Booker T says Adam Copeland “did it his way” with his upcoming retirement, and that most wrestlers should walk away from the ring between 45 and 50.
Booker discussed Copeland on the latest episode of his Hall of Fame podcast with co-host Brad Gilmore. Copeland announced on the October 14 episode of AEW Dynamite that 2027 will be his final year in the ring.
“He did it his way. You got to respect that, man. You got to give a lot, a lot of respect for that,” Booker said. “Of course, having to leave the game earlier due to injury, and then getting cleared to come back, and then doing the WWE thing, and then going get that paper, baby. I almost got caught up in my throat there. Go get that check. You know what I’m saying? That retirement package.”
Booker said he admired how long Copeland and Christian Cage have stayed together as a team.
“The way you came in, the way you go out, there’s a lot to be said about that,” Booker said. “And I envy that part, as far as those guys being able to really keep together as a team for all these years.”
Booker T: Most wrestlers should walk away between 45 and 50
“For him to walk away from the game there at 52 years old, he still got a lot to do. He still got a lot of things to do outside of the wrestling world, and I’m glad he’s choosing to do it now,” Booker said. “At 52, I think I wrapped it up like 45 or something like that, and anytime between 45 and 50, most wrestlers should be walking away from the game. So him having a couple extra years is cool.”
Copeland turned 53 on October 30.
Booker said he knew it was time to stop when he hit 45.
“I was watching the young guys come up. I was watching those young guys in the locker room,” Booker said. “I wasn’t one of those old guys in the locker room still thinking in my mind that I looked better than these 25-year-olds. I was like, man, I got to get out of this. I knew when it was time for me to let it go.”
Gilmore brought up Copeland’s dive off the top of the cage at AEW Double or Nothing 2024, where Copeland fractured his tibia.
“Your brain tells you you’re still young. Your brain tells you you can still go out there and do it like you did once before, until you go out there and do it,” Booker said. “And then something pops. A break, and you go, ‘What the hell was I thinking?'”
Booker T on Ilja Dragunov in AEW
Booker, who called Ilja Dragunov’s matches on NXT, also gave his take on the former NXT Champion joining AEW after his WWE exit. Dragunov debuted at AEW WrestleDream in October.
“He’s a great entertainer, man. Great entertainer, great wrestler that they got in AEW. I think he’ll fit in over there fairly well, just because he’s one of the guys that can really make you feel when you watch him perform,” Booker said.
Booker said the challenge will be keeping that level up every week.
“He’s got to be able to go out there and have those kind of matches on a regular occasion. Every time you see him, that’s what you’re going to be expecting is that type of a match, and how many guys you got to work with that’s going to be able to go out there and give you that?” Booker said. “I wish Ilja Dragunov nothing but the best, man. I always thought that dude was a major talent.”
