UPDATE: Pat McAfee vs. Adam Cole Official For NXT Takeover XXX

UPDATE: It’s now official: Pat McAfee will face off with Adam Cole at NXT Takeover XXX. After McAfee accepted the challenge from Triple H on Cole’s behalf, WWE has now confirmed the match for the WWE Network event:

Want to be famous, Pat McAfee? Here’s your chance.

After Triple H laid down the challenge on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Pat McAfee agreed via social media to meet Adam Cole in the ring for a major showdown at NXT TakeOver XXX.

Cole and McAfee have long traded barbs, though only verbally — until recently as their hostility reached an entirely new level. The two were initially cordial when the former NXT Champion appeared on McAfee’s eponymous show last month. But McAfee’s repeated needling eventually drove Cole to fly off the handle and get in the former All-Pro punter’s face before storming out.

They appeared ready to bury the hatchet when McAfee came to NXT on Aug. 7. The ex-Indianapolis Colt clearly had other intentions, though, repeatedly disparaging Cole on commentary within earshot while his Undisputed ERA allies challenged Imperium for the NXT Tag Team Championship.

Eventually, Cole heard enough, confronting McAfee until they were separated by officials. But with Cole restrained, McAfee savagely seized his opportunity and left him lying unconscious after a massive punt.

While McAfee opportunistically got the better of Cole once, stepping into the ring for his first match against the longest-reigning NXT Champion in history is a much taller order. Has the brash broadcaster written a check he can’t cash, or can he shock the world?

Don’t miss an epic NXT TakeOver XXX on Saturday, August 22, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, streaming on the award-winning WWE Network.

It's on.@AdamColePro will battle @PatMcAfeeShow on August 22 at #NXTTakeOver: XXX!

Full details: https://t.co/VgJccrI81v pic.twitter.com/9yHP5KlJll

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 6, 2020

ORIGINAL: It’s more or less official: Pat McAfee will face Adam Cole in the ring at NXT Takeover XXX. As reported earlier today, Triple H challenged McAfee to face Cole in the ring at the Takeover event during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up after McAfee punted Cole in the head on last night’s NXT. Now, McAfee has accepted the match according to the WWE on FOX Twitter account.

If @PatMcAfeeShow wants to be "famous," @TripleH is ready to make it happen…

Triple H just told @GetUpESPN that he's challenging Pat McAfee to a match against @AdamColePro at #NXTTakeOver: XXX!!!

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) August 6, 2020

BREAKING NEWS:
Former @Colts Punter @PatMcAfeeShow has accepted @TripleH's challenge for a match with @AdamColePro at #NXTTakeOver: XXX. @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/wA3ITPDW9L

— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) August 6, 2020

WWE has not yet officially added the match to the card, but it appears to be set in everything but the technicalities. NXT Takeover XXX takes place on August 22nd and airs on WWE Network. The current card is:

* NXT Women’s Championship Match: Dakota Kai vs. Io Shirai
* NXT North American Championship Ladder Match: Bronson Reed vs. Damian Priest vs. Two More TBD
* Pat McAfee vs. Adam Cole