Did Adam Cole Retire?

Austin Kirk Jenkins (born July 5, 1989), better known by his ring name Adam Cole, was an American professional wrestler. He gained prominence in Ring of Honor (ROH) where he became the first-ever three-time ROH World Champion. In 2017, Cole signed with WWE and performed on the NXT brand, becoming the leader of The Undisputed Era. During his time in NXT, Cole became the second wrestler to win the NXT Triple Crown and holds the record for the longest NXT Championship reign at 403 days. In 2021, Cole joined All Elite Wrestling (AEW), reuniting with former Bullet Club stablemates Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, later winning the men's Owen Hart Cup tournament in 2022 and capturing the AEW TNT Championship in 2025. Unfortunately, his career was cut short by multiple concussions, the final one occurring in July 2025, forcing him to relinquish his title and retire from in-ring competition.

Why did Adam Cole retire from wrestling?
Adam Cole retired from professional wrestling in July 2025 due to suffering multiple concussions throughout his career, with the final one occurring during a match with Kyle Fletcher on July 10, 2025. This latest concussion came just days before a scheduled title defense at AEW All In: Texas. Cole had previously been sidelined for nine months in 2022-2023 with concussion issues, and medical professionals advised him that continuing to wrestle would pose significant risks to his long-term health. At just 36 years old, Cole made the difficult decision to prioritize his health and future quality of life over his wrestling career.

How many championships did Adam Cole win?
Throughout his 17-year career, Adam Cole won numerous championships across multiple promotions. His most notable title victories include three ROH World Championships, one ROH World Television Championship, one NXT Championship (with the longest reign in history at 403 days), the inaugural NXT North American Championship, one NXT Tag Team Championship, one PWG World Championship, one CZW World Junior Heavyweight Championship, and one AEW TNT Championship. His final championship was the AEW TNT title, which he held for 97 days before being forced to relinquish it due to health concerns in July 2025.

Was Adam Cole injured before his retirement?
Yes, Adam Cole suffered multiple serious injuries throughout his career. Most significantly, he dealt with recurring concussion issues. In 2022, Cole suffered two concussions in close succession, which forced him to miss nine months of in-ring action. During this recovery period, he revealed that he was so severely affected that he couldn't even sit in a car for more than 15 minutes, and doctors would only allow him to take short walks. In September 2023, he suffered a major ankle injury that was so severe he required a cadaver bone donation during surgery. His final injury was a concussion sustained during a match with Kyle Fletcher on July 10, 2025, which ultimately led to his retirement just two days later.