During the January 6th episode of AEW Collision, Adam Copeland hosted an open challenge. Griff Garrison answered the call, and Copeland beat him in their six-minute bout.
On Busted Open Radio with Dave LaGreca and Bully Ray, Copeland explained his reasoning behind the bout.
“Because long after I’m gone, Griff Garrison will be there (at AEW) and just like Bad News Brown showed me or just like Rick Martel showed me or just like Tom Prichard showed me or Pat Patterson showed me or Michael Hayes showed me or Bret Hart showed me. I’m in that stage of my career. So if I can get in there with Griff Garrison, what is a 30-second match gonna do for Griff Garrison? But suddenly now, you get a couple, ‘Woah! He almost took that thing.’ Alright, well now you add in the element of story of like, okay, Copeland took this kid maybe a little lightly and there’s something to him. It’s also an opportunity for him to get on a microphone. It’s an opportunity for reps in front of an audience that will have eyes actually watching because there’s a character in there that they know. That to me is all that needs to be said. If he can get in there and we have five minutes of time in there, I feel like he can learn more in that five minutes than he would in probably 200 matches with people of the same experience and I know that sounds kind of cocky and egotistical, but that’s the way it was for me when I was his age and that’s what this is… I believe it to be but that’s why. That’s why I wanna work a guy like Griff Garrison, that’s why put me in with Dante Martin or Lee Moriarty or Zak Zodiac… This is a part within the story that Christian (Cage) and I are telling where we can do this and add another layer in the final book that is this story. That’s so fun to me. I think nowadays, people are just so, ‘Well why isn’t it this? Why isn’t it this? Why isn’t it right now? Right now, right now, right now, right now,’ and if you give them right now, ‘Well they did it too quick.’ This is another chapter. While they continue to write more chapters on their end, I’m gonna write it over here on this end and there’s always a plan and sometimes, like my favorite stories when I was growing up and I know it’s a different time, but Steamboat-Savage, let ‘em wrestle for a year!”
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In a recent episode of AEW Collision, Adam Copeland, also known as Edge, issued an open challenge to any wrestler willing to step into the ring with him. Griff Garrison answered the call and faced Copeland in a six-minute bout. This unexpected match caught the attention of wrestling fans, and Copeland took the opportunity to explain his reasoning behind it on Busted Open Radio with Dave LaGreca and Bully Ray.
Copeland expressed that he believes in the importance of passing down knowledge and experience to the next generation of wrestlers. He mentioned how legendary wrestlers like Bad News Brown, Rick Martel, Tom Prichard, Pat Patterson, Michael Hayes, and Bret Hart had all played a significant role in shaping his career. Now, at this stage of his career, Copeland sees himself as a mentor figure for younger talents like Griff Garrison.
The purpose of the match was not just to showcase Copeland’s skills but also to provide an opportunity for Garrison to learn and grow. Copeland believes that a short 30-second match wouldn’t do much for Garrison’s development. Instead, by giving him a few minutes in the ring with a seasoned veteran like himself, Garrison could learn valuable lessons and gain experience that would be more beneficial than wrestling multiple matches against opponents of similar experience.
Furthermore, Copeland emphasized the importance of storytelling in wrestling. By having a longer match with Garrison, Copeland could add another layer to the ongoing story between him and Christian Cage. It was an opportunity to create a chapter in their narrative that would captivate the audience and keep them invested in their journey.
Copeland acknowledged that in today’s fast-paced world, people often demand instant gratification. However, he believes that wrestling is like storytelling and should be approached with patience. He referenced the classic rivalry between Ricky Steamboat and Randy Savage, where they wrestled for a year, building up anticipation and creating a memorable storyline.
In conclusion, Adam Copeland’s decision to face Griff Garrison in a longer match was driven by his desire to pass on his knowledge and help young talents grow. He saw it as an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing storylines in AEW and create a captivating narrative for the audience. Copeland’s approach highlights the importance of mentorship and storytelling in professional wrestling, reminding us that sometimes the best stories are the ones that unfold gradually over time.
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