Jim Ross says Bret Hart pushed for WWE to sign Adam “Edge” Copeland many years ago.
Taking to his “Grilling JR” podcast, the former WWE Head of Talent Relations and current AEW commentator commented on Hart often going to bat for Adam Copeland, convincing Vince McMahon of Copeland’s potential, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Copeland being on WWE’s radar at the time: “We were aware of Adam’s abilities. He had a great personality, he was a total team guy — ‘Yes, sir. No, sir.’ He was very polite. His momma raised him well. God bless her. But Bret calling me to speak up in a positive way for Adam was really the cherry on the sundae. I mean, nobody in the business of wrestling was more respected than Bret Hart, so he was very effusive about Adam’s potential.”
On Hart selling Copeland as a guy to sign: “Bret definitely did a great job of recruiting and selling him, and I’m sure glad he made that phone call.”
On convincing Vince McMahon of Copeland’s potential: “I looked at my [WWE] budget and the right thing to do was paying off Edge’s student loans. So you start your career debt-free, and that’s what we did. I’m glad Vince thought it was a great idea. At that time, Vince was sold — this kid had something.”
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Jim Ross, the former WWE Head of Talent Relations and current AEW commentator, recently revealed that Bret Hart played a crucial role in convincing Vince McMahon to sign Adam “Edge” Copeland many years ago. Ross shared this information on his podcast, “Grilling JR,” shedding light on the behind-the-scenes workings of the wrestling industry.
According to Ross, they were already aware of Copeland’s abilities and potential. He described Copeland as having a great personality and being a team player who was polite and respectful. However, it was Bret Hart’s endorsement of Copeland that really made a difference. Hart, who was highly respected in the wrestling business, spoke highly of Copeland’s potential and convinced Ross to give him a chance.
Ross acknowledged Hart’s efforts in selling Copeland as a valuable addition to the WWE roster. He expressed gratitude for Hart’s phone call and credited him for doing an excellent job of recruiting and selling Copeland’s talents. Ross also revealed that he had to convince Vince McMahon of Copeland’s potential, and fortunately, McMahon was sold on the idea. As a result, they decided to pay off Edge’s student loans, allowing him to start his career debt-free.
The podcast episode also included a video interview with Edge, where he discussed his journey in the wrestling industry. The video provides fans with an opportunity to hear directly from Edge himself about his experiences and aspirations.
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The story of how Bret Hart advocated for Adam Copeland’s signing sheds light on the importance of networking and support within the wrestling industry. It shows how influential figures like Hart can make a significant impact on a wrestler’s career trajectory. Copeland’s success in WWE and his subsequent rise to stardom as Edge is a testament to the power of talent recognition and support from industry veterans.