Former AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland has been absent from the ring since suffering a brutal tibia injury during his Barbed Wire Steel Cage Match against Malakai Black at Double or Nothing in May. The injury forced Copeland to relinquish the TNT Championship and put him on the sidelines for months. However, it seems his time away is finally coming to an end.

According to a report from Fightful Select, Copeland has officially been medically cleared to return and could be making his comeback sooner rather than later. Most in AEW reportedly believe that his return will take place on the January 1 episode of AEW Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen. The timing and location make a lot of sense for several reasons.

Firstly, AEW’s January 1 Dynamite marks their streaming debut on MAX, making it a major milestone for the company. Secondly, the show will take place in Asheville, North Carolina, a city where Copeland currently resides. Adding more fuel to the speculation, FTR, who are also Asheville locals, recently teased that they wouldn’t be coming to Fight for the Fallen “alone.” If those comments are anything to go by, Copeland could very well be joining them in some capacity.

While Copeland has reportedly been training in preparation for his in-ring return after being medically cleared , he’s also been keeping busy outside the ring. He’s currently shooting the second season of Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians, where he plays Ares, the God of War. The filming is expected to wrap in January, so it remains to be seen whether Copeland’s potential appearance at Fight for the Fallen will be a one-off or if he’ll resume a more consistent schedule.

Interestingly, Copeland’s acting career has been thriving. He recently earned a Children’s and Family Emmy Award nomination for his work as Ares in the first season of Percy Jackson. Between his wrestling success and his Hollywood recognition, Copeland is proving once again why he’s one of the most versatile stars in the industry.

Adding to the importance of Fight for the Fallen, all proceeds from the show will go toward hurricane relief efforts in Asheville and surrounding areas following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. With AEW combining a charitable cause, a major streaming debut, and a potential surprise return, the January 1 Dynamite could be one of AEW’s biggest shows of the year.

Will Adam Copeland return to AEW on January 1 and kick off 2025 with a bang? If the speculation holds true, fans are in for an unforgettable night in Asheville! Stay tuned to wrestlingnewsblog.com for any updates on Copeland’s status and AEW’s Fight for the Fallen.

Adam Copeland, better known to fans as the “Rated R Superstar,” is on the mend and eager to make his in-ring return. The AEW star has been sidelined since Double or Nothing 2024, where he suffered a tibia fracture after leaping off a steel cage in a high-risk stunt. Now, Copeland has been medically cleared to compete and recently offered fans a glimpse of his recovery progress.

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“My Brain Forgets I’m 51”: Copeland Reflects on His Injury

Appearing on The Leafs Nation podcast, Copeland shared insights into both his recovery and his mindset.

“I feel good,” Copeland stated. “You know, my brain forgets I’m 51, but my body quickly reminded me: ‘Yeah, you just jumped from 21 feet, a**hole. Like, that’s technically three stories. You’re 51, quit it.’ But I feel good. I’m ready to get back at it and to get busy again.”

The comments reflect both Copeland’s signature humor and his determination to resume his AEW career. Despite his readiness to return, he didn’t disclose exactly when fans might see him back in the ring.

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Balancing Wrestling and Hollywood

Part of the reason for Copeland’s delay in returning to AEW television is his involvement in the entertainment world. The veteran wrestler is currently filming the second season of Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians, where he plays the god of war, Ares. Production is expected to wrap in January 2024, which conveniently lines up with several major events on AEW’s calendar.

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Opportunities for a Grand Return

AEW has no shortage of opportunities to reintroduce Copeland in a big way. January marks the highly anticipated AEW x NJPW Wrestle Dynasty event, a collaboration with stars from Stardom and CMLL. Meanwhile, February sees AEW traveling to Australia for its first-ever Grand Slam event Down Under. Either event would be a fitting stage for the Rated R Superstar’s comeback, especially given the international buzz surrounding both shows.

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A Legacy in AEW

Since debuting at WrestleDream 2023, Copeland has wasted no time making an impact in AEW. His highlights include becoming TNT Champion and reigniting his storied rivalry with Christian Cage, who now leads the devious Patriarchy faction. Their emotional and intense feud has brought a deeply personal element to AEW’s programming, cementing Copeland as a key player.

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What’s Next for Copeland?

As Copeland wraps up his acting commitments and prepares for an in-ring return, fans can expect him to pick up right where he left off. Whether continuing his feud with Christian Cage or targeting new challengers, the Rated R Superstar’s comeback is sure to shake up AEW in 2024. Stay tuned as the countdown to his return begins!

After a strong first seven months in AEW, Adam Copeland now finds himself on the shelf after suffering a broken tibia when attempting a diving elbow drop off a steel cage in his match with Malakai Black at Double or Nothing. The move isn’t just costing Copeland precious time in the ring, but it also put a halt to his two month reign as AEW TNT Champion. Even still, the “Rated R Superstar” isn’t looking at the negatives as he attempts to work his way back.

Late Tuesday morning, Copeland posted a video on Instagram at his home, revealing that he had successful surgery on his tibia twelve hours earlier. Showing off the cast on his left foot, Copeland proceeded to walk through the door to his gym, which featured a sign up front saying “Forbidden Door.” Copeland stated that if he couldn’t compete at the actual Forbidden Door PPV against a New Japan talent, he would instead go through the door to his gym to show fans what he could do so soon after surgery.

Accompanied by his dog, Copeland did just that, doing single leg plank workouts, with his surgically repaired foot raised in the air. Copeland credited handles he was using that kept him from sliding for helping him with the exercises, and by the end of the video, admitted he was already starting to “lose my breath and feel shaky” from holding his balance.

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A post shared by Adam Copeland (@ratedrcope)

Aside from revealing he had surgery, Copeland provided no details as to when fans could expect to see him in the ring again. Depending on the severity, a broken tibia can take up to 4 to 6 months to recover from, which would put Copeland’s return between October and December, meaning he would miss AEW All In at Wembley Stadium.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Adam Copeland will star in the upcoming “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series on Disney+.

AEW star will play Ares, the God of War, in a recurring guest star role. Edge has previously acted in shows like “Vikings,” “Haven,” and “The Flash,” as well as films like “Money Plane” and “Interrogation.” Edge is currently considering his options after his WWE contract expired this month.

The series is based on the novel by Rick Riordan and is set to premiere on December 20, 2023, with eight episodes in the first season.

The premise notes, “12-year-old demigod Percy Jackson is accused by the Greek god Zeus of stealing his thunderbolt.”

Shockwaves were sent across the wrestling landscape this past Sunday evening when Adam Copeland made his long-rumored jump to AEW, appearing at the close of AEW WrestleDream to confront TNT Champion and long-time tag partner/rival Christian Cage. And while Copeland’s future is now well known, with appearances on this week and next week’s “AEW Dynamite” already scheduled, some details regarding how he arrived in AEW have remained a mystery.

In an interview with “CBS Sports,” Copeland clarified some of the confusion, including confirming when exactly his contract with WWE expired last month. He also confirmed that he didn’t begin contract talks with AEW until that time.

“It wasn’t until my contract was up on [September 21],” Copeland said. “So it was really, really quick to get everything done and get everything dialed in. Figuring out so many things like getting with Alter Bridge and getting the music and doing all of those things. There were nine or 10 days.”

While talks with AEW came and went rather quickly, Copeland admitted he was already eyeing the promotion. He was also encouraged to seriously consider AEW by his own personal feelings, his desire to work with Cage (real name Jay Reso), and his wife, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix.

“I didn’t know immediately, but I thought that’s where I wanted to go,” Copeland said. “I really thought that working with Jay again was what I wanted to do and how I pictured it in a perfect world. Beth said ‘What’s your perfect world? ‘I was like, ‘My perfect world is that I end my career with Jay.’ So suddenly that perfect world looked like it could be there. It’s tough to pass that up.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Edge may be a distant memory, but Adam Copeland is here to stay. The WWE Hall of Famer burst onto the scene in AEW in a big way this past Sunday at WrestleDream, and he looks to be a consistent presence for the promotion going forward, with an appearance this Wednesday on “AEW Dynamite” and his first match in AEW, against Luchasaurus, scheduled for next week’s “Title Tuesday” edition of AEW’s marquee show. “The Rated-R Superstar” revealed in an interview with “CBS Sports” that he wants to make the most of working for his new promotion, mostly because he believes this will be his last major run in wrestling.

“I think that’s a very safe thing to say because I know how much work it’s going to take to be able to pull it off,” Copeland said. “I know that. I’m not in any way trying to fool myself into thinking I’m just going to trot through this whole thing. It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be a lot of hard work. I enjoy hard work. I always have. It’s how I’m wired. It’s what I was born with. It’s in my DNA. So that’s super fun. But I’m also a realist and I understand that I’m not going to be able to maintain it for a super long time.”

If this is his last run, Copeland’s fans came take comfort in the fact that he plans on being producing a decent amount of wrestling, as AEW owner Tony Khan has revealed that the former WWE Champion will be featured often on both “Dynamite” and “Collision.” And Copeland is ready to give it his all for this last stand of his career, for however long he is able to hold up as a performer.

“I want to try and maximize what I still have left,” Copeland said. “If that’s one year, if that’s two years, I want to do it as much as I can while I still feel like I can. I know that’s going to be hard and I know that’s going to take a lot of work physically. I know there’s a different fallout now, but I know all of those things and I really just want to weigh the glory of this thing as much as I can.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.