Adam Copeland has opened the door to a long-term post-wrestling role with AEW, telling Westwood One Sports Night ahead of his AEW Tag Team Championship match at Double or Nothing on Sunday that he loves working at the company and would be open to conversations with Tony Khan about a creative or backstage spot whenever his in-ring career ends.
Copeland and Christian Cage are challenging FTR for the AEW Tag Team Championships in an I Quit Match at Double or Nothing on May 24 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing, NY. The match carries the stipulation that if Copeland and Cage lose, they will not be allowed to team together again.
Speaking with Westwood One Sports Night, Copeland noted he considered the AEW workplace a draw he is not going to leave easily.
“That’s up to Tony and what he may need. And that’s stuff that I don’t know. Like, I don’t know, where would you need me? And then I think we’d just discuss it at that time and go, ‘Okay, that sounds like fun.’ Or, ‘I just want to sit on my deck or go jet skiing or kayaking or something.’ I don’t know. But I’m a creative person, and I know that no matter what, I’ll need to scratch that creative itch, whether that’s just purely acting or maybe it’s helping with creative in AEW and still continuing in acting. I don’t know. But I do know, in terms of the workplace, I love going there. So it wouldn’t be like twist my arm to keep me around.”
Copeland is 52. The framing is the most explicit he has been about wanting to stay in AEW past his in-ring run. He has previously spoken publicly about being medically disqualified from WWE in 2011 after his neck injury, and about how that retirement felt forced. The AEW exit, when it comes, is being framed by Copeland as one he expects to handle on his terms.
He also addressed the role of veteran in the AEW locker room, telling Westwood One he has time for the wrestlers who are actively trying to develop.
“Man, I got all day for the Darby Allins and the Will Ospreays and the guys who really just want to crack this code. And there really is no fully cracking it, right? Just great attitudes, great work ethic, yeah, I got all day for people like that. And then also, take any advice for what it’s worth, but you have to put it in your spin cycle and make it you. And you have to feel comfortable with it. You’re probably going to get told 20 different things by 20 different people. So then it’s deciphering who do you want to listen to, who has the type of advice that you relate to.”
Copeland framed the AEW locker room’s experience spectrum as a strength.
“The great thing is, it’s a really fun locker room in that you can look and there’s Dustin Rhodes and there’s Griff Garrison. Like, that is opposite ends of the experience spectrum, right? And that’s a good thing. It really, really is.”
Copeland signed with AEW after his second WWE run ended in 2023. He has held the TNT Championship and previously challenged for the AEW World Championship under Tony Khan.
If you use quotes from this article, please credit Westwood One Sports Night and include a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
