WWE Hall of Famer Adam Copeland has revealed that he and AEW President Tony Khan were open to him returning to WWE for one final match against John Cena during the latter’s retirement tour.
John Cena’s farewell run featured several high-profile encounters against familiar rivals, including CM Punk, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton and AJ Styles. However, one notable absence was Adam Copeland, formerly known as Edge in WWE, whose rivalry with Cena played a significant role in both men’s careers.
Despite their extensive history together, the two never had the opportunity to renew their rivalry before Cena stepped away from in-ring competition. Speaking on The Mick and Kenny Show podcast with Mick Foley, Copeland confirmed he would have been willing to return to WWE for the occasion.
“I know I was open to it,” Copeland said. “I know Tony [Khan] was open to it.”
The comments suggest that Copeland’s AEW commitments would not necessarily have prevented a one-off appearance in WWE. Copeland had previously discussed the possibility of participating in Cena’s retirement tour, indicating that both he and Khan were receptive to the idea.
However, he suggested that WWE would also have needed to express an interest in arranging the match.
Adam Copeland Reflects On Missed John Cena Retirement Match
Adam Copeland and John Cena shared one of WWE’s defining rivalries during the 2000s, competing in numerous championship matches and helping establish each other as leading figures in the company.
Their rivalry included several memorable encounters, with Copeland’s Edge character frequently positioned as one of Cena’s most significant adversaries. Despite recognising the importance of their history, Copeland previously doubted WWE would arrange another match between them, given his experiences during his years with the promotion.
Cena has acknowledged Copeland’s importance to his career. Earlier this year, the 17-time World Champion named Copeland and Randy Orton as his two greatest rivals, explaining how both men shaped his development as a performer.
While Cena ultimately reunited with Orton during his retirement tour, he never faced Copeland one last time. Cena’s farewell run also included matches against Brock Lesnar, CM Punk, and AJ Styles, along with tag team appearances with Rey Mysterio and Sheamus.
Although the tour featured several familiar opponents, some fans were disappointed that other significant figures from Cena’s career weren’t involved. Copeland still found a chance to acknowledge his former rival while competing for AEW.
During the opening match of AEW All Out 2025, Copeland paid tribute to Cena by performing two of his signature moves on Cash Wheeler. The WWE Hall of Famer delivered both the Five-Knuckle Shuffle and the Attitude Adjustment, recreating moves closely associated with Cena’s legendary career.
