Edge wants to go out on his own terms this time around.
Highlights
- Adam ‘Edge’ Copeland made a shock return to the ring during the 2020 men’s Royal Rumble, nine years after injuries forced him to retire.
- Copeland moved on to AEW in 2023, but has estimated he has about 18 months left before he retires again.
- The 11-time World Champion doesn’t want to outstay his welcome and be the old guy younger stars no longer look forward to working with.
Countless wrestlers have come back from retirement, whether it’s because they need the money or simply can’t resist coming back. One wrestler most assumed was never coming back was Edge, now Adam Copeland in AEW. Nine years after being forced to retire due to neck injuries, Copeland made an emotional return during the 2020 men’s Royal Rumble. Four years on from that emotional night, the man formerly known as Edge has half an idea of when he will retire for the second time.
How Much Time Does Edge Have Left?
Speaking on Mostly Sports, Copeland spoke about the fear of overstaying his welcome and becoming the wrestler younger stars dread working with, noting how long he thinks he has left, and it’s not long (H/T to Fightful for the transcription).
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.
Copeland competed in some dream matches upon returning to WWE, even headlining a WrestleMania with Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns. However, as the end of his contract neared, a lack of a proper schedule had some speculating that the 11-time World Champion might try his luck elsewhere. In October 2023, that speculation was confirmed to be true and Edge traded in his WWE name for his real one as he officially became All Elite.
More For Edge In AEW
Copeland clearly made the right decision if wrestling more often was his primary goal. Having competed in 15 matches since signing for AEW, The Rated R Superstar is already over halfway to bettering the match total he tallied up during his most recent run in WWE. That’s 15 matches in six months in AEW versus 29 in more than three and a half years in WWE. He’s also been able to reunite with Christian Cage and even wrestle his former protege Matt Cardona for the first time.
Now speculation on what Copeland’s final 18 months as a professional wrestler might look like can begin. Even though he has technically reunited with Christian since the two of them have come out of retirement and are competing in the same company, they have only wrestled against each other so far in AEW and have not reunited to reform Edge & Christian. That will almost certainly happen before one or both of them retire, and my guess is Copeland’s last match will be a tag team one alongside his best friend.
