During this week’s Dynamite, Cole made a surprising announcement, revealing that he had suffered a severe ankle injury that would require surgery. This unfortunate incident forced him to withdraw from Sunday’s AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view, where he and MJF were slated to defend their ROH World Tag Team Championships against The Righteous.
Adding to the drama, MJF’s newfound rival, ‘Switchblade’ Jay White, was ambushed by an enigmatic masked group, with the leader wearing MJF’s distinctive devil mask. This incident fueled speculation that Cole’s injury might be part of a scripted storyline, but that is not the case.
According to Fightful, sources within AEW have confirmed that Cole’s injury is genuine, and he is indeed scheduled for surgery. This setback will keep him sidelined for an indefinite period, and eyewitnesses have reportedly seen him using crutches for mobility, further dispelling any doubts about the authenticity of his injury.
Initially, AEW had hoped that Cole had only suffered a minor ankle sprain during his jump from the ramp to the floor on the September 20th Dynamite show, but it now appears to be a more significant issue. While there is no information about whether Cole will make occasional appearances on AEW television through vignettes, it is unlikely that he will participate in live broadcasts of Dynamite or Collision for the foreseeable future.