At AEW All Out, Adam Copeland gave fans a memorable moment by directly referencing one of his greatest rivals, John Cena. The tribute took place midway through the pay-per-view’s opening match, where Copeland hit Cash Wheeler with Cena’s signature Five Knuckle Shuffle, sending the Scotiabank Arena crowd into loud chants for the WWE legend.
While the moment was a clear sign of mutual respect between the two icons, it stands in contrast to recent statements from Copeland, who has firmly dismissed speculation of a farewell match against Cena.
During a recent discussion with Rock 95 Barrie, the AEW star was definitive when asked about sharing the ring with Cena one last time. “No, we had the chance. I was still there, and it just didn’t feel like it was going to work out,” Copeland explained. “And I also think there’s a part of it where you remember it fondly. And you get us in there now, it would be different.”
Copeland believes a modern encounter would rely more on storytelling, a shift he feels might not connect with fans who cherish their classic bouts, concluding that their storied history “did what it did, and people still talk about it.”
The tribute at All Out came as Copeland teamed with Christian Cage for the first time on a pay-per-view in Canada, facing FTR. The hometown heroes picked up the victory in a hard-fought contest.
Copeland’s gesture appears to be a direct return of a recent tribute from Cena, who just weeks earlier used Copeland’s own finisher, the spear, during a match on SmackDown, showing the respect between the rivals remains strong.