Adam Cole has opened up about his match with Malakai Black.
The Undisputed Kingdom star recently had an interview with 107.7 The Bone to promote the upcoming Revolution PPV. He talked about things such as his ankle injury, making his AEW debut alongside Bryan Danielson and more.
During the interview, the AEW star was also asked about sharing a hug with Malakai Black after their Dynamite match last November and if he had any idea about the future plans for the former House of Black leader. Adam Cole explained that it was just two friends sharing a moment after his return from his long hiatus:
“No, I really didn’t. So again I do have a history of working with Malakai. [He’s] just an unbelievable opponent, an unbelievable guy to step in there with. We’ve shared a lot of really really cool moments together. So for me all it was, was this personal moment between two guys who have a lot of love and respect for each other.
I don’t know anything about or didn’t know anything about what his plans were and things like that. For me it was just a cool moment with a friend after getting to work together after a long time.”
Malakai Black is believed to be on his way out of AEW and reports suggest that he has already finished up with the promotion. If true then it would mean that the Adam Cole match was Black’s final 1-on-1 match in the company as he only wrestled in a few tag matches after that.
Cole is currently not booked for a match at the AEW Revolution PPV but the show features a lot of interesting matches including a couple added this week. You can check out more details about the PPV here.
Adam Cole and Britt Baker ended their relationship this past fall, but Cole has said they they remain friends and share mutual respect for one another.
Recently, however, a rumor began circulating that Baker had cheated on Cole during their relationship. The speculation originated from comments made by former WCW star Konnan on his podcast. Konnan addressed the breakup, claiming, “I was the first one that said her and Cole had broken up. They were on me again. Now you see it’s true. And I’m gonna throw this little one in there—a very credible source said it happened because she was cheating on him.”
In response, Baker took to X to deny the allegations and defend herself against the claims. She wrote:
“I understand we as performers are expected to have thick skin through opinions and lies we read about ourselves, but spreading lies about my personal life is just low, weird, and something I won’t tolerate.
I’ve never cheated on anyone in my life. #TellYourSource”
The situation has sparked debate among fans, with many showing support for Baker as she navigates the controversy. Neither Cole nor Baker has publicly commented further on the matter since Baker’s tweet.
I understand we as performers are expected to have thick skin through opinions and lies we read about ourselves, but spreading lies about my personal life is just low, weird, and something I won’t tolerate.
A popular faction will reunite in the ring for nearly five years tonight on AEW Collision, bringing together three members of one of wrestling’s most dominant stables of the past decade.
Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, & Roderick Strong will team up to reform the Undisputed Kingdom in a 6-man tag match against Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty, Carlie Bravo, & Shawn Dean) at tonight on AEW Collision: Maximum Carnage.
This trio first rose to prominence as part of The Undisputed Era in WWE NXT, where they established themselves as one of the most successful factions in the brand’s history. During their run, they collected multiple championships including the NXT Championship, North American Championship, and dominated the tag team division.
The Undisputed Era ran WWE NXT for years
The group won an impressive 10 NXT Year-End Awards during their time together and stood out for their cohesion and in-ring chemistry. Whether competing in singles, tag team, or multi-man matches like WarGames (video below), they distinguished themselves with their technical prowess and coordinated offensive style.
Cole served as the group’s charismatic leader while O’Reilly and Strong brought elite wrestling ability that made them feared competitors. After their WWE run ended in 2021, the trio eventually reunited in AEW, where they’ve recently reformed as part of the Undisputed Kingdom. Cole has expressed confidence that he, O’Reilly and Strong could “run all of AEW without question.” He’ll have a chance to back up that claim in just a matter of hours.
Tonight’s match will reuniting the Undisputed Kingdom / Undisputed Era for the first time since 2020 marks a significant milestone in their collective journey from NXT to AEW. And as one group gets back together… Popular AEW Tag Team Breaks Up
Adam Cole believes the Costco Guys partnership is important for AEW.
The Costco Guys partnership has led to AEW getting a lot of promotion outside of their usual circles. The social media stars have not only promoted their AEW appearances on their own channels but they have also been invited to mainstream platforms like Fox Business and The Tonight Show to talk about their wrestling connection.
The Undisputed Kingdom Leader was asked about this partnership during a new interview with Going Ringside podcast. Adam Cole explained that such collaboration helps them get the word out to people who have never watched their product:
“Getting your eyes out there to as many people as possible is so important. Because again of course. the diehard wrestling fans are going to find wrestling. That’s exactly the way I was. I went out of my way to wherever wrestling was on.
Wherever I could watch it, I would support it. So getting the attention of fans who maybe haven’t watched it for a while or never seen it before [is important]. I truly do believe that someone who has not seen AEW before and watching it for the first time will walk away saying ‘Man, that was a lot of fun.'”
Big Boom A.J. of The Costco Guys wrestled his first match in 19 years at Full Gear, defeating QT Marshall at the show. The former indie star suffered a foot injury in the bout but he has since confirmed that he’s not done with the company just yet.
Apart from this, Cole also talked about his ongoing storyline with MJF. He said that his goal in 2025 after finishing the feud with his former tag team partner is to win the AEW World Title. Adam Cole will be challenging MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring at the Worlds End PPV this weekend on December 28 from Orlando, Florida.
AEW is gearing up for Worlds End on December 28 in Orlando, Florida, with one of the most personal matches set to happen being Adam Cole Vs. MJF. During the December 21 episode of AEW Collision, the two exchanged heated words with MJF taking the personal nature of their feud to a whole new level.
MJF took the microphone first, delivering sharp jabs at Adam Cole. MJF mocked what he perceives as Cole’s physical fragility, remarking that even a small bump, a gust of wind, or a cavity could take him down. Adding to the sting, MJF referenced Cole’s personal life, alluding to his recent breakup with Britt Baker, claiming that Cole may even need to find a new dentist.
MJF’s barbs didn’t stop there as he continued to mock the “crack bay-bay,” in reference to Cole’s recent weight loss. In response, Cole accused MJF of using political influence to secure a spot in AEW for Alicia Atout and highlighted MJF’s two hair restoration surgeries.
These barbs touched on some very real issues for both men, with Cole confirming back in October that he and Baker are no longer together. Earlier this year, Baker was suspended following a backstage incident with Cole, in which she took issue with Cole’s girlfriend Alicia Atout being in the women’s locker room. MJF allegedly punched a wall over the incident, just before his grueling hour-long match against Will Ospreay on the July 17 episode of Dynamite.
Cole Vs. MJF will come one year after the former was revealed as the Devil at Worlds End 2023. With matters growing even more personal this week, fans can expect a brawl like no other next week at AEW’s final pay-per-view of the year.
AEW’s MJF cemented his place on the naughty list during the “Holiday Bash” edition of Dynamite with sharp comments about Santa Claus. Sporting Hanukkah-themed attire, MJF made his entrance at Washington’s Entertainment and Sports Arena, wasting no time in dismissing the local crowd—and the Washington Wizards.
While declaring he’s no Scrooge, MJF said this was the most wonderful time of the year because Hanukkah is approaching. For those who don’t celebrate, he added that Santa isn’t real and unapologetically doubled down. The crowd responded with chants for Kris Kringle.
Switching gears back to wrestling, MJF mocked Adam Cole, referring to him as a “starving, freakishly small child.” Promoting AEW’s World’s End pay-per-view, MJF shared a QR code for ticket purchases, sarcastically vowing that proceeds would help “put Cole out of his misery.”
Despite MJF’s taunts, Adam Cole managed to get the upper hand. Appearing on the titantron, Cole revealed he had spoken to Tony Khan and would settle their feud at World’s End. To drive his point home, Cole ambushed MJF with a surprise superkick in the ring. Though the Salt of the Earth escaped before Cole could deliver the Panama Sunrise, the message was clear.
Adam Cole has revealed the one WrestleMania match that instantly got him hooked on wrestling and led to him becoming a wrestler himself.
The AEW star recently had an interview with PennLive.com. He talked about things such as spending the majority of the last 2 years on shelf due to various injuries, the uncertainty of his future during this time period and more.
During the talk Adam Cole also revealed where he got his first taste of wrestling. The former NXT Champion recalled taking Karate lessons when he was 9 years old. One day he got there early and found his instructor watching Monday Night Raw:
“It was Kane and ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin putting Paul Bearer in a sewer. And I remember he looked at me and said, ‘Do you watch pro wrestling?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, I watch it all the time.’ Just lying through my teeth. I had never seen it before, but I wanted to fit in with him so badly. And it looked intriguing.”
Cole then begged his mother to allow him to rent the tape for WrestleMania 15. The 1999 event emanating from the First Union Center in Philadelphia was enough to get him hooked to the world of sports entertainment:
“The first time I saw The Rock and Steve Austin, I was like, ‘This is what I wanna do for the rest of my life’. Genuinely. From that point on, from 9 years on, everything that I did was for the idea of eventually getting into pro wrestling.”
Adam Cole returned to action during the WrestleDream PPV last month. He has reignited his rivalry with MJF since then. Cole was looking to get a match against the former AEW champion at the November 23 Full Gear PPV.
He failed to complete the challenge laid out by Maxwell, however. So instead of Cole, it’ll be Roderick Strong who’ll face The Salt of The Earth at the upcoming show.
Adam Cole wishes he could have worked with Bryan Danielson during their time in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), but he’s happy he got to share a ring with the American Dragon once.
Cole was back in action on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite and picked up a hard-fought win against Malakai Black of the House of Black. It was his first match in 423 days, and the former NXT Champion showed little signs of the dreaded ‘ring rust.’
They both debuted for AEW on the same night, during the conclusion of the All Out 2021 pay-per-view. Unfortunately, each man battling respective injuries prevented them from doing much together in the ring. Cole spoke with the Stick to Wrestling Podcast and admitted he’s disappointed they never wrestled a singles match in AEW.
“Bryan is so universally loved, respected and admired. Not just by fans, but literally by every wrestler I’ve ever met. I mean, Bryan is without question one of the greatest of all-time to ever do this and I look back at the one match we had on SmackDown and I think back so fondly of that night and that moment.”
Holding Out Hope
Cole looks back fondly on their AEW debuts, and the excitement he felt sharing a ring with Danielson, even in a non-wrestling capacity.
“It was an honor to step into the ring with Bryan Danielson so, I got so excited at the idea because we both debuted the same night here at AEW and I thought, oh my God, we’re gonna get the chance to do it again and at AEW in front of the AEW fans, I can’t wait.”
Danielson is now out of action indefinitely and facing another possible neck surgery later this year, if stem cell therapy does not treat his ailments. Cole is happy Danielson is focusing solely on his health, but is hoping they do meet one day day down the road.
“So at least now for the time being, it seems like that probably won’t happen so of course, that’s a bummer for me but Bryan’s health and Bryan’s safety and Bryan’s legacy is the most important thing so I’m glad that Bryan is able to rest and heal and again, Bryan’s one of the greatest to ever do it and selfishly, I do wish I could have stepped into the ring with him again but who knows? Never say never. Maybe someday, maybe someday.”
Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson’s sole singles match took place in November of 2019 on an episode of WWE SmackDown.
This week’s AEW Dynamite: Fright Night edition saw Adam Cole back in action, taking on Buddy Matthews in his first match since breaking his ankle last year. Cole turned on MJF at Worlds End before taking a hiatus, only to return at Double or Nothing, where an in-ring confrontation with MJF led to Cole being written off TV again. Most recently, Cole returned at WrestleDream, this time fully medically cleared.
Now, both Cole and Roderick Strong are competing to become the first man to win three consecutive matches, securing a shot at MJF at Full Gear. Cole emerged victorious in his match against Matthews, despite teasing that he might give up due to his ankle. After the match, he shook hands with Matthews, only for the lights to go out, revealing Malakai Black standing ominously in the ring.
In a backstage promo following the match, Cole acknowledged Matthews’s toughness as an opponent and hinted at Black’s interest in him. With humor, he commented that he’s being “thrown into the fire” — exactly how he likes it. Cole also addressed MJF directly, saying he doesn’t blame him for breaking his ankle or for being a poor friend who never checked on him. However, he does hold MJF responsible for pretending to be a friend in the first place, saying he always knew MJF would turn on him. Cole ran down MJF’s history of turning on allies, stating that MJF would be foolish to think he wouldn’t see it coming.
Cole made it clear that he cares about AEW and is determined to face MJF at Full Gear, vowing to teach him a lesson in the ring. This potential showdown brings new layers to Cole and Malakai Black’s shared history; the two were known for their fierce rivalry in WWE’s NXT, where Black, formerly Aleister Black, defeated Cole in an Extreme Rules match at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia on January 27, 2018. Both wrestlers were pivotal during NXT’s peak era.
ADAM COLE VS MALAKAI BLACK NEXT?!
Cole shook Buddy's hand, then Malakai showed up shaking his hand. This was so freaking cool. pic.twitter.com/nR3my0rsIf
Adam Cole has had to deal with two very tough injuries in the last couple of years. While the concussion injury in 2023 was a scary one because of all the symptoms, the ankle injury that kept him out for most of 2024 was even more challenging for completely different reasons.
The former NXT Champion recently appeared on The Takedown. He discussed things such as his break up with Britt Baker, his injury turning out much worse than first thought and more.
During the talk, Cole was asked about his injury affecting plans for not only him but his Undisputed Kingdom teammates as well. The 35-year-old explained that even though it was a freak accident, it crushed him to know that his injury affected his friends:
“Oh dude, it crushed me, yeah because exactly what you said. I can handle dealing with my own challenges that I have to deal with. But if it involves affecting other people, that’s a real big problem for me. So that was certainly tough and certainly challenging.
But fortunately all the guys that I work with are the most understanding wonderful dudes in the entire world. So I’m glad I’m close with guys like Roderick Strong and Mike Bennett and Matt Taven. So they understand that freak situations and freak circumstances do happen.”
Adam Cole was involved in a long-running storyline with MJF prior to his injury. He revealed himself as the mysterious Devil at the Worlds End PPV in December 2023. A reformed version of the Undisputed Kingdom as the Devil’s Masked Men was also revealed under Cole’s leadership.
The group now consisted of Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven. The faction has continued being featured on AEW programming in Cole’s absence, but they have been moved out of a prominent spot.
The former ROH Champion explained that the ankle injury was more challenging mentally in many ways compared to his concussion recovery. Though he is very thankful for the support system of his family and friends that helped him stay positive in this time:
“To say this was a challenging time mentally would be an understatement. In a weird way again the concussion injury that I had that was probably the scariest in the sense of like ‘Am I going to be able to come back from this injury?’
But to deal with the ankle injury which took even more time and knowing that it affected other people. Yeah, it was really tough. But again I’m so thankful that I have a great support system around me that includes not just my family but the wrestlers who were involved.”
Adam Cole has opened up about being body-shamed online.
Being a celebrity makes you very vulnerable to unwarranted criticism and personal attacks from people. In an industry like pro wrestling where maintaining appearances is a big part of the gig, not being able to look your best for any reason can easily lead to crude reactions.
Cole, who has spent the better part of the last two years on the shelf due to injuries is no stranger to such remarks. He has previously replied to such comments while working hard to get back into ring shape for his return.
The former NXT Champion opened up about dealing with such things during a recent interview with TVInsider. He mentioned that part of being a public figure is expecting to hear judgment from people and recognizing that individuals are allowed to say what they want to say:
“People are allowed to say what they want to say. Does it feel good? Not at all. It definitely doesn’t. At the same time, if I’m someone who wants to be in the entertainment business and in the public eye, I know it’s something I have to expect to deal with in a lot of ways.”
Focused On Making The Best Version Of Me: Adam Cole
The Undisputed Kingdom Leader is not the only AEW star who has had to face such situations. Former Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo also recently discussed standing up to trolls and finding her confidence after previously being phased by such discourse.
Adam Cole explained that everyone in a similar position deals with such comments differently. For him, the best course of action is to ignore all the chatter and focus on his progress:
“I know everyone handles it differently. For me, I’ve gotten to the point where I kind of ignore it or block it out as best I can. I’m focused on making me the best version of me. I try not to get too discouraged with what social media can say.”
The 35-year-old made his AEW return at the WrestleDream PPV on October 12. The company has since announced that he will be making his in-ring return against Buddy Matthews at the Fright Night Dynamite special on October 30.
Posted October 23rd, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Adam Cole.
Adam Cole has confirmed his break up with Britt Baker.
The two AEW stars had been together for 8 years. They started dating back in 2017 before the inception of the company. Their relationship status had been subject of much speculation in recent months.
During a recent interview with The Takedown, Cole confirmed that he and Baker are no longer romantically involved but they remain good friends:
“We are no longer a couple, but when I say that we both still love each other and are still friends and still so supportive of each other, that could not be more true.”
Adam Cole also addressed the online discourse around their relationship. He encouraged people not to pick sides and know that they still care for each other:
“I don’t want anyone to ever think that me and Britt dislike each other. I think it is possible, in situations, for people who are in relationships to kind of go their separate ways, but still care about one another. The last thing I would want is fans to pick sides or anything like that.”
The former NXT Champion stressed that he wants Britt Baker to be as happy and successful as humanly possible. He noted that Baker will remain an important part of his life and there is absolutely no ill will between them.
The Undisputed Kingdom leader returned to AEW during the WrestleDream PPV on October 12. In a promo at the following Dynamite episode, Adam Cole turned face and confirmed that his rivalry with MJF was not over.
AEW wrestler Adam Cole is likely to be back soon as an encouraging update has emerged on his recovery.
Fightful Selectreported that Adam Cole was backstage at the August 14 edition of AEW Dynamite. Cole was taken off the road as traveling was slowing down his recovery but his backstage presence was a positive sign towards his return to the programming.
Another promising sign of his comeback is that there is a word backstage that we will resume his training in the ring as soon as next week.
Adam Cole last competed in the ring on September 3 last year following which he sustained an ankle injury. It took place in the final moments of the AEW Grand Slam last year when he landed awkwardly after he jumped from the entrance ramp. This also impacted the storylines he was involved.
A month following the injury Cole provided an update on social media. He thanked fans who showed him support while he recuperated with the injury. A few months back at AEW Double or Nothing 2024, Cole was involved in a segment with MJF. ‘The Salt of The Earth’ made his comeback to TV and confronted Cole. Fans speculated that a match would be happening soon. It is not confirmed yet whether the match will take place but it’s is likely to happen once Cole returns to action.
The end of MJF’s AEW World Championship reign could have been much different had injuries not derailed the promotion’s initial plans.
MJF’s record-breaking reign came to an end at AEW Worlds End in December 2023 at the hands of Samoa Joe. The night went from bad to worse for the ‘Scumbag’ of AEW as after the match he was attacked by the Devil’s henchman, revealed to be Wardlow, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, and Roderick Stong. The Devil was revealed to be Adam Cole who due to his leg injury did not get physical on the night.
There had been plans for Cole and MJF to wrestle each other in late 2023, Fightful Select reports, with the reveal of the Devil obviously planned to happen earlier than it did. Cole had even been considered for a possible title victory over MJF but that did not happen due to his injury. The two did face off in the main event of AEW All In inside Wembley Stadium in a match where MJF retained.
MJF and Cole are former ROH World Tag Team Champions.
A Future Match?
At AEW Double or Nothing 2024, MJF returned to TV and confronted Cole with both men getting physical in their segment. While this led many to speculate that a match would be happening soon, Fightful reports that a match is far from a reality. Cole is “not near” an in-ring return and all those involved wanted a way to blow the feud and turn off in the meantime until that can happen.
The creative plans shared with those in AEW are said to be “out of left field” but they are confident things will work out very well. At Double or Nothing, MJF made clear he’s staying with AEW and has cemented his status with the company with a tattoo.
AEW Double or Nothing began with a strong start. Following an International Title match, a surprising segment took place.
Will Ospreay won the AEW International Title, but Adam Cole interrupted his celebration with a promo, calling himself The Devil. The lights flickered, and a video played on the big screen.
The video showed what appeared to be MJF’s home, followed by a photo of Cole and MJF, former ROH Tag Team Champions, ripped apart to separate them.
Then MJF’s music hit, and he entered the MGM Grand Arena to a big reaction. He confronted Cole in the ring, and as the crowd chanted “You F*cked Up,” MJF kicked Cole.
Adam Cole may be the devil, but it's time to face his demons in MJF!
MJF then cut a promo, declaring that his actions are driven by hate and that no one is safe. Fans chanted “He’s Our Scumbag!” as MJF stated there would be no more friendship activities from him.
He finished by saying he’s done apologizing and that “nobody is more complete in this sport than me.” The crowd responded with chants of “Holy Sh*t” during his promo.
Then MJF made his contract status very clear by showing off a new “bet on yourself” tattoo with the AEW logo on his ankle. This was followed by The Salt of the Earth quoting Jordan Belfort as he said, “When it comes to MJF and AEW, you can call me the Wolf of Wrestling, because I’m not f*cking leaving!”
This tattoo, while it is new for AEW fans, did not look like fresh ink. MJF likely got the tattoo during his time off from the company. It has also been the thought for quite some time that MJF actually inked a new AEW agreement in the middle of 2023.
— AEW?Jamie Hayter ??Skye Blue?TheOutrunners?? (@JaxIrvin) May 27, 2024
MJF flew to Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, likely to avoid being seen at the Vegas airport. With Phoenix just a few hours from Las Vegas, this suggests a strong possibility of his return tonight at Double or Nothing.
Phoenix is about 4.5 hours from Las Vegas, a manageable drive for a pro wrestler. Wrestle Votes reported that AEW Double or Nothing could feature a major surprise early in the event.
Adam Cole is eager to get back into the ring, but AEW fans shouldn’t expect that to happen any time soon.
According to Fightful Select, the former ROH and NXT Champion has not attended recent AEW events and is reducing his travel schedule so he can recover as quickly as possible.
Cole hasn’t been able to wrestle since September 2023, when he broke his ankle in 3 places at AEW Grand Slam while jumping off the entrance ramp. The injury was undoubtedly painful and disappointing for Adam Cole. It also derailed the company’s top longterm main-event storyline based around his rocky friendship with MJF.
Britt Baker released several photos of Cole’s ankle, including an x-ray showing the breaks. She credited his determination and said his love of wrestling will ensure he gets back to doing what he loves.
This guy broke his ankle in 3 places on a freak accident. He still hobbled around on live tv because as we like to say “the show must go on”. @AdamColePro gives his entire heart and soul to pro wrestling. He’s one tough cookie and this is just a small bump in the road. He’ll be… pic.twitter.com/Aya1JWTTvF
A month after the injury and approximately seven months ago, Cole checked in on social media. He thanked everyone who shown him support while he works through the most ‘emotionally challenging’ injury of his career.
Emotionally, this has been the most challenging injury of my career. Without question. Thank you to EVERYONE who has reached out & shown support. Means more than you know.
I will do everything in my power to get back to work doing what I love to do.
During his time away from wrestling, Cole is keeping busy with another one of his passions: gaming. He and fellow AEW wrestler Evil Uno recently launched the All Elite Arcade Podcast. New episodes are released each week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and more.
Posted April 17th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Adam Cole.
Adam Cole is pushing himself hard to return from injury and get back into the squared circle. Evan as one of the most talented wrestlers in the world, he still has to deal with online trolls that have nothing better to do than hurl insults at people they watch on television.
Earlier this week, one fan sent him a message implying that Cole got what he deserved (a broken ankle), made a bad decision by leaving WWE and should “seriously go to the gym once in a while.”
Cole fired back with a warranted ‘eat me’ and middle-finger emoji. He also assured wrestling fans that he’s working as hard as he possibly can to heal his ankle and get back to doing what he does best.
My friend…I really mean this. I have never worked harder to get back into the ring than right now. I promise you & the world that I am doing all that I can. And when I do get back into the ring…eat me. 🖕 https://t.co/ftm9HbU78D
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T previously suggested that Adam Cole is too skinny and should pack on more muscle to advance himself in the industry.
Adam Cole’s Injury
Adam Cole has been on the shelf for several months after he sustained a broken ankle during MJF’s AEW World title defense against Samoa Joe in the main event of AEW Grand Slam. Cole landed badly while running down to the ring and jumping off the entrance ramp.
This guy broke his ankle in 3 places on a freak accident. He still hobbled around on live tv because as we like to say “the show must go on”. @AdamColePro gives his entire heart and soul to pro wrestling. He’s one tough cookie and this is just a small bump in the road. He’ll be… pic.twitter.com/Aya1JWTTvF
Cole has called this the most challenging injury of his career. While on hiatus, he’s keeping busy with a new gaming podcast called ‘All Elite Arcade.’ He and co-host Evil Uno will cover the latest video game news and share their thoughts on new releases they play together.
Posted April 11th, 2024 in AEW. Tagged: Adam Cole.
Is Adam Cole actually the Devil, or is the ‘reveal’ fans saw at AEW Worlds End just the latest chapter in a story yet to be revealed?
At the final pay-per-view of 2023, MJF lost the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. In the closing moments of the show, the Devil’s henchmen were revealed to be Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow. The four men beat down MJF before Cole produced the Devil’s mask, seemingly confirming that he was the one behind the mask.
Is Adam Cole the Devil?
Since Worlds End, AEW has leaned in heavily to the idea that Cole is the Devil, and has even produced a new t-shirt featuring Cole and the iconic mask. On Busted Open Radio, however, Bully Ray shared his doubts that the former NXT Champion is the mastermind.
“Adam Cole has never worn the Devil’s mask. He’s held it up, but he’s never worn it. If he’s the Devil, why has he never worn the Devil’s mask? This kind of goes back to my theory folks, of I think there’s another layer to this. And they’re going to stretch it out.
“Who that person is? I can’t tell you definitively. If I had to bet a dollar, I’d say it could be MJF. and know you’ve heard me say that before. Or maybe it’s somebody else? But I don’t think we’ve seen the final chapter of the Devil story. Specifically, because I’ve never seen Adam Cole in the mask. Does anybody else feel the same way that I do about the Devil? Do you think there’s another layer to this? We’ve gotta see, we’ve gotta see.”
Bully Praises AEW Dynamite Match
Adam Cole didn’t compete on this week’s Dynamite due to his injury, but his friend Roderick Strong was in action. While Strong was victorious against Bryan Keith, Bully Ray was impressed by the efforts of Keith.
“The Roderick Strong segment, the Roderick Strong match. Do you know who I want to give some props to tonight? Bryan Keith. Now you might be saying to yourself ‘Uncle Bully, who the hell is Bryan Keith?’ Bryan Keith is the guy that Roderick Strong wrestled tonight and I thought that Bryan Keith did a pretty good job… I got some Bad News Brown vibes from Bryan Keith.”
What did Adam Cole and others in wrestling have to say after AEW Worlds End…
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
One name fans shouldn’t expect to hear from tonight is MJF himself. The former AEW World Champion is reportedly taking time off to heal up from injuries. MJF acquired several injuries throughout his run as champion but reportedly insisted on seeing his reign to the end. MJF’s profile has been removed from AEW’s roster website, seemingly referencing MJF’s contract expiring on January 1. However, it is believed that MJF signed a lengthy new deal with AEW months ago.
AEW Dynamite – January 3
Tonight’s show will see the triumphant return of Samoa Joe, fresh off his victory at Worlds End. The show will also see the AEW International Championship on the line as record-breaking champion Orange Cassidy will defend against Dante Martin.
.@lucha_angel1 is back in full force and is looking for an opportunity at #AEW gold!
Mariah May will also make her AEW in-ring debut during tonight’s edition of Dynamite. The British wrestler will face Queen Aminata. Swerve Strickland will take on Daniel Garcia while fans will hear from the two-time and new AEW TNT Champion Christian Cage.
AEW Worlds End captured audiences’ attention for a few reasons. The closing moments of the pay-per-view saw The Devil reveal himself to be Adam Cole. That was a bit of a surprise, especially for MJF.
Adam Cole Is The Devil
Adam Cole has played a heel before, and he’s quite good at it. Now, the former NXT Champion will get to flex that villain muscle once again.
Adam Cole broke his silence after AEW Worlds End. This was not a prophetic statement, or any long address. He simply dropped a photo of himself during that big reveal at Worlds End, along with a succinct caption.
Adam Cole is still injured, because that surgery situation was a shoot. Still, as the leader of a heel faction, Cole can also get by without taking bumps for a while, which he may need to do so for a long time.
Tony Khan built toward The Devil’s reveal for a very long time. It finally went down at Worlds End. Love it or hate it, Adam Cole will be back on AEW television now, just as MJF starts an expected hiatus from the company.
After months of build, the reveal of the Devil has had the wrestling world talking. Taking to Twitter, Cole shared a snippet from the song ‘pride.is.the.devil. by J. Cole and Lil Baby.
Anthony Bowens has been aligned with MJF and was attacked by The Devil’s henchmen alongside the rest of the Acclaimed recently. The AEW Trios Champion had just two words for Cole and his allies.
Alex Hammerstone recently wrapped up his time with MLW and has teased joining AEW. The former MLW World Champion shared a photo of himself alongside MJF, and others during their time as The Dynasty and asked if MJF needs some help.
There have been some negative reactions to the closing moments of AEW Worlds End, but that hasn’t phased Samoa Joe. The new AEW World Champion made it clear he’s enjoying the ‘salty tears’ of fans.
Damn, ankles gonna swell all these salty tears I’m drinking.
AEW Worlds End will go down as one of the worst nights in the career of MJF, who lost his AEW World Championship and his best friend in one fell swoop.
For months, MJF has been targeted by somebody in his ‘Devil’ mask, who has been attacking anyone close to the scarf-wearing wrestler. Suspicion had been running rampant within AEW, with several wrestlers and even MJF himself being accused of being behind the attacks.
A New AEW World Champion
With his tag-team partner Adam Cole injured, MJF was until recently in an unlikely team with Samoa Joe. On this week’s Dynamite though, Joe betrayed MJF, who would lose the ROH World Tag Team Championships to two of the Devil’s henchmen. It was revealed on Dynamite that MJF had done ‘business’ with the Devil.
At Worlds End, MJF defended his AEW World Championship against Joe and a title change took place. The finish saw Samoa Joe lock MJF in the Coquina Clutch, and his arm fell three times, resulting in the submission victory and a title change.
Following the match, the Devil’s goons attacked MJF and Cole, who was at ringside for the match to ‘support’ his ‘friend.’ When one of the masked men was about to hit Cole with a chair, the lights went out. When they came back on, CVole was revealed as the Devil.
The masked men were also revealed as Roderick Strong, Wardlow, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven. The four men beat down MJF and left him out cold to close the show.
Tonight’s AEW Dynamite will see the show continue to build towards Worlds End, which is set to take place on December 30. Fans will get slightly more AEW action tonight than they previously expected. On Twitter, Tony Khan announced that TBS has granted an overrun of five minutes for tonight’s show.
Thanks to our great partners at TBS, we have an overrun of 5 minutes planned for Tomorrow night live on Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite!
We'll see you all tomorrow, we're excited for a 5 minute overrun on @TBSNetwork on Wednesday Night Dynamite, starting 8pm ET/7pm CT tomorrow!
Not only will tonight’s show go longer than expected, but it will also have more fans in attendance than originally planned. Wrestle Tix reports that AEW has opened up two more sections of seats for tonight’s Winter is Coming show.
AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming WED DEC 13, 2023 College Park Center, Arlington, TX
Available Tickets => 657 Current Setup => 3,821 Tickets Distributed => 3,164
MJF and Adam Cole captured the ROH World Tag Team Championships at All In but have only defended the titles one time together. That’s because of an injury suffered by Cole that he is still dealing with. Speaking on a media call to promote Friday night’s ROH Final Battle 2023 pay-per-view event, Tony Khan said he’s considered vacating the gold.
“That’s definitely something to look at at some point [vacating the titles]. It’s something MJF said was important to him and Cole, was to try and maintain the belts to when Cole gets back. Obviously, it’s been a long road to recovery from a bad injury, but we’re all excited about having Adam Cole back.”
Matt Hardy’s Frustrations
Matt Hardy recently stirred up some controversy when speaking about his AEW direction. On his Extreme Life podcast, Hardy spoke about being frustrated in the promotion while Jeff said he sometimes feels like a ghost. On the latest edition of his show, Hardy gave further context and stated that his comments are “1000%” true to how he is feeling.
AEW and Tony Khan having been teasing an “important announcement by Tony Khan” since last week.
Just minutes before the main event, Tony Khan was backstage with Renee Paquette hyping “huge news”. Khan said it was so huge, that he was letting a “major AEW star” make the announcement. Adam Cole announced that beginning in March, AEW: All Access would air on TBS after AEW Dynamite.
It’s an unscripted series that will follow certain AEW stars. According to Variety, the show will follow Cole, Britt Baker, DMD, Eddie Kingston, Wardlow, Tay Melo, Sammy Guevara, Saraya, Young Bucks, and Khan.
“We’re always looking for new ways to engage with fans and give them unique access to our incredible talent,” Khan said. “With the new ‘AEW: All Access’ series, they’ll have a chance to peek behind the curtain and into the lives of their favorite wrestlers like never before. To show the human side of some of these larger-than-life figures will give fans a rare perspective about who these wrestlers are when the cameras aren’t typically on.”
“AEW has such an amazingly loyal and dedicated fan base that brings in more than 4 million viewers to TBS every Wednesday night,” added Jason Sarlanis, president of Turner Networks, ID, & HLN, linear and streaming. “With ‘All Access,’ we are bringing that incredible audience a whole new way to experience the wrestling universe they love. We have a powerful partnership with Tony Khan and AEW. With this new series we are expanding the franchise in a way that invites viewers inside the world of wrestling like never before.”
Kyle O’Reilly has been out of action since last June due to various health issues. According to his good friend Adam Cole, he is in good spirits despite the struggles and is getting better.
The former NXT champion recently appeared on Wrestling Observer Radio. He opened up about his own injuries and recovery before providing an update on his friend.
Cole said that he talks to O’Reilly every day and he is doing good. Per the AEW star, his teammate is working hard but not rushing anything:
“Kyle was really banged up and it got to a point where he kind of couldn’t take it anymore. I’m so glad that he got fixed and got healthy and is recovering day by day, every day.”
– Adam Cole
Kyle O’Reilly Is Doing Better
Kyle O’Reilly underwent neck fusion surgery in September. In January, he revealed that he was dealing with a post-surgical issue. Adam Cole mentioned that the early parts of recovery were discouraging for Kyle because he wasn’t able to do a lot. His mood however has improved with time:
“He’s starting to be able to do more and more in therapy and rehab, you see the excitement and wheels turning of him already thinking about how he can’t wait to get back. He’s in good spirits and he has a lot of people around him that love him a lot.”
Adam Cole has been dealing with his own health issues since last year. He spent the second half of 2022 on the shelf due to concussion issues. He is expected to return to the ring soon though with Cole’s first match back expected at AEW Revolution.
