3 turns for Adam Cole in AEW if he never wrestles again

Adam Cole was expected to defend the TNT Championship against Kyle Fletcher in a long-awaited showdown at AEW All In: Texas last year. However, ahead of the blockbuster show at the stadium, it was shockingly revealed that the star had to pull out of the match due to health issues. Cole appeared in person at the PPV to relinquish his belt and announced that he had to step away from the squared circle indefinitely, thanking the fans for their continued support over the years in an emotionally charged promo.

Subsequent reports on the matter claimed that the Panama City Playboy’s in-ring career may be over, although no official announcements have been made yet. In an interview last December, Tony Khan indicated that there was “no pressure” on Cole to return to action. Although he said he was recovering well, he was unable to give a specific timeline for a potential return. TK also reiterated that he wants the Paragon member to be involved in his promotion regardless of his in-ring status.

Assuming the former ROH, WWE, and AEW champion is done with active competition, let’s consider three non-wrestling roles for Adam Cole in All Elite Wrestling.

#1. Adam Cole can manage Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly

Adam Cole shares a long and storied history with Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly, dating back to their early stints in ROH and PWG when they were growing up in the indies, eventually leading to a run in WWE as The Undisputed Era, perhaps one of the most iconic factions of NXT’s highly acclaimed “Black and Gold” era.

Cole and O’Reilly signed with AEW in 2021, and it didn’t take long for them to join forces; Within two years, Strong himself had arrived at the company. Although it would take some time, in kayfabe, the three men eventually got on the same page, and last year, they officially formed a new trio of their own, dubbed proverb. While KOR has also joined the conglomerate recently, he and Rudy (especially the latter, who refuses to join the conglomerate) have continued to represent Paragon on weekly television.

Currently, The Violent Artist is recovering from injury, The Messiah of The Backbreaker is fighting his own battles, while Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe continue to convince him to officially join their ranks. While this storyline could lead to Strong eventually “cabineting” with OC and The Sussex County Chicken, it could instead lead to Roddy and KOR running the babyface group into a heel tag team unit instead, with none other than Adam Cole as their spokesman.

The former Undisputed Kingdom leader will not need to wrestle for acting and cut promos promoting Strong and O’Reilly, who he can accompany on AEW programs as a manager, enabling him to continue to contribute to the company’s weekly television while working closely with his friends.

#2. Adam Cole could be joining AEW’s broadcast team

Commentary is an indispensable component of professional wrestling for many viewers. AEW is aware of this, which can be deduced by looking at the names that currently make up the promotion’s announce team on its weekly shows. The Wednesday Night Dynamite is generally called Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz and, starting last year, Bryan Danielson – four guys with decades of industry experience combined.

Saturday Night Collision, on the other hand, usually features the voices of Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness on the comms. Managers such as Don Callis and active wrestlers such as Jon Moxley and Toni Storm also work periodically at the announcers’ desk. Adam Cole has also appeared as a guest commentator on AEW programming; However, if his in-ring career is indeed over, he will likely move into that role on a full-time basis.

‘The Star Of The Show’ is widely regarded as an excellent speaker, and has the potential to be an exciting addition to the company’s broadcast team, especially if he is allowed to lean on his personality, personality and history in syndication.

#3. Adam Cole could become a coach/producer

All Elite Wrestling bills itself as a promotion “where the best wrestling is.” From an in-ring perspective, the company’s production more often than not lives up to the claim. This is thanks not only to the world-class roster it has assembled, but also to the efforts of veterans such as Dean Malenko, Jerry Lynn, Pat Buck, Billy Gunn, Madison Rayne, Chris Hero, Christopher Daniels and others, who serve as coaches and producers for the promotion’s matches, TV and PPV productions.

If Adam Cole is unable to return to active competition due to his health issues, Tony Khan could offer him a place in the company’s backstage hierarchy as a high-level producer. Cole’s IQ as a wrestler is very well established by now, and the former TNT and ROH World Champion could easily leverage his nearly two decades of experience to help shape AEW’s in-ring programming, and perhaps even improve it.