Adam Cole’s AEW run was supposed to be one of the company’s biggest long-term success stories, but instead it has turned into a string of devastating injuries.
He has dealt with multiple major setbacks since 2022, and his most recent concussion before All In: Texas, which forced him to vacate the TNT Championship, was reportedly so severe that he considered retiring.
Internal belief within AEW is that Cole may never return to action, and even Tony Khan spoke with noticeable uncertainty about his status during an interview with Ariel Helwani.
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, current WWE NXT commentator Booker T didn’t hold back while discussing Cole’s durability issues.
“Bro, Adam Cole, you know, I’m not saying anything bad about Adam Cole or anything like that, but Adam Cole’s been banged up for quite some time.
I mean, every time this guy gets back in the ring – bang – he gets injured, he gets hurt. And I made a comment that, you know, maybe if Adam Cole took a little bit more protein, got in the gym, hit the gym a little bit, drank a little bit more milk, got a little bit more dense bone.”
Booker stressed that physical build plays a major role in long-term survival in wrestling, and pointed to what Cole lacks.
“I like that right there. Dense bone. You know what I mean? That right there is something you need when you’re in the wrestling business.”
Also during his podcast, Booker T said All Elite Wrestling has become the ideal landing spot for older stars who want to wind down their careers while still collecting a paycheck.
“I wish they had AEW around when I was doing this thing. I’d have camped out. I’d have just camped out, made me a little tent. I wouldn’t have been going nowhere, man, because I’m serious, they pay you not to work in AEW.
Ric Flair’s still under contract from what I’ve been hearing. What has he done? What has Ric Flair done for AEW? It’s a safe haven. It’s definitely a retirement spot if you’re looking to wrap this thing up the right way. I get it, man. I get it. Seriously.”
Also Read: Chris Jericho Offered Retirement Storyline By WWE, Expected Return Timeline Revealed
