Tony Khan Gives Sobering Update on Adam Cole’s AEW Future – AEW President Tony Khan offered a candid and emotional update on Adam Cole’s status during his recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. Cole has not competed since before AEW All In Texas after suffering another serious concussion, and Khan’s remarks did not paint a particularly optimistic picture about his in-ring future.
“That’s hard. That’s hard. Adam Cole, I love so much,” Khan said. “I think Adam Cole is such a great wrestler, but also he’s a really good friend. And it was very, very hard when I got the phone call the morning of All In Texas that Adam Cole was not feeling well.”
Khan acknowledged Cole’s history of injuries, including multiple concussions and a devastating ankle injury that sidelined him for over a year. “And he’s had injuries, and it’s no secret, some of the injuries he’s experienced have been head injuries. It was terrible when Adam Cole had the ankle injury, and when he needed time to recover, you don’t want to see him in so much pain. But also, that alone could have been a career-ending injury. He was out for over a year, and he came back from that. He was wrestling at such a high level, and I was really excited about what Adam Cole had done in 2025 to work his way into a top position and become the TNT Champion. And it was a great comeback story. I’m just glad that he was able to tell us when he didn’t feel good about wrestling anymore.”
When asked directly if he believes Cole’s in-ring career is over, Khan admitted he wasn’t overly optimistic but stressed that Cole will always have a place in AEW if he wants it. “I think it would have to be the right situation for Adam to wrestle again. I think it’s at least possible that we would keep Adam as part of the family, but I want to get to where he feels good about traveling and doing things every week again. But I’ve been open with him that when he’s ready, there’s always a role in AEW for him.”
Khan pointed to Cole’s versatility outside the ring as proof of his value to the company. “He had been a commentator at times, and he’s been one of the hosts of the shows. He’s great for that. He’s a great talent. He could be involved in a lot of things, and if he ever did want to wrestle again, and it was the right situation, and everybody could wrap their heads around it, so to speak, I think that it could make a lot of sense.”
Ultimately, Khan emphasized caution when it comes to Cole’s health, particularly given the seriousness of head injuries. “But anything involving head injuries or serious injuries, I always want to look at it and evaluate, does this make sense, and is there an opportunity to do this safely, where it’s going to be a good outcome for everybody.”
Cole’s journey has been one of resilience, from overcoming a career-threatening ankle injury to reclaiming his spot as TNT Champion in 2025. Whether he ever returns to the ring remains uncertain, but Khan’s comments make clear that AEW will continue to support him in whatever role he chooses.
Tony Khan Gives Sobering Update on Adam Cole’s AEW Future
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