Impact of Adam Cole’s Ankle Injury on AEWImpact of Adam Cole’s Ankle Injury on AEW Adam Cole’s ankle injury at last year’s AEW Grand Slam, which resulted in fractures in three separate places, has significantly affected AEW’s plans, according to Tony Khan. Khan revealed that Cole’s injury disrupted major storylines, particularly his main event match against MJF at Wembley Stadium. The absence of Cole and John Moxley, who was also injured that night, forced AEW to readjust their programming. “He’s one of our top stars; we love Adam Cole in AEW,” Khan said. “I think the injury really affected us in a lot of ways. First of all, you lose a great star of the TV show, someone that the fans want to see whenever they can be in AEW.” Despite the challenges, Khan expressed pride in AEW’s response, citing the successful WrestleDream pay-per-view as proof of their adaptability. He emphasized Cole’s popularity and resilience, noting his previous successes despite injuries. “Now that Adam Cole is out, a lot has changed,” Khan said. “He’s on the road to recovery; he’s coming back and I’m really excited about that. I can’t wait to have Adam Cole back in AEW; he’s one of my favorite wrestlers.” Khan acknowledged that Cole’s return has faced setbacks due to the complexity of his injury. However, he remains optimistic about Cole’s future in AEW and the potential for him to continue making significant contributions. Whether Adam Cole will make his in-ring return this year remains to be seen. However, AEW fans eagerly await his recovery and the potential storylines and matches that will unfold upon his return.
Adam Cole’s ankle injury at last year’s AEW Grand Slam, which resulted in fractures in three separate places, has put a major dent in his wrestling plans. Despite undergoing surgery last year, his return to the ring has been delayed and Tony Khan has now revealed how Cole’s injury has affected multiple plans in AEW.
Speaking to SportsGrid, Tony Khan addressed the impact of Adam Cole’s injury on AEW, acknowledging the significant effects on their programming and storyline plans. Cole, regarded as one of their top stars, played a pivotal role in major stories, including a high-profile main event at Wembley Stadium against MJF. His absence required creative adjustments, particularly with John Moxley also sidelined that night, which reshaped the trajectory of major storylines.
“He’s one of our top stars; we love Adam Cole in AEW. I think the injury really affected us in a lot of ways. First of all, you lose a great star of the TV show, someone that the fans want to see whenever they can be in AEW. Like you said, he was involved in one of the biggest stories in all of wrestling. For us, it was a main event at Wembley Stadium; it was huge: MJF versus Adam Cole and their partnership, their friendship. It was an essential part of AEW’s show every week.
When Adam Cole got injured, it really changed everything for us. We had to go in a different direction with a lot of things on the show. It was made worse by the fact that John Moxley got injured that same night. The two best shows, I think at that point, were definitely John Moxley versus Orange Cassidy and MJF versus Adam Cole. With MJF and Adam Cole in the World Championship match at Wembley and then their partnership and Samoa Joe getting involved, we had a fascinating dynamic with MJF, Samoa Joe and Adam Cole. That was our main event story.“
Despite these challenges, Khan expressed pride in the way AEW handled the situation, citing the successful execution of WrestleDream shortly afterward as evidence of their ability to adapt.
Khan emphasized Cole’s immense popularity and resilience, noting his previous successes despite previous injuries. Khan remained optimistic about Cole’s recovery and eagerly anticipated his return, underscoring the anticipation among fans and the potential for Cole to continue making significant contributions to AEW.
“To lose top guys, top wrestlers like Adam Cole and John Moxley from the World Championship match and the International Championship match, at the same time, on the same night, that was really tough. We had to change a lot of things, and I was really proud of the pay-per-view that we put on a couple weeks later, WrestleDream, the first ever WrestleDream. It was a great show, and it was in the shadow of Mox getting injured and, of course, Adam Cole having that injury.
Now that Adam Cole is out, a lot has changed. He’s on the road to recovery; he’s coming back and I’m really excited about that. I can’t wait to have Adam Cole back in AEW; he’s one of my favorite wrestlers. The fans love Adam Cole and there’s a lot of history to be made for Adam Cole in AEW. He’s had some great runs here and unfortunately injuries have slowed him down a few times now. It’s really a compliment to him and I think to AEW too, because some people might have thought Adam Cole was never going to be as hot as he was three years ago, and he came in last year and he was hotter than he’s ever been in his entire career. It was a completely freak accident; he’s coming back and we have great plans and a great future for Adam Cole.”
We also reported that Adam Cole’s return to the ring suffered a setback due to the complexity of his injury. We’ll have to wait and see what ultimately happens with Adam Cole, as he’s still a while away from returning.
Do you think Adam Cole can make his in-ring return this year? Let us know in the comments below!
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