Report: Concern Existed Within AEW About Possible Adam Cole Retirement

Adam Cole made his surprise return to AEW on the January 11 edition of Dynamite, confirming that he was back after a six month absence from the company.

Apart from a betrayal segment with reDRagon and The Young Bucks in August, Cole was absent from all AEW TV since suffering a concussion at Forbidden Door in June 2022, with updates about Cole’s condition few and far between.

According to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live, there was genuine concern in AEW that Cole may have had to retire due to his injuries:

“I was given the impression there was definitely concern at points that he was never ever ever coming back, and now he’s back,” said Alvarez, before talking about the dangers of concussions.

Cole joined AEW in September 2021, making his debut after the main event of All Out 2021. Since joining he has been involved in several high profile feuds, including a series of matches for the AEW World Championship with Hangman Page in early 2022.