Adam Copeland Open to AEW Creative Role After In‑Ring Career

Posted by admin on May 19th, 2026

Adam Copeland says he is open to taking on a creative or backstage position in AEW once his in‑ring career ends. Speaking with Westwood One Sports Night ahead of his AEW Tag Team Championship match at Double or Nothing, Copeland said he loves the AEW environment and would be willing to discuss a long‑term role with Tony Khan when the time comes.

Copeland and Christian Cage will challenge FTR in an I Quit Match for the AEW Tag Team Titles on May 24 at Louis Armstrong Stadium. If they lose, they will no longer be allowed to team together.

During the interview, Copeland said the idea of staying with AEW after retirement is something he would consider, depending on what the company needs. He explained, “That’s up to Tony and what he may need. And that’s stuff that I don’t know. Like, I don’t know, where would you need me? And then I think we’d just discuss it at that time and go, ‘Okay, that sounds like fun.’ Or, ‘I just want to sit on my deck or go jet skiing or kayaking or something.’ I don’t know. But I’m a creative person, and I know that no matter what, I’ll need to scratch that creative itch, whether that’s just purely acting or maybe it’s helping with creative in AEW and still continuing in acting. I don’t know. But I do know, in terms of the workplace, I love going there. So it wouldn’t be like twist my arm to keep me around.”

At 52, Copeland has become more open about what life after wrestling might look like. He has often spoken about being forced into retirement in WWE in 2011 due to a neck injury, and how that exit never felt like a choice. His AEW run, however, is something he expects to end on his own terms.

Copeland also discussed his role as a veteran in the AEW locker room. He said he enjoys helping younger talent who are committed to improving. He explained, “Man, I got all day for the Darby Allins and the Will Ospreays and the guys who really just want to crack this code. And there really is no fully cracking it, right? Just great attitudes, great work ethic, yeah, I got all day for people like that. And then also, take any advice for what it’s worth, but you have to put it in your spin cycle and make it you. And you have to feel comfortable with it. You’re probably going to get told 20 different things by 20 different people. So then it’s deciphering who do you want to listen to, who has the type of advice that you relate to.”

He praised the AEW locker room for its mix of experience levels, saying, “The great thing is, it’s a really fun locker room in that you can look and there’s Dustin Rhodes and there’s Griff Garrison. Like, that is opposite ends of the experience spectrum, right? And that’s a good thing. It really, really is.”

Copeland joined AEW after finishing his second WWE run in 2023. He has held the TNT Championship and challenged for the AEW World Championship during his time under Tony Khan.