Adam Copeland has wrestled on the biggest stages in the world—but he says there’s something uniquely special about AEW’s offbeat, unpredictable vibe.
“We’re kind of a bit punk rock. It’s not always going to be pretty. It’s an alternative. It’s something different,” Copeland said in a recent interview with Scott Fishman for TV Insider.
Coming off a blood-soaked, polarizing match with Jon Moxley, Copeland pushed back on criticism of AEW’s more violent segments. He sees wrestling as a variety show, one that should encompass everything from comedy to technical showcases to hardcore brawls.
“Think about me and Foley,” he said. “I’m sure there were a lot of people disturbed by that too. There are also a lot of people who enjoy horror movies.
There are people who enjoy romcoms. Wrestling can bring that all to the table.”
He sees AEW as a creative haven for risk-takers, pointing to talents like Darby Allin and matches involving glass and thumbtacks as part of its DNA.
“Let’s also face it. If you have two wrestlers coming out to wrestle a technical match every match, that can get pretty boring.”
Copeland’s endorsement reinforces AEW’s positioning as pro wrestling’s creative counterculture—messy, bold, and proudly different.