Photo Credit: The Sportster
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Adam Copeland believes WWE stood in the way of one final match with John Cena. The former Edge wanted to be part of Cena’s 2025 retirement tour. However, Copeland never expected the dream match to happen. He believes his AEW contract created a major roadblock. Copeland discussed the situation during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. He explained why fans never saw the former WWE rivals share the ring again. According to Copeland, AEW president Tony Khan likely would have approved the match. Copeland believes Khan understood what the matchup meant to wrestling fans. “Absolutely. I truly believe that,” Copeland said about Khan allowing the match. He also pointed to their shared history and the importance of the rivalry. However, Copeland believes WWE felt differently.
Copeland Says WWE Would Have Said No
Copeland did not claim WWE officially rejected the match. Instead, he made it clear that his opinion came from experience. He spent decades working for WWE before joining AEW in 2023. Therefore, he understands how WWE handles its talent and major storylines. Copeland said he never seriously pursued the opportunity. He assumed WWE would prevent the match from happening. “I assumed, and a lot of these are assumptions,” Copeland explained. He added that he understood the mindset within WWE. That distinction matters because no formal rejection occurred. In fact, Tony Khan previously revealed that WWE never contacted AEW about Copeland. Khan made that revelation during a 2025 appearance on Helwani’s show. Khan said WWE never approached him about using Copeland during Cena’s farewell run. He also called Copeland a huge part of AEW.
Cena and Edge Had Wrestling History
Fans wanted the match because Cena and Copeland shared an important WWE rivalry. The two stars battled repeatedly during the 2000s. Their feud helped establish both men as major WWE attractions. Their rivalry included several memorable championship matches. One famous meeting came at Unforgiven 2006. Cena defeated Edge in a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match. The contest also featured the WWE Championship. Their careers eventually moved in different directions. Cena became WWE’s biggest mainstream star. Meanwhile, Copeland built one of the most decorated careers in company history. Copeland later retired from wrestling because of his neck issues. He eventually made an unexpected return in 2020. Then, in 2023, he left WWE and signed with AEW. He debuted at AEW WrestleDream under his real name.
AEW Gave Copeland New Life
Copeland also believes AEW changed his career outlook. He recently admitted that he might already have retired without AEW. The promotion gave him new creative opportunities and motivation. Copeland said he probably would have returned to WWE for another year. Then, he believes he would have retired. Instead, AEW provided another chapter. Copeland now competes as Cope and remains an important AEW star. He also recently reunited with longtime friend Christian Cage. That relationship adds another layer to his AEW journey.
Fans Will Always Wonder What Could Have Happened
A final Cena-Copeland match would have created a natural ending. Cena’s retirement tour brought back several major opponents. Brock Lesnar, AJ Styles, CM Punk and Randy Orton all crossed paths with Cena. WWE also acknowledged several stars who could not face him. Copeland joined names such as The Undertaker and Kurt Angle in that group. Still, Copeland understands why the match never happened. He said he can see the situation from both sides. He also believes Cena knew Copeland supported him during the farewell tour.
Copeland said their careers helped propel each other forward. Their rivalry played an important role in both men’s success. That makes the missed opportunity even more interesting. The dream match never needed a complicated storyline. Their history already provided everything. However, Copeland’s AEW status created a difficult business situation. WWE would have needed to work with a direct competitor. That never happened. So, fans will have to settle for memories of one of WWE’s defining rivalries. Cena and Edge shared plenty of unforgettable moments. Unfortunately, they never received one final chapter inside a WWE ring.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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