Adam Cole officially vacated the TNT Championship just minutes before the AEW All In Texas pre-show, citing ongoing health issues that will require an indefinite hiatus from in-ring competition. The decision was seemingly made on the day of the event, with Cole addressing the live audience at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
In a brief statement delivered in the ring, the 36-year-old confirmed he would be unable to defend the title and may be stepping away from wrestling long-term.
“I have health issues going on that will not only not allow me to defend this championship tonight, but I am going to be gone for a while,” Cole said. “I don’t want to think about retiring because I’m not in the headspace, but I wanted to address the fans if this is goodbye.”
AEW President Tony Khan later confirmed in the post-show press conference that the decision for Cole to step away was made mutually between the two, following conversations that took place late the night before and again on the morning of the event. Khan, who became emotional discussing Cole’s situation, emphasized his support and described Cole as a respected presence backstage.
Cole was briefly joined in the ring by stablemates Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong of Paragon, as well as Daniel Garcia. The segment concluded with Cole thanking fans and leading a final “Adam Cole Bay Bay” chant.
Cole did not disclose specific details regarding the nature of his health concerns. His reign as TNT Champion ends at 97 days, with three successful title defenses since winning the belt in April.
Cole was originally scheduled to defend the title against Kyle Fletcher. In his absence, AEW instead held a four-way match featuring Daniel Garcia, Dustin Rhodes, and Sammy Guevara, with Rhodes and Guevara having already been scheduled for the Zero Hour portion of the show.
Dustin Rhodes went on to win the match in a major upset. The veteran seized the moment in front of a home-state crowd, securing the win and capturing the TNT Championship in what may be one of the most significant singles victories of his AEW career. While the match carried the shadow of Cole’s announcement, Rhodes’ win provided a brief emotional lift for the crowd in Arlington, who responded with a standing ovation.
At 55, Dustin Rhodes has been a consistent presence on AEW programming but has largely competed in a limited role in recent years. The TNT title win marks a major milestone in his late-career resurgence and adds a meaningful chapter to a decades-long wrestling legacy.
At this time, there is no confirmed timeline for Cole’s return, and no indication of whether the hiatus will lead to an official retirement.
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