The Ariel Helwani Show
Episode overview

Adam "Edge" Copeland Wants to Retire in AEW, Wanted Cena Retirement Tour Match, Praises Tony Khan

The Ariel Helwani Show · 54m · 1 Egleze moment
Adam "Edge" Copeland Wants to Retire in AEW, Wanted Cena Retirement Tour Match, Praises Tony Khan
Episode summary

Ariel Helwani interviews AEW’s Adam Copeland (formerly Edge) ahead of AEW All In at Wembley Stadium, where Copeland and Christian Cage are set to face The Young Bucks. Copeland describes his move from WWE to AEW as primarily about having “fun” and accessing new opponents and creative options; he says that without AEW as an alternative he likely would have retired by now. He also portrays himself as a veteran presence intended to help steady the AEW locker room, saying the past year has felt more cohesive, with talent “pulling in the same direction”.

Copeland praises AEW owner Tony Khan’s personal approach, citing Khan’s engagement with Copeland’s family and saying Khan has become more hands-on following encouragement from senior wrestlers. He criticises the latter stage of his WWE run as “overproduced” and overly rehearsed, arguing AEW offers more room to experiment.

On future plans, Copeland says he wants to retire in AEW and, when asked if he will be wrestling at 54, says his current answer is no, noting some nights leave him feeling he has “a year left tops”. He discusses bucket-list venues including Wembley and Maple Leaf Gardens, and suggests a match with John Cena during Cena’s retirement period was theoretically possible across promotions, but says “one place” did not want it and he did not explore it further.

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Adam Copeland says he wants to retire in AEW

Adam Copeland said he wants to finish his in-ring career in AEW, adding that he is content where he is and does not want to go elsewhere. He framed the decision as rooted in his enjoyment of the company and its locker-room culture, while acknowledging some fans may have hoped for a different end point.

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