If you watched Adam ‘Cope’ Copeland (the pro wrestler formerly known as Edge in the WWE) in his tag team match with Jay White against Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli at AEW’s Grand Slam Australia event — particularly when barbed wire chairs, tables, trashcans and Cope jumping off a balcony came into the equation — he was fighting, and pulling off insanely dangerous spots, like a man who didn’t break his tibia less than a year ago at the 2024 AEW Double or Nothing event.
How does the 51-year-old R-Rated Superstar find the willpower and intestinal fortitude to pull off crazy, career-threatening maneuvers — especially after just recently recovering from such a major injury? And how does the veteran continue to push forward at such a level of high intensity after all these years? According to Cope himself, the key is not overthinking it (like we’re doing in this article).
“With any injury, I don’t really think about them,” Cope said on a recent episode of Wrestle Radio Australia. “Like once I come back…I’ve put the work in before you see me in the ring. So for me, that’s already months past, so by the time I get back, I’m just on instinct. I’m not even thinking of a leg or anything.”
Instead of getting depressed about his accumulated injuries over his years in the business, Cope said he’s able to convert that negative energy into something positive: namely, seeing them as yet another challenge to overcome.
“I look at injuries as challenges,” Cope continued. “I try to reframe them as opposed to this kind of demoralizing thing. It’s like ‘okay, one more to come back from, and one more to prove I can work through these things. I take some pride in that you know? I don’t want to get injured, but it’s part of what we do. Find me a wrestler who’s never been injured, impossible.”
One touching moment before Cope’s match started at Grand Slam Australia was the raucous crowd at the Brisbane Entertainment Center singing along to Edge’s entrance theme, “Metalingus” by Alter Bridge. Although we still think some of the spots Cope pulls off are dangerous, it’s moments like that in pro wrestling that we’re sure make all the hard work and effort worth it — if only for a fleeting moment.
Anyway, good morning to Adam Copeland, Alter Bridge, and Australia only. https://t.co/SKVzL3zTZf
— Vicky (@PurpleMidneight) February 16, 2025
What do you think of the comments made by AEW’s Adam ‘Cope’ Copeland on getting past injuries? Do you think injuries are just a part of the pro wrestling business or that Cope, especially as a 51-year-old, should be more selective in doing dangerous spots like the one he just did at AEW’s Grand Slam Australia event?
