The ‘Rated R Superstar’ has estimated when he may have to call it a day.
Few could believe it when ‘Metalingus’ hit at the 2020 Royal Rumble and Adam ‘Edge’ Copeland returned to the ring. It came nine years after the former WWE Champion had to retire from the ring following a series of severe neck issues, and he seemingly return with a second wind and determination to continue performing at the highest level. Now in AEW, Copeland is enjoying a reign as the TNT Champion, but questions remain over just how long he has left in the ring.
Speaking with Brandon Walker on Mostly Sports, the ‘Rated R Superstar’ discussed the differences between the two halves of his career, and noted that he may only be able to compete for around a year and a half more.
“I’ve lived a lot more life. As strange as that sounds, it actually does add to your utility belt out there. As a performer, any kind of performer, they have to dip into a place to pull the character off. It’s the same with wrestling. That, more than anything, is what I’ve noticed coming back. Some of the skillset I got in the acting I did during those nine years off, I did over 100 episodes of television when I was retired. You kind of pull those things back with you. I feel that’s the biggest difference. I might not be as fast as I used to be, but I feel mentally I’m better than I’ve ever been. That is why a guy like Tom Brady goes, ‘Yeah, well, mentally, I’m better than I’ve ever been. I see the game better than I’ve ever seen it.’ I think that’s the struggle. That’s kind of how I feel, but I’m also a realist. 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. Hopefully, I’ve gotten all the ‘yeah, yeahs’ out by that point,”
-Adam Copeland
Should he have to retire in 18 months’ time, Copeland will undoubtedly go down as one of professional wrestling’s biggest legends. In the meantime, he’s set to team with Eddie Kingston and Mark Briscoe to take on the House of Black this weekend at AEW Dynasty, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down just yet.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on Adam Copeland’s in-ring status as soon as we hear more.
H/T to Jeremy Lambert of Fightful for the transcription.
