Adam Cole’s Ongoing Battle with Concussion Effects
Adam Cole, the talented former WWE NXT Champion now signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), continues to face significant health challenges that have kept him away from the ring. According to Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp, Cole is still dealing with the effects of a concussion, leaving his in-ring future temporarily on hold. This situation has reached such a serious point that AEW has reportedly not formulated any creative plans for the wrestler during his recovery period. Despite these setbacks, AEW’s president and CEO Tony Khan has expressed his desire for Cole to remain with the promotion for as long as possible, showing the company’s commitment to his long-term wellbeing and career.
Cole’s last appearance in the squared circle came during the July 10 episode of “AEW Collision,” where he teamed with his Paragon stablemates Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong to defeat the Don Callis Family’s Kyle Fletcher, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta. What followed was particularly heartbreaking for fans and likely difficult for Cole himself – he was scheduled to defend the TNT Championship against Fletcher at “All In: Texas,” but instead had to make the tough decision to vacate the title during the show, announcing to a disappointed audience that medical professionals had not cleared him to compete. This moment represented not just the loss of a championship, but another interruption in what has been a stellar but increasingly fragmented wrestling career.
Unfortunately, this is not Cole’s first experience with concussion-related issues since joining AEW. His history with brain injuries has become a concerning pattern, beginning with a concussion suffered in 2022 during a match against Samoa Joe at the “Double or Nothing” pay-per-view event. More alarmingly, Cole experienced another concussion later that same year at the “Forbidden Door” event while participating in a demanding four-way match that included renowned competitors Kazuchika Okada, “Hangman” Adam Page, and “Switchblade” Jay White. These repeated brain injuries within a relatively short timeframe raise significant concerns about Cole’s long-term health and career longevity.
The severity of Cole’s condition following the “Forbidden Door” incident was revealed in a subsequent interview with Justin Barrasso, where the wrestler made the shocking admission that he had little memory of the four-way match itself – a clear indication of the serious nature of his injury. The road to recovery proved challenging and medically intensive, with Cole visiting a brain specialist three times weekly after the event. Perhaps most concerning was his performance on a standard brain assessment test, where he scored only 38 points – dramatically below the expected athlete’s score of 120. This score was not just concerning for his wrestling career but for his everyday life, as Cole revealed he was just eight points away from being legally prohibited from driving a vehicle.
What makes Cole’s situation both inspiring and cautionary is his dedication to proper recovery. By following his doctor’s instructions diligently, Cole eventually retook the same brain test and achieved a remarkable score of 160, exceeding even the baseline expectation for athletes. This dramatic improvement demonstrated both the potential for brain recovery when proper protocols are followed and Cole’s commitment to his health. However, his current situation suggests that despite previous successful rehabilitation, the cumulative effect of multiple concussions continues to impact his wellbeing, highlighting the serious and sometimes unpredictable nature of traumatic brain injuries in professional wrestling.
As the wrestling world awaits updates on Cole’s condition, his situation serves as a sobering reminder of the very real physical toll that professional wrestling takes on performers’ bodies, particularly their neurological health. For a performer of Cole’s caliber – someone widely regarded as one of the most technically gifted and charismatic wrestlers of his generation – these continued health challenges represent not just personal setbacks but potential limitations on what might otherwise be a legendary career. Fans and colleagues alike can only hope that with proper medical care and sufficient recovery time, Cole will eventually return to the ring safely, though his long-term health must remain the absolute priority for both himself and AEW management as they navigate this difficult situation together.
