Adam Copeland Reveals How Close He Came To Joining AEW In 2019

WWE/AEW

AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland has opened up on how close he came to signing with the company prior to his WWE return.

Edge returned to WWE after a 9 year retirement in the 2020 Royal Rumble match in one of the greatest moments in Royal Rumble history.

Edge had delivered a Spear to Elias on the pre-show of SummerSlam in 2019, which was the moment he began considering a return to the ring.

In the past, Copeland has spoken about conversations he had with AEW before his WWE return, and he has now revealed how close he came to joining the company before ultimately returning to WWE.

Speaking to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, he said:

“Really close, we had great discussions. When I first started talking to AEW I wasn’t yet cleared. We talk about it like the bosses of each video game level, but I still wasn’t cleared by company doctors. Once all of those clearances started to come I was like: ‘oh this is real now, ok’.

“So, before I did anything I went and got the final clearance needed for either company. But I had negotiated with everybody I was like:‘ok here’s where I’m at here’s what I’m told I can do’, and started the process.

“In going to WWE and sitting down with Vince, he was like: ‘well it’s got to happen here’ you know? At that stage I looked at the equity built and having to start over was, especially after having to start over after nine years felt really daunting if that makes sense?

“It felt that at least with WWE that’s one thing off the table that I don’t need to worry about. I can come back and walk into the history of this character. And I do feel like it needed to happen there initially, if only for that Royal Rumble moment, feeling and experiencing that. I’m happy how it turned out.”

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Copeland ended up joining AEW in 2023 when his contract with WWE expired, debuting at WrestleDream.

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• Adam Copeland
• Edge
• AEW
• wwe

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