"I'm going in there hoping to kick his ass pretty quick!"
That's Pat McAfee laying out his gameplan for beating Adam Cole at NXT TakeOver XXX ... with the ex-NFL punter telling TMZ Live he thinks he's got a real shot to win!!
Of course, McAfee's never professionally wrestled in his life ... but he's had a serious bone to pick with Cole ever since the wrestling star blew up on him on his show last month.
If you missed it ... the scene was crazy -- Pat made a comment implying Cole had used other wrestlers to grow his status -- and Adam WENT OFF!