Adam Copeland addresses AEW contract status, wants sendoff on his own terms
Adam Copeland feels he already had his retirement sendoff in 2011 after his neck injury. He addressed his wrestling future and the wear and tear on his body.
In an exclusive interview with Clutch Points, Copeland talked about injuries and time away being added to his AEW contract. And signalling the uncertainty of its potential expiration.
“I broke my leg, so there’s injury time added, and I had to go film Beekeeper (2) and Percy Jackson, so (that’s) added. Anytime I have to take a break, that gets added on the back end. I’m not even sure when it’s up.”
Considering a potential retirement tour like John Cena’s last year, Copeland stated his sendoff was already done in 2011. He was forced to retire due to a cervical spinal stenosis. However, nearly a decade later he returned at the 2020 Royal Rumble.
“I already had my sendoff. This time, it’ll be my choice, and that makes it a different experience entirely. I don’t care if I get this big, tearful sendoff.”
“I have no preconceived idea of what it needs to be.”
He also discussed the reduced wrestling schedule and the physical toll it has on his body at the age of 52.
“That’s the interesting part. We’ve always talked about within the industry the best you feel is when you can wrestle the most, because it’s almost like you stay in this purgatory of pain and never really come out of it. You’re always kind of in that zone, and gosh, (if) you take two weeks off and take a bump, the first time it’s like, ‘Oh, man.’ And if you’re doing that live on national television or on pay-per-view, that can be a disconcerting thing.”
Copeland and Christian Cage will team up against FTR for the AEW Tag Team Titles at Double or Nothing this weekend. The stipulation is an ‘I Quit’ match but if Cope and Cage lose, they will retire as a tag team.
“My very first pay-per-view appearance ever was in New York (at Madison Square Garden). It was at SummerSlam ’98 – that was the beginning of my pay-per-view career anyway. So New York holds a special place (in my heart).”
The PPV will emanate from Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York on May 24.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.