Adam Cole made a rare appearance during the Worlds End Zero Hour pre-show, offering a glimmer of hope to fans regarding his wrestling future. The former TNT Champion, sidelined since July, addressed the crowd with a brief but optimistic message about the new year.
Speaking in a pre-taped segment, Cole thanked the AEW fanbase for their continued support throughout his recovery. While he did not provide a specific timeline, he expressed hope to return to wrestling in 2026. “Hopefully, you’ll be seeing a lot more of me in 2026,” Cole said.
He also weighed in on the night’s card, discussing the Continental Classic semifinal matchups between Kyle Fletcher and Jon Moxley, as well as Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada.
### A Career In Jeopardy
Cole’s absence stems from a severe concussion suffered just days before he was scheduled to defend the TNT Championship at All In: Texas in July. The injury forced him to vacate the title and led to an emotional address where he hinted at potential retirement.
In November, Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer reported that Cole’s recovery has been ongoing but difficult. He noted that Cole was “still having a lot of problems” and was unable to fly. Alvarez also revealed just how close Cole came to walking away from the industry entirely.
Fans will undoubtedly be watching closely as 2026 approaches, hoping to see Adam Cole back in the ring and doing what he loves most.
https://wrestlingnews.co/aew-news/adam-cole-hopefully-youll-seeing-lot-more-2026/