On a recent edition of the “AEW Unrestricted” podcast, AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland shared his experience of how his acting career proved beneficial when he returned to wrestling. During his first retirement, Copeland had a recurring role in the Syfy series, Haven.
Copeland said, “I didn’t fully realize what it brought to me until I came back. Acting was a happy accident, I never had aspirations, I never wanted that to be my career. I was pro wrestler, that was it, that’s all I ever wanted to do. But, when you’re told you can’t do it, you gotta wrap your mind around stuff. Luckily, executive producer for a show called Haven, they saw my retirement speech and said, ‘Can we get that guy?’ I went out there and one episode turned into 41 episodes. In the process, I learned, wow, this is really awesome. This is a cool gig. It’s not wrestling, you don’t have that instant gratification to know if what you’re doing is working, but it’s still very creative and it’s tapping into that creative vein, and I need that. I think anybody that is involved in wrestling is a creative person.”
He continued, “It became kind of my place to still get that out. I fell in love with it, started putting work towards it. I talked to the directors, talked to the DP, ‘Okay, why are we lighting this way, why are we doing this?’ Talking to other actors and saying, ‘Why’d you make that choice?’ Not questioning it, but wondering and learning to the point where it’s probably annoying people, but that’s what I did in wrestling. I just asked questions. If I was on a indie show and Bad News Brown was on it, I was going straight to him and going, ‘What do you got for me? My ears are wide open.’ I wanted to be the same way on the set. Coming back to wrestling, I realized how many different things that I can use. As much as they’re different, they’re still the same tree, they’re just kind of different branches. It was fascinating to come back with a promo and realize how to use movement, how to use stillness to make it mean more, how to use your eyes. So often in wrestling, we get caught up in moves or spots or sequences, or whatever the term is these days. Give me those all day and I’m gonna get more across with those then I will by doing a shooting star. Plus, I can’t do one, so there’s that.”
On a recent edition of his “What Happened When” podcast, AEW broadcaster Tony Schiavone reacted to Swerve Strickland winning the AEW World Championship from Samoa Joe this past weekend at AEW Dynasty 2024.
Schiavone said, “I think it’s well-deserved. Swerve is not only a great performer, but he is a wonderful young man. If anybody deserves getting the run, being a champion, it’s him, and I’m very, very happy for him. I have a lot of time for him. Of course, I worked with him in MLW for a bit, so I knew Swerve before we all came into AEW, and I was really excited when we brought him in. So yeah, good job, Swerve. I hope it’s a good, long title run.”
Adam Copeland, also known as AEW TNT Champion, recently shared how his acting career proved beneficial when he returned to wrestling. Copeland, who had a recurring role in the Syfy series “Haven” during his first retirement, discussed his experience on the “AEW Unrestricted” podcast.
The retired wrestler admitted that he didn’t fully realize the benefits of his acting career until he made his comeback to wrestling. Initially, Copeland had no aspirations of becoming an actor and solely wanted to pursue a career in professional wrestling. However, when he was forced to retire temporarily, his retirement speech caught the attention of the executive producer of “Haven,” who offered him a role. What started as one episode turned into 41 episodes, and Copeland discovered a newfound love for acting.
Copeland expressed that acting provided him with a creative outlet that he needed. Although it lacked the instant gratification of wrestling, it allowed him to tap into his creative vein. He learned to appreciate the process of acting, asking questions to directors and other actors to understand their choices and techniques. Copeland compared this approach to his wrestling days, where he would seek advice from experienced wrestlers to improve his skills.
Returning to wrestling, Copeland realized how many different aspects of acting he could incorporate into his performances. He discovered the power of movement, stillness, and using his eyes to convey emotions and messages. Instead of relying solely on high-flying moves and flashy spots, he understood the importance of storytelling and connecting with the audience on a deeper level.
In another development, AEW broadcaster Tony Schiavone shared his thoughts on Swerve Strickland winning the AEW World Championship from Samoa Joe at AEW Dynasty 2024. Schiavone praised Strickland’s performance and described him as a talented performer and a wonderful young man. Having previously worked with Strickland in MLW, Schiavone expressed his excitement when the wrestler joined AEW. He congratulated Strickland on his championship win and hoped for a long and successful title reign.
Overall, Copeland’s experience highlights the crossover between acting and wrestling, demonstrating how skills from one field can benefit the other. It also showcases the support and admiration within the AEW community, with Schiavone expressing his happiness for Strickland’s championship victory. As AEW continues to push boundaries and provide unique opportunities for its wrestlers, the blending of different talents and experiences will undoubtedly contribute to the promotion’s success.