Adam Copeland’s Struggle to Rekindle the Attitude Era Spirit in WWE

Adam Copeland, known to wrestling fans as Edge, recently opened up about his attempts to bring back a slice of wrestling nostalgia during his final days in WWE, only to be met with resistance.

A Nostalgic Attempt Thwarted

During the twilight of his WWE career, Copeland sought to revisit the dark, intriguing persona from his days with The Brood, a memorable faction from the famed Attitude Era. As he transitioned into a darker character post-Judgment Day faction, he found an opportune moment to reintroduce elements of this past. At WrestleMania 39, amidst his intense feud with Finn Balor, Copeland hoped to bring Gangrel, the original leader of The Brood, back into the fold. “I tried and I just got shut down. Every person shut it down,” Copeland shared in an interview with Chris Van Vliet, expressing his frustration over the rejection of his idea.

Copeland’s Reflection on WWE’s Creative Restrictions

Copeland’s desire to merge past and present was a bid to enrich the storytelling canvas of WWE, believing it would serve as a tribute to long-term fans. “People remember, wrestling fans remember and I think wrestling fans want to be rewarded for remembering. And that’s a way to reward them. That’s what I’ve always felt,” he argued. Despite his enthusiasm, his efforts were continually dismissed, leading him to accept that some battles within the scripted world of WWE were not worth fighting.

WWE’s Underestimation of Fan Engagement

Copeland’s career, which began on television in 1998, was marked by innovative narratives and alliances, notably with his real-life best friend, Christian. Together, they evolved from The Brood’s eerie appeal to become one of the most celebrated tag teams. The reluctance to revive such a historic element underscores a broader scepticism within WWE management about the audience’s memory and engagement with wrestling history. Copeland noted this underestimation as a recurring theme, not just with his own ideas but also with other wrestling legends like Sting and AJ Styles.

AEW: A Contrast in Wrestling Philosophy

Since moving to AEW and becoming the TNT Champion, Copeland has observed a different approach under Tony Khan’s leadership. AEW has been more open to leveraging wrestlers’ past personas and storylines, enriching the viewer’s experience. This was evident when Copeland and Matt Cardona, formerly Zack Ryder in WWE, reunited in AEW, triggering a positive response from fans who appreciated the nod to their shared history.

Copeland’s journey from trying to reintroduce elements from the Attitude Era in WWE to embracing new opportunities in AEW highlights the evolving dynamics of professional wrestling. It illustrates how promotions differ in their treatment of wrestling history and fan intelligence, with AEW often being more willing to delve into the nostalgia that WWE tends to sideline.

This saga not only reflects on Copeland’s adaptability and reverence for wrestling’s rich history but also on the broader industry’s varying philosophies towards fan engagement and storytelling.