Adam Copeland: I Made The Move From WWE For Nights Like Performing At Maple Leaf Gardens

For the first time since 2001, Adam Copeland competed in a non-AEW or WWE match when he faced Steve Maclin in the main event of MLP Northern Rising at Maple Leaf Gardens.

Copeland had long expressed his interest in competing at Maple Leaf Gardens, the venue where he saw his first wrestling event.

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.

“This was part of the reason I made the move that I did. For nights like this. For nights like Maple Leaf Gardens, Wembley Stadium, Arena Mexico. That doesn’t happen if I stay where I’m at. These are all things that I wanted to still accomplish. Within this last calendar month, I’ve worked Arena Mexico, Wembley, and Maple Leaf Gardens. As a student of this industry, I know what those buildings mean. This, for me, was absolutely the most special. This was the touchstone for my childhood. My first show was here. Watching TV, it was watching the Leafs. It was everything that touched my childhood seemed to emenate from here. To get out there and perform…this was long gone for me. Retirement for nine years. Wrestling was long gone. Yet here we are six years into coming back and somehow getting to Maple Leaf Gardens. Scott knew this was one of the main dreams for me. Honestly, the main dream I had left. When he said, ‘We might be able to make this happen. ‘I am absolutely in.’ Thankfully, Tony Khan is the way he is and he was in. He’s a guy that wants the entire wrestling industry to flourish, not just his bottom line. That’s what I appreciate most about where I work now. This was truly a dream for me. I can’t stress that enough. To be able to perform out there after so many years and experiences here, I’m going to be smiling going to bed tonight,” he said.

Copeland was victorious in the main event, defeating Maclin.

Fans can find results from MLP Northern Rising by clicking here.

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