6 days ago
Adam Cole Was Reportedly Ready To Retire At AEW All In: Texas
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The emotional in-ring segment at AEW All In: Texas, where Adam Cole vacated the TNT Championship, was completely legitimate. According to a new report, the star's wrestling future is now in serious doubt following a legitimate injury.
On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Live, host Bryan Alvarez provided details on the situation. He confirmed the severity of Cole's injury and the reality of what fans witnessed at the pay-per-view.
A Legitimate Injury To Adam Cole
Alvarez reported that Adam Cole suffered a legitimate concussion during his match against Kyle Fletcher on the Thursday night episode of AEW Collision, just two days before All In.
"Kyle Fletcher lariated him right in the jaw, and he ended up with a concussion," Alvarez stated (H/T to
He stressed that Cole's emotional promo at All In, where he vacated the title, was not part of a storyline. The pain and uncertainty were real.
"Everything that you saw on television was 100% legitimate, everything he said, all of it," Alvarez said.
Adam Cole's History Of Head Injuries
This latest injury is especially concerning given Adam Cole's history with severe concussions. In 2022, he suffered a major concussion at the Forbidden Door pay-per-view that kept him out of action for nine months.
During that time, Cole spoke openly about the severity of the injury, which included memory loss and a real fear that he would never be medically cleared to wrestle again.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Adam Cole appears onstage during the All Elite Wrestling Invades New York Comic Con panel during Day 3 of New York Comic Con 2021 at Jacob Javits Center...
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 09: Adam Cole appears onstage during the All Elite Wrestling Invades New York Comic Con panel during Day 3 of New York Comic Con 2021 at Jacob Javits Center on October 09, 2021 in New York City. More
For him to suffer another significant concussion after returning from that career-threatening injury puts his future as an in-ring performer in serious jeopardy.
The situation was reportedly so serious that Adam Cole was prepared to announce his retirement from professional wrestling live on the pay-per-view. Alvarez revealed that the decision to hold off on a final announcement was made to give Cole time.
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"From what I can gather... he was pretty much ready to go out on Saturday and retire," Alvarez revealed. "And I guess... cooler heads prevailed, and it's exactly what he said. He was like, 'I'm not in the right headspace to make that decision right now.'"
Alvarez concluded that Cole's future remains uncertain, and it will be up to Cole to make a final decision when he feels he is ready.
In the wake of Cole vacating the TNT Championship, a four-way match was held at All In. The match saw Dustin Rhodes capture the title for the first time in his legendary career.
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