Two serious injuries in a short period of time cost AEW star Adam Cole a year and a half of his career. Now he’s back – is the ordeal finally over?
He is one of the best wrestlers in the world and would probably have long since become a world champion with WWE rival AEW if his health had allowed. Instead, Adam Cole’s story has become a real drama in recent years.
On Saturday night, the former WWE star made his comeback at the Pay Per-View WrestleDream after more than a year’s forced break – the second long break within two years. Is the long ordeal finally over?
AEW star Adam Cole thought his career was over
Flashback: Cole’s ordeal began in June 2022, when he collapsed after an unsuccessful action during the show Forbidden Door and needed medical attention.
Cole – part of the big wave of debuts in fall 2021 with Bryan Danielson and CM Punk, who has since returned to WWE – suffered a concussion, the second within a short period of time, in addition to severe shoulder problems that had previously also plagued him.
The breakdown at Forbidden Door had serious consequences, as Cole later reported: He would have had to see the doctor several times a week for a long time, would have had headaches and dizziness several times a day, and would not have been able to withstand car rides longer than 15 minutes without vomiting.
His sleep was even worse: Cole would suffer from anxiety attacks and wake up at three in the morning with a racing heart. The problems were so severe that he thought his wrestling career was over.
Second major shock eight months after his comeback
Cole fought his way back after six months, moved to the center of AEW with his big story with ex-champion MJF, fought in the historic and enormously atmospheric main event of the first big AEW Megashow All In at London’s Wembley Stadium – but the next shock followed just a few months later.
At the Grand Slam show in New York in September 2023, Cole was seriously injured again when he landed badly after jumping off the entrance ramp. He suffered a triple ankle fracture and multiple torn ligaments.
AEW tried to make the best of the situation, going ahead with the planned resolution of the story with MJF despite the injury, in which Cole revealed himself as the masked “Devil” who haunted his supposed friend and ultimately cost him the title.
Logic of the feud with MJF turned upside down
However, because Cole’s comeback continued to be delayed, the planned rivalry between MJF and Cole’s Undisputed Kingdom (Roderick Strong, Wardlow, Mike Bennett, Matt Taven) came to nothing. Because MJF lost momentum in the role of the crowd favorite, he made another heel turn in the summer.
Now Cole is back under new circumstances that turn the logic of the feud on its head, attacking MJF at WrestleDream and presenting himself as a celebrated babyface again.
It remains to be seen whether the story of the two will regain the momentum it had last summer – and whether Cole will be able to stay fit longer this time.
