10 Absolute WORST Wrestling Moments Of 2023
4. Adam Cole, MJF & Roddy Strong's Story Jumps The Shark
It was sad to watch a hilarious running gag run all the way out of steam as it did when Adam Cole and Roderick Strong's strange bond resulted in a Misery-style capture of the former Undisputed Era leader.
Whatever was due to go down between MJF and Cole following Grand Slam 2023 was parked when the latter suffered a serious injury, but the follow-through and/or delaying tactics soured audiences on the showdown between the "brochachos" before Cole was even out of surgery. Strong as the spurned friend had been a joyously dumb add-on to 'The Salt Of The Earth' seemingly using his devilish powers to corrupt AEW's nicest wrestler. By the time we were watching slow-motion shots of peanut butter sandwiches being made, the entire bit had gone to hell.
Cole's eventual return could make much of these seem merely low-rent in retrospect, but as All Elite Wrestling's creative direction continued to raise questions, four guys drooling over a sandwich with a toy giraffe didn't provide the answers.