Edge/Adam Copeland debuts at AEW WrestleDream

Adam Copeland, the former Edge in WWE, is now part of AEW.

Copeland debuted at Sunday’s WrestleDream in Seattle, Washington, in the aftermath of Christian Cage’s successful TNT title defense over Darby Allin in a two-of-three falls match.

Cage and Nick Wayne, who had turned on Allin earlier, were laying the boots to Allin when Sting emerged to even the odds. After fighting both Cage and Allin, Luchasaurus came out to give the heels the advantage again.

As Cage was set to give a conchairto to Sting, the arena went black and a video played of a man driving a classic black sports car driving away from a major city as fireworks went off from a stadium. The words “Rated R Superstar” could be seen on the road at one point.

Then, Copeland came out to his longtime WWE entrance song “Metalingus” by Alter Bridge, complete with nearly the same pyro. 

Cage welcomed his longtime friend into the ring and offered him the chance to lay the final blow on Sting. Copeland took the chair, paused and then hit Wayne with hit, Cage escaped as Copeland then hit Luchasaurus with a spear.

Copeland then stood tall with Allin and Sting, shaking the hand of Sting to a large ovation to close the show.

Copeland’s WWE contract expired at the end of September and he had turned down an offer from them to return. AEW head Tony Khan was quick to tweet minutes after he debuted that the “Rated R Superstar” Copeland was #AllElite and part of the team.

Soon to be 50, Copeland has been with WWE since 1996, staying affiliated with the company during his retirement from 2011 to 2019. He returned to in-ring action at the 2020 Royal Rumble and wrestled what would be his final match for WWE in Toronto against Sheamus last month.