Further details have emerged regarding Adam Cole’s absence from the highly anticipated AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view event. AEW CEO Tony Khan provided an update, stating that Cole was unable to compete due to illness, leading to the cancellation of his scheduled match against “Filthy” Tom Lawlor.
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Tony Khan clarified that Cole arrived at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto with a fever, prompting the decision to send him home in order to prevent any potential spread of illness to others. Khan suspects that Cole may be suffering from the flu, but the exact extent of his condition and his availability for this week’s AEW Dynamite remain uncertain.
While Cole’s illness would not have hindered his bout against Tom Lawlor, Fightful Select reported that he sustained some injuries during his encounter with MJF on the June 14 episode of AEW Dynamite. The two competitors engaged in an intense AEW World Title Eliminator, resulting in a 30-minute draw. Despite these setbacks, the ongoing program between Cole and MJF will proceed as planned, including their upcoming participation as a tag team in the Blind Eliminator Tournament.
In light of Cole’s absence, AEW briefly considered including Tom Lawlor in a last-minute match for the Forbidden Door event. However, the former NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion ultimately competed in a dark match against Serpentico prior to the main show.
Photo Credit: AEW