In a recent conversation with ‘TVInsider,’ famed pro wrestler Adam ‘Cope’ Copeland shared his list of AEW wrestlers he wishes to face before stepping back from wrestling. The last bout for Copeland was a Street Fight grappling with AEW World Champion Jon Moxley on Dynamite, last week.
Below are some interesting extracts from the interview:
On his Emmy nomination: “The thought of an Emmy nomination was nowhere on my radar. When my manager delivered the news and asked if I consider myself an actor after being Emmy nominated, I couldn’t think of anything to say but maybe I should. Beth, who was on speaker, said she foretold this. She had stated in 2011, when my full-time acting career started after my retirement from wrestling, that I would be the first pro wrestler nominated for an Emmy. So, it was less of celebration and more of her saying ‘I told you so’. On the awards night, being with my loved ones was fun. You don’t expect such things, so you enjoy every moment. The show, Percy, to which I am a small contributor, was nominated for 16 awards and won eight! It’s a hit!”
Regarding Moxley match reactions: “Wrestling can be seen as a variety show. It should offer a variety of entertainment including comedy, straightforward wrestling, hardcore bouts, etc. This is what Moxley and I try to do time and again. Not everything we do may be appreciated by everyone as everyone’s taste differs. But AEW does not shy away from taking risks. We can be compared to punk rock where it is not always about looking perfect. It provides an alternative, something different. The company history speaks for itself.”
On Beth Phoenix possibly making a comeback: “Nothing can be predicted as of now. She may return if the situation feels right. Roping in Willow [Nightingale] felt right at the time. Having someone from our existing roster provided a fresh energy. And as far as Beth is concerned, she is extremely occupied, so managing family matters if both of us are outgoing is also a consideration.”
On how creative process works in AEW: “I don’t worry about where I end up. If they want me to follow a particular path, I comply willingly. Building and piecing together stories is something I enjoy. Although we don’t decide on the finishes, we work collaboratively in deciding the direction of the story. If I am making a comeback from an injury or have been nominated for an Emmy and there’s a need to build on the hype created, we try to devise a storyline around it.”
Regarding plans for his last match: “I don’t spend much time thinking about my last match. I am more interested in what the company needs and go by what the show requires. Certainly, I do desire to work with Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page, Jay White, Kyle Fletcher, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, and Samoa Joe before I call it a day in this profession.”