Adam Copeland has opened up about why walking away from wrestling again may not hit as hard as his first retirement, while also admitting there is one major thing he knows he’ll miss when his AEW career eventually comes to an end.

Speaking with Westwood One Sports Night ahead of AEW Double or Nothing, where he and Christian Cage will challenge FTR in an “I Quit” match for the AEW World Tag Team Championships, Copeland reflected on how retirement changed his life and helped push him toward acting after WWE forced him to step away in 2011.

Copeland explained that being forced into retirement due to serious neck injuries made the experience far more difficult emotionally at the time. Now, years later, he feels more prepared for the reality of eventually stepping away from the ring again because he already experienced that life adjustment once before.

“For me, I already had to do it once. So, the second time it’s like, ‘Alright, I know how to navigate this. I know what to do.’ It was different then because I was forced, and I think that makes it more difficult,” Copeland said. “So, I think this retirement is going to be the easy one because it’s like, ‘I got no choice, man. My body’s just saying nah. It cracks way too much. Arthritis isn’t my best friend.’”

The former WWE Hall of Famer also discussed how acting became an unexpected second chapter in his career after his first retirement. According to Copeland, professional wrestling gave him the tools and confidence to transition naturally into the entertainment world outside the ring.

“For me personally, I never introduce myself as Edge. Edge was a character that I played on television. Adam Copeland, this version of Adam Copeland is closer to me, still a character. Like, I don’t go around bashing people with a spiked 2×4 with me. I don’t do that, right?” he explained. “So, to me, the retirement thing isn’t that, I don’t want to say not that big a deal, but I already did it once, and when that happened, acting was the happy accident that fell in my lap.”

“Then I realized, ‘Wait, I actually really enjoy this.’ Pro wrestling was amazing training for this because I don’t feel like I’m starting from scratch. I feel like I’m at least starting halfway or maybe a quarter. So knowing that too and knowing that there’s acting going forward, that makes things a little more easy to chew on.”

Copeland went on to compare his return to wrestling to Rocky Balboa’s desire for “one more fight,” saying he felt there was unfinished business left in him before returning to the ring. He added that teaming with Christian Cage again in AEW has allowed them to reinvent themselves in a completely new way compared to their legendary WWE run.

“And I think too like this is that Rocky Balboa movie where he goes in and he wants the fight, and he’s talking to, I guess, the commissioners, and he has to get the stuff out of the basement. You still got to get that stuff out of the basement, and I feel like I have,” Copeland stated. “Now this is all just like, man. Getting with Christian, we’ve completely recreated the tag team, and it’s an entirely different thing than it was before, and we’re both really proud of that.”

While Copeland feels mentally ready for retirement whenever the time comes, he admitted the hardest part will be leaving behind the atmosphere and enjoyment he currently feels in AEW.

“So it’s going to be easier this time for sure. I think the difficult thing will be that I really enjoy working at AEW. I have so much fun going to work, I will miss that. It’s like, man, I get there, and I feel like getting in a candy store,” he concluded.

WWE star Ludwig Kaiser is fighting to keep his travel schedule intact while his Florida battery case moves through the legal system, with newly obtained court documents revealing his legal team argues travel is essential for him to remain employed by WWE.

According to filings obtained by Ringside News, Kaiser, whose real name is Marcel Barthel, has formally requested permission for both out of state and international travel while the misdemeanor battery case remains active in Orange County, Florida. His attorney argued in the motion that WWE’s demanding schedule requires constant travel across the United States and internationally for television tapings, premium live events, media appearances, and overseas tours.

“Mr. Barthel is an international performer who is required to travel throughout the United States and around the world to remain employed,” the filing stated.

The defense also pushed back against concerns surrounding Barthel’s background, claiming he has no criminal history and does not pose a danger to others.

“Mr. Barthel has no prior criminal history anywhere in the world and is not a danger to others,” the motion states.

Court documents further reveal Barthel intends to cooperate fully throughout the legal process.

“He has every intention of appearing at all required court appearances related to these allegations.”

The filings also provide additional details surrounding the timeline leading up to his arrest. According to the motion, Barthel was in Mexico for WWE related work when he learned an arrest warrant had been issued in Florida. The filing claims he immediately arranged travel back to Orlando to address the matter.

“At the time he learned of the warrant, Mr. Barthel was in Mexico for work purposes and immediately made plans to travel back to Orlando to deal with the warrant.”

Barthel returned to Orlando on May 20 before surrendering to authorities at the Orange County Jail. He was booked on a misdemeanor battery charge and later released after posting $1,000 bond.

Additional court filings show Barthel has entered a written plea of not guilty and waived arraignment, allowing the case to proceed without a standard courtroom appearance. His attorney, Orlando based lawyer Thomas D. Sommerville, also filed motions requesting discovery tied to the investigation, including police reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and other materials connected to the case.

One filing specifically requests “all police and investigative reports of any kind prepared for or in connection with the case.”

The underlying case stems from an alleged incident police say occurred on April 23 at the Paramount on Lake Eola Apartments in Orlando, where Barthel also resides. Investigators previously stated probable cause was established through witness statements, surveillance footage, visible injuries, and a photo lineup identification.

Court ordered release conditions reportedly require Barthel to avoid contact with alleged victims or witnesses, refrain from possessing weapons or controlled substances without prescription, and maintain separate residences while the case remains active. Documents also state he was only allowed to return to the apartment complex one time while accompanied by law enforcement.

Despite the ongoing legal situation, Kaiser has continued appearing on WWE television under the masked El Grande Americano character. WWE has not publicly commented on the arrest, the legal proceedings, or whether the situation could impact his television status moving forward.