AEW boss Tony Khan wasted no time in introducing his newest signee for the post-WrestleDream media scrum. The WWE Hall of Famer, formerly known as Edge and now working under his real name Adam Copeland (and retaining his non-trademark nickname “Rated R Superstar”), was grinning from ear to ear as his new boss introduced him.
Copeland will be with AEW “full-time.” After his last WWE appearance as a special attraction, where he only appeared on a few programs per year, Khan said Copeland will be on AEW television “every week.” In the short term, that means he’ll be on Dynamite and Collision this week and will face Luchasaurus in his first match for AEW when Dynamite takes on WWE NXT on Tuesday, October 10th.
The 49-year-old discussed his decision to join AEW after his WWE contract expired last month and why he’s embracing a busier schedule for his new venture:
“Part of coming here is that I want to contribute. I wanted to help. And I just felt like here I would really be able to do that and have the opportunity to do that.
“I see a whole bunch of new faces and so much talent that I have never seen before and that has been the greatest thing for me as a person who is driven by challenges. I’ve never been in a ring with Samoa Joe. I’ve never been in a ring with Sting tonight. After 31 years in the industry, this has never happened.
“Then I see a guy like Nick Wayne, or I see Swerve. There’s just so much opportunity here and for me at this stage of my career – this is so tempting, this is so exciting, this is so… I said it out there, in hindsight, when I was out there again tonight , I felt free. That’s exactly the word that came to mind – I felt free. And it was fun.
“I had almost the same feeling I had when I came to my indie shows, back when I was either ‘Adam Impact’ or ‘Sexton Hardcastle’ or something, and it was this brand new thing that I’ve always had wanted to do.” . I felt that feeling out there tonight.
“And to feel that, at this stage of my career? This is something special. This is – man, come on. 31 years old and feeling like that? This is a gift. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do and it feels like an opportunity to come here – and not just every three months. I’ll be there every week. I am a full-time person. And I want to do that for as long as possible. Because I feel like that’s how I can help the most. And that’s what I’m here for most of all.”
Other highlights from Copeland’s conversation with the wrestling press earlier today:
• On Wednesday he’ll make his “mission statement” and give us some backstory to what we saw in the ring at WrestleDream.
• To illustrate how excited he is, Copeland told the story of how he flew to Seattle on Friday and called Darby Allin to get suggestions about where he could film his introductory vignette. At one point, while holding a cameraman as he hung out the window of an SUV to film the muscle car footage from his entrance, Copeland said he “cackled”: “I’m 49 years old, This is amazing.” What do we do? This is fantastic.” He returned to the word “free” to describe how he feels at AEW.
• Just a “quick, cursory look” at the AEW roster shows that there are 14 names he enjoys working with. He mentioned Joe again and then pointed out that he had never been in the ring with Jon Moxley or Claudio Castagnoli either. Copeland faced Kenny Omega for the first time ever tonight. “There’s a lot to see and challenge myself here.”
• He glossed over a question about how his talks about joining AEW began, instead focusing on the second part about whether he would help backstage. Copeland said the creative process has always been something he enjoys being heavily involved in. The storytelling element of pro wrestling is why he fell in love with the business, and he “absolutely” plans to “help anyone who needs help.”
• He was always open to helping other talented people (along with his daughter telling him to “be with Uncle Jay”) [Reso, aka Christian Cage] and have fun”) is one of the main reasons that brought him to AEW: “I thought I could really try to help here. And that in turn helps the entire wrestling industry, which I just love, second only to my wife and kids.”
• Copeland “locked himself up” in his hotel room. Allin took them to “questionable places” to film his introductory video where no one cared about him. He snuck out to get some food and was actually recognized once, but he playfully asked the child who recognized him to keep him quiet, and he did.
• When asked if Beth Phoenix might join him in AEW, Copeland said he doesn’t know “if that’s possible any time soon.” But he always wants to be near her, so maybe. He added that she is his sounding board for all ideas and always makes them better – so when he puts it on screen, her fingerprints are on it. “It’s kind of amazing to be married to a Hall of Famer — it’s pretty cool. Who can overcome you? [laughs].”
• It was very important for Copeland to come out on Alter Bridge’s “Metalingus.” The band’s guitarist, Mark Tremonti, who wrote the song, is a friend and has always said he can use it anywhere. The music sets the tone for his character and ensures that he “gets to that place” to perform.
You can read more about Copeland’s AEW debut at WrestleDream here and watch the entire media scrum here.
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