WWE Hall of Famer and former Superstar Edge, who is now known by his real name, Adam Copeland, is now officially all elite and had a surprise AEW debut last Sunday (Oct. 1) at All Elite Wrestling’s WrestleDream pay-per-view event. Copeland recently left WWE or more so he let his WWE contract expire. His last WWE match in August was announced as a retirement match when he took on Sheamus. However, after that match, he was undecided on his future. WWE had offered him a new contract and obviously AEW had reached out, but he was also toying with the idea of actually retiring.
At Sunday’s AEW WrestleDream event, Christian Cage had Sting beaten and vulnerable on the ground and was about to hit the ConChairTo, a move that sandwiches an opponent’s head between two chairs. The arena goes dark and a video plays before Copeland’s latest WWE theme, “Metalingus” by Alter Bridge, plays and the fans go nuts.
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Copeland is a huge signing for AEW and brings a lot of fans and respect along with him. During the post-WrestleDream media scrum, the former WWE Champion talked about one of the reasons he joined AEW was to help develop and teach younger talent. He stated the following:
“Whoever comes and talks to me, I’m an open book. And my 31 years of experience, if you want to tap into that, I’m always, I’m a phone call, I’m a text, I’m a ‘come talk to me face to face’ away. That’s always been how I’ve been… so that’s part of what I bring to the table when I come here. And honestly, that was one of the really, really pivotal things besides my daughter saying I should go be with Uncle Jay [Christian Cage] and have fun, that I thought I could really kind of help here. And in turn, that helps the entire wrestling industry.”
H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription
Adam Copeland Makes His Big AEW Debut
AEW has a very good mix of experience levels. They have guys like Kenny Omega who was huge in Japan, Samoa Joe who was huge in the indies and TNA, Jon Moxley who was huge in WWE, and Penta and Rey Fenix were huge in Mexico. However, they have very few wrestling icons who have reached the absolute top of the industry like Adam Copeland has. Sting and Chris Jericho are the two who are at Copeland’s same level. Sting is still hanging in there, but his best days are behind him. Jericho on the other hand is still putting out very good performances.
Adam Copeland Looking To Pass On His Knowledge
Having another wrestler who has reached the peak of the industry and has been on top for many years helps everyone who is willing to listen to Adam Copeland’s knowledge. With CM Punk gone AEW needs another wrestler who is actively looking to teach his knowledge. Copeland joining AEW is very exciting. However, not just for fans, but also for his peers in AEW. During the media scrum, Jericho spoke of his excitement to have Copeland in AEW. Jericho stated:
“I always love seeing a big name like Adam [Copeland] coming to AEW because, if you look, the three of us at this table [Jericho, AEW CEO Tony Khan, and Omega] have been here since day one. [Even] prior to day one. We made day one happen … I think after the first couple of years, especially when the pandemic was over, to see all the names that came in, it’s like we paved the way and let people know it’s safe to come here and it’s great to come here.
“And I’ve known Adam since 1995. He loves wrestling, and sometimes in other places, that love of wrestling kind of gets squashed and warped a bit maybe. It’s not like that here in AEW. I think, once again, when some of the other guys came, like FTR and Adam Cole and those types of guys, they couldn’t believe just the difference and just the whole vibe of what we have here. And I think just talking with Adam and seeing him coming out to the ring, he’s super stoked, and super excited, and super motivated. And when you’re motivated, that’s when great wrestlers become even better and even more legendary.”
H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription
Jericho is a peer of Adam Copeland who has met him in the ring many times during their days together in WWE. He saw him develop into the big star he became in WWE. He knows what he brings to the table firsthand.
Kenny Omega’s Thoughts On Copeland Joining AEW
However, on the other side of the coin is someone who grew up watching Copeland in WWE and who has never had the privilege of wrestling him. Omega talked about why he is so excited to have Adam Copeland in AEW. Omega commented during the media scrum:
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“As someone who grew up watching Edge on different programming, it’s really cool to see someone come into our locker room with such a positive [attitude], his demeanor was incredible backstage,” Omega said. “For us, as younger guys, who maybe haven’t had experience over in WWE, to meet him for the first time and see that someone who is here very much motivated, willing to contribute, and put their best foot forward, and to probably do something that he has not done yet in his career. He’s stepping out of his comfort zone. He’s willing to do things he’s never done before, and he’s willing to do it with us.”
Possible Future Opponents
Adam Copeland brings a lot of new and exciting possibilities to AEW. He has a history with Jericho, Hardy Boyz, and of course Christian Cage. Once Copeland joined WWE he never wrestled for any other promotion. It has got to be exciting for him to see what it is like to wrestle outside of WWE.
RELATED: Chris Jericho Talks About Why Edge Going To AEW Would Be So Beneficial
Copeland talked about how excited he is when looking at his possible future matches. He listed a few names that have piqued his interest and is looking forward to wrestling.
“I’ve never faced Samoa Joe, that’s really exciting to me. I’ve never faced or been in the same ring as Jon Moxley, highly interesting to me,” Copeland said. “Claudio [Castagnoli], never been in the ring. There’s so many different talent here that I have a lot of respect for, and I’d really like to feel what that is.” H/T Wrestling Inc.
The list of possible future opponents for Adam Copeland is a mile long and all of them will be amazing matches. However, his first match in AEW has already been announced. On the Oct. 10 episode of Dynamite, he will face Luchasaurus. With this match, his first big feud seems to already be set in place. It looks like he will work his way up to his best friend and face Christian Cage in the near future.
What do you think of Adam Copeland joining AEW? Is moving over to AEW so late in his career a good idea? Should he have retired or returned to WWE? Do you think AEW is positioning him to feud with Christian Cage? Would you be excited about that feud? Let us know what the top thing he can teach younger wrestlers is on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: Post-WrestleDream media scrum, Wrestling Inc., Wrestling Inc., Wrestling Inc.
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