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Adam Copeland Competes in First Non-WWE/AEW Match Since 2001
Confirmed
In Short: Adam Copeland, known for his career in WWE and AEW, competed in his first non-WWE or AEW match since 2001 at Maple Leaf Gardens on October 3rd.
The event, titled Northern Rising, was headlined by Copeland's one-on-one match against Steve Maclin.
Copeland expressed his admiration for Maclin's style, stating, 'I really like his style. That trait, I can appreciate and respect, and then, just from a style perspective, I thought, okay, our styles should match pretty well here.'
The match was a significant personal milestone for Copeland, who has long cited Maple Leaf Gardens as the birthplace of his passion for professional wrestling.
Speaking at the post-event press conference, Copeland reflected on the historic venue and his career journey: 'For nights like Maple Leaf Gardens, Wembley Stadium, Arena Mexico. Within this last calendar month, I’ve worked Arena Mexico, Wembley, and Maple Leaf Gardens. Yet here we are six years into coming back and somehow getting to Maple Leaf Gardens.'
Steve Maclin received praise from Copeland for his wrestling style, with Copeland saying, 'That man should be the most wanted free agent in this industry. He’s that damn good.'
The main event victory at Maple Leaf Gardens caps off a historic month for Copeland, highlighting the collaborative nature between AEW and independent promotions worldwide.
For more details on the event and Copeland's reflections, fans can visit WrestlingAttitude.com.
What this adds
Copeland's decision to compete at Maple Leaf Gardens fulfilled a lifelong personal goal.
The event showcased the versatility of Copeland's career, moving beyond WWE and AEW to independent promotions.
What's confirmed
- For the first time since 2001, Adam Copeland competed outside of a WWE or AEW ring, defeating Steve Maclin in the main event of MLP Northern Rising at the historic Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto.
What's still developing
- At the end of September, Copeland was competing in a Ladder match at AEW All Out.
- Scott D’Amore’s Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling presented the Northern Rising show on October 3rd from the Mattamy Athletic Centre, a.k.a.
- Since 2001, they have been covering WWE and AEW weekly shows, turning a lifelong passion for wrestling into breaking news and deep-dive analysis for fans worldwide.
- Badrose is also the creator of " Badrose Thorns " (or simply "Thorns"), a prickly editorial column featuring brief commentary on major wrestling news stories.
- Speaking at the post-show press conference, Copeland was asked by Fightful’s Joel Pearl about having his first non-AEW and WWE match since 2001.