The experience of Adam Copeland in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is a combination of both a sprint and a victory lap. It is a concentrated effort to produce high-quality and creatively fulfilling work with his best friend. While Edge and Christian can rely on their past achievements in WWE, Copeland, also known as Christian Cage in AEW, has exciting plans for his future with the company.
Copeland made his debut in AEW at AEW WrestleDream in Seattle on Sunday, where he faced off against Cage and his students. The video of Copeland’s debut garnered nearly 7 million views on Twitter and YouTube in the first 24 hours. The familiar sound of Alter Bridge’s song “Metalingus” not only signaled Copeland’s arrival but also his final push. Many believed that Copeland had retired from wrestling after his last match in WWE in August.
However, retirements in professional wrestling are rarely permanent. Despite this, Copeland is quite certain that his time in AEW will be his final run as a full-time performer.
“I believe that’s a safe statement to make because I am aware of the amount of effort it will require to make it work,” Copeland told CBS Sports. “I know that. I’m not under any illusion that I can just breeze through this whole thing.
“It’s going to be tough. It’s going to require a lot of hard work. I embrace hard work. I always have. It’s part of my nature. It’s in my DNA. So, that aspect is tremendously exciting. But I am also a realist, and I know that I won’t be able to sustain it for an extended period of time.”
Copeland’s last match in WWE took place on August 18, where he faced Sheamus for the first time. The match happened on an episode of SmackDown in front of Copeland’s family and his hometown crowd in Toronto. Copeland hinted at retirement at that time, stating, “I don’t think I can go through another full season to get here again for a match.” However, he also mentioned the possibility of a new “main residence,” fueling speculations of a move to AEW. Copeland emphasizes that he genuinely contemplated retirement after his last match.
“As I approached the end of my contract, retirement was a very real option. It was on the table…” Copeland shared. “I genuinely considered retirement because I thought, ‘Man, WWE gave me that night. I don’t know how that can be topped.’ And it’s still in my mind.
“But I guess now it’s like, ‘Alright, how can I try to top it in this new environment.’ Honestly, that Toronto show was a send-off for that character, and it was the perfect way for that character to exit. I had a match with someone I had always wanted to wrestle but never had the chance. It was an incredibly enjoyable experience. I will never forget that night. It will always hold a special place in my career,” Copeland reminisced.
It’s easy to grow disillusioned when you have accomplished as much as Copeland has. He has won 11 world championships, two Royal Rumble matches, King of the Ring, Money in the Bank, and a place in the WWE Hall of Fame. Along with numerous other titles, Copeland has achieved a great deal. There were two factors, aside from the support of his family, that ultimately convinced him to step back into the ring: a lifelong friendship and an opportunity for creative rejuvenation.
“If we can end this journey together, that would be a dream come true,” Copeland said about working with Cage, whose real name is Jay Reso. “I spoke to my daughters and asked them, ‘So, what does daddy do?’ I explained various scenarios to them. Lyric stated it, and Ruby agreed, ‘Go be with Uncle Jay and have fun.’ That doesn’t mean that I won’t have fun in other places, but they know that the most enjoyable experiences will come from working with my best friend of the past 40 years.”
There were speculations for months that Copeland would join AEW, but he reveals that the deal came together less than two weeks before his debut. Another crucial factor in his decision to switch promotions was the involvement of his wife, fellow WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix.
“It wasn’t until my contract expired on [Sept. 21]. That was when it started,” Copeland explained. “So, it was a very quick process to finalize everything. There were several things to sort out, such as working with Alter Bridge and acquiring the music. All of it was done within nine or ten days.
“I didn’t decide immediately, but I knew that was where I wanted to go. I truly believed that working with Jay again was what I wanted to do and how I envisioned it, in an ideal world. Beth asked me, ‘What does your ideal world look like?’ I replied, ‘My ideal world would be ending my career with Jay.’ Suddenly, that ideal world seemed possible. It was difficult to pass up such an opportunity,” he added.
Copeland was forced to retire in 2011 due to serious issues stemming from previous neck injuries. Similarly, Cage retired in 2014 due to concussion-related problems. However, both wrestlers made remarkable comebacks and are still performing at an elite level, even as they approach the age of 50. These lifelong friends have had intertwined careers, even when they were separated. Cage is currently delivering some of the best work in his career as the TNT champion. Copeland noticed this while he was experiencing writer’s block in WWE.
“I had a feeling that there wasn’t a solid plan for me in WWE. I understand it because what else is there for us to do? After 25 years, I have literally done everything there is to do. So, what’s left? It wasn’t anyone’s fault,” Copeland shared. “I also encountered creative roadblocks. I struggled to come up with ideas, which is unusual for me. I think they were experiencing the same difficulties.
“There was also the challenge of being contracted for only 10 matches a year. I offered to do more, but they rightly believed it wouldn’t feel as special. I understood their point… It felt like neither of us had any fresh concepts, which has never been the case before. So, when I consider that and then look at my best friend over there, having the time of his life, it reached a point where I felt, ‘You know what, I still have an opportunity to do this, and I don’t feel like I’m maximizing it.’ That is ultimately what it came down to,” Copeland admitted.
AEW president Tony Khan announced during the post-show press conference after WrestleDream that Copeland would appear on a regular basis for the promotion. Copeland will be featured on the upcoming episodes of “AEW Dynamite” and “AEW Collision” on Wednesday and Saturday respectively. His official debut match in AEW is scheduled for October 10. Copeland is fully aware that time is ticking, and he is ready to face the challenge.
“I want to make the most of what time I have left,” Copeland stated. “Whether it’s one year or two years, I want to fully embrace it while I still feel capable. I acknowledge that it will be difficult, and I understand the physical toll it will take. I am aware that there will be different consequences, but I want to savor the glory of this experience to the fullest extent possible.”
