When Adam Copeland left WWE, he was unable to take the "Edge" moniker with him. Still, the fact he used his real name was no big deal, particularly as he'd already established it on social media and through various acting roles.
However, when Copeland returned to AEW at AEW Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen this past Wednesday, he did so with a new nom de guerre: Cope.
The change hasn't been popular with fans and many on social media have used it as an example of what happens when a wrestler is given too much control over their gimmick. For what it's worth, the former WWE Superstar first suggested going by "Cope" in an interview during his time off nursing an injury last year (meaning it's something he's been planning for a while).
Cope is now taking aim at Jon Moxley's AEW Championship and, in an interview with Uproxx, explained, "It’s my time now to move forward and compete for the title and be involved in that storyline. And at some point it won’t be and it’ll be a different thing you need me to do. And that’s really how I’ve always looked at my position. Okay, where do you need me? Slot me in. I’ll make it work."
"There’s been some things that on paper, I’m like, 'Oh, this is going to be a challenge,' but again, I enjoy challenges for sure," Cope continued. "Luckily, working a guy like Moxley and against all of these guys and getting in there with Claudio for the first time, I don’t have to worry about that where you can just get in and enjoy and perform."
Cope decided to leave WWE when it became clear the company planned to only use him on a part-time basis. For whatever reason, neither Vince McMahon nor Triple H gave Edge a WWE Championship run but all signs point to him potentially getting that final world title in AEW.
Despite being back in the main event, Cope is well aware that the clock is ticking on his in-ring career and, later in the interview, offered some insights into exactly how much longer he plans to compete.
"There’s still some really fun stories to be explored that will probably eat up a year and a half, two years," he said. "And then I think it’s going to be time. But again, I can’t sit there and dwell on it. I have to focus on each time I’m in that ring and go, here I am. You’ve got to be in the present."
"Otherwise, bad things can happen, but also being in the present, I soak it all in, I enjoy it all instead of getting too far forward."
What are your thoughts on Cope's name change?