano. A huge guy, sure… the clue is in the name. But his knees are shot from all those years of holding up all that excessive weight… and if there’s one thing Roddy and I do well, it’s targeting our opponents’ weaknesses. As they say, “the bigger they are, the harder they fall”… and trust me, Paul, you’re gonna fall. And speaking of men with weak knees, give it up for Stone Cold Steve Austin! You really were the surprise package of last year’s Last Survivor match, weren’t you Steve? Making it all the way to the final two, against all odds.
Cole and Strong applauded sarcastically.
Adam Cole: But he’s a spoiler, Steve… history isn’t going to repeat itself for you tonight. Not on our watch. Who’s next? Jon Moxley? Boring. Damian Priest? How times have changed. This time last year, I was challenging you for the EBWF World Championship. You were on top of the world, unbeaten and on course to break the record for the longest World Title reign in EBWF’s history. You beat me, and there’s no denying that you were the better man that night. But a few months later, the streak was over. CM Punk ended your title reign, ended your unbeaten run… and you faded into the background. You let Miz and Punk trade that World Title back and forth, while you did what? Go on vacation? Let your sister braid your hair? You could have kept your place on that throne, and been EBWF’s top guy, but when you lost that World Title, you disappeared into obscurity. You might have bested me a year ago, but I’ve been in the ascendancy since then. If you and I went one on one now, the outcome would be very different. Speaking of which… if I don’t win the Last Survivor match, consider this advance warning that I’ll be coming after you to reclaim my Gateway Championship.
As Cole went to look back at his clipboard, Roderick Strong took it away from him.
Roderick Strong: You know who’s next, don’t you?
Cole nodded.
Adam Cole: Edge and Randy Orton… the other two guys we tried to drive out of EBWF. And it worked, for a while… they were gone for many months. They even no showed the King of the Ring tournament. But once we started making waves, they came back and tried to take us down. Edge, Randy, after you attacked us at Christmas Eve of Destruction, Roddy and I were ready for war. But what happened? You faded right back into your usual EBWF role, making more of a mark in catering than anywhere else, cracking your dad jokes with Renee Young.
Roderick Strong: I’ll tell you what’s a joke, Adam. The fact they’re still the recognised Tag Team Champions, even though they haven’t defended those titles since they won them almost five years ago!
Adam Cole: They’ve got to stay relevant somehow, Roddy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Randy called in a favour with his brother-in-law to make sure Pepsi Phil beat Priest, in order to keep Randy’s World Title record intact. You and I both know how things work around here. That’s why we’re trying to change it.
Strong muttered the word “true”, and Cole continued.
Adam Cole: Just a couple of names left on our list now. First, there’s Alex Shelley. Another blast from the past, and yet another guy who only has a role in EBWF because he's friends with the Ikedas. Alex, this isn’t personal – I’m sure you’re a nice guy, and I respect everything you’ve accomplished in your career. But you and I both know that your biggest accomplishments in wrestling have been as a tag team wrestler, and as a singles guy, you just aren’t up to scratch. And finally, we have Hook. Hook, you’re in the rare category as one of the few guys in this match I actually respect. Sure, you’ve benefitted from nepotism like several of the other guys in this match… but you’ve tried to forge your own path, and you’ve stood out from the crowd as a result. But you’re stubborn, and that could be your downfall. You could be a star, Hook, if you had Roddy and me guiding you. With us by your side, you would be unstoppable. But I fear you’re too stupid or naïve to realise that, and if I’m right, heed my warning… Step aside, or we will destroy you.
Cole stepped forward, his eyes burning with intensity.
Adam Cole: At Last Survivor, The Unleashed is taking over. And when that bell rings and it’s all said and done, the last man standing is going to be… ADAM COLE, BAY-BAY!
Adam Cole raised his arms in the air, imagining that moment. His face was practically glowing as he pictured it. The scene faded with Cole and Strong bumping fists, their confidence undeniable.
