The recent injury curse claimed all three major signings that AEW made in 2021- Adam Cole, Bryan Danielson and CM Punk. The latter two ended up missing the AEW x NJPW supershow Forbidden Door, but the Panama City Playboy was involved in the semi-main event.
Adam Cole challenged Jay White alongside Kazuchika Okada and Hangman Page for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in a blockbuster four-way clash. The ending of the match was strange, as Cole had a suspected concussion on top of his existing injury which is reportedly a torn labrum.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer provided an update on the former NXT Champion’s injury status.
“Cole is opting to not have surgery on his torn labrum. He’s doing therapy for it. The time frame for his return is based more on the recovery from the concussion. We are told he is faring better in that regard”
– Dave Meltzer
Prior to the four-way at Forbidden Door, Adam Cole defeated Samoa Joe at Double or Nothing to win the first ever winner of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, defeating Dax Harwood and Jeff Hardy leading up to the final.
