WWE Hall of Famer Adam Copeland has announced a new ring name for his appearances in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). During the January 1, 2025 episode of AEW Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen, Copeland was introduced as "The Rated-R Superstar Cope". This marks a significant departure from his previous in-ring identity as Adam Copeland.
The decision to shorten his name to "Cope" comes after his return from a serious injury that kept him out of action for several months. Copeland, who is widely known for his iconic WWE persona "Edge," has been unable to use that name in AEW due to trademark issues. As a result, he opted for a shorter, sleeker moniker that he has used on social media since leaving WWE.
Cope will not let Moxley get away!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 2, 2025
Watch #AEWDynamite LIVE on @TBSNetwork & @StreamOnMax@RatedRCope | @DaxFTR | @CashWheelerFTR | @JonMoxley | @ClaudioCSRO | @WheelerYuta pic.twitter.com/U68yjxUXFd
The change was prominently featured during his entrance, with ring announcer Justin Roberts and AEW commentators referring to him by his new name. Copeland teamed up with FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) to take on The Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta) in the main event of the show. The match ended with Copeland securing the victory for his team after hitting Yuta with a spear.
While some fans have expressed their dissatisfaction with the new name, calling it "cringe" and "embarrassing," others believe it's a fresh start for the veteran wrestler. Copeland's decision to streamline his identity moving forward has sparked a conversation among wrestling enthusiasts about the future direction of his career in AEW.
Only time will tell if "Cope" will stick as his permanent ring name, but for now, it's clear that Adam Copeland is embracing this new chapter in his wrestling journey.
