AEW Star Plans To Retire In Around 18 Months

AEW

Top AEW star and current TNT Champion Adam Copeland says he plans to retire from in-ring competition in around 18 months.

Adam Copeland has been enjoying a career resurgence with the second half of his career kicking off with his return after 9 years away from the ring at WWE Royal Rumble 2020.

Before his initial retirement in 2011, Copeland had accomplished a great deal as a former multi-time WWE World Champion and WWE Hall of Famer.

Copeland has since left WWE and signed with All Elite Wrestling in October 2023. Six months later, he is the reigning TNT Champion after defeating his real life best friend Christian Cage.

Speaking to Brandon Walker on Mostly Sports, Adam Copeland was asked about the differences between the two runs of his legendary career. He said:

“I’ve lived a lot more life. As strange as that sounds, it actually does add to your utility belt out there.”

“As a performer, any kind of performer, they have to dip into a place to pull the character off. It’s the same with wrestling. That, more than anything, is what I’ve noticed coming back.”

“Some of the skillset I got in the acting I did during those nine years off, I did over 100 episodes of television when I was retired. You kind of pull those things back with you.”

“I feel that’s the biggest difference. I might not be as fast as I used to be, but I feel mentally I’m better than I’ve ever been.”

“That is why a guy like Tom Brady goes, ‘Yeah, well, mentally, I’m better than I’ve ever been. I see the game better than I’ve ever seen it.’ I think that’s the struggle.”

On feeling like he is winding down his in-ring career, Copeland said:

“That’s kind of how I feel, but I’m also a realist. I don’t want to be that guy who sticks around to the point where a young guy looks at the sheet and goes, ‘Ah, okay, I have to wrestle him tonight.'”

“I don’t want to be that guy. I want young guys to still be excited if they’re going to hop in there with me.”

“I figure maybe I have a year and a half left, give or take. Hopefully, I’ve gotten all the ‘yeah, yeahs’ out by that point,” 

Adam Copeland is set to team with Willow Nightingale to face House of Black’s Brody King and TBS Champion Julia Hart in a mixed tag team match on the April 17 edition of AEW Dynamite.

Then, Copeland will team with ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe and NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston to face House of Black’s Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews and Brody King this Sunday, April 21 at AEW Dynasty.

Transcription via Fightful

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• Adam Copeland
• retirement
• AEW

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