Adam Copeland Reveals How His AEW Match With Minoru Suzuki Came Together

Adam Copeland’s All Elite Wrestling run has certainly been a wild ride so far, with the ‘Rated R Superstar’ having turned back the years since joining the company in October 2023.

Surely no-one had Copeland vs. Minoru Suzuki on their 2024 bingo cards, but the two engaged in a first-time-ever clash on the January 24 edition of AEW Dynamite, Copeland getting the win over ‘The King of Pro-Wrestling’ after nine minutes.

Speaking ahead of the bout, Copeland revealed just how this match came together, saying the following to Sports Illustrated:

“While the story with Christian plays out, I thought, let’s do this fascinating side story where no one knows what comes next,” said Copeland. “The more I thought about it, we can use it as a vehicle for some young guys to get some different experience. And then I kept thinking about it, and it hit me: ‘This means it could be anyone.’ I’ve been tossing out all kinds of names and seeing who bites.”

The Cope Open had previously seen young up-and-comers like Griff Garrison and Lee Moriarty try their luck against the multi-time world champion, but Suzuki presented a different challenge:

“I thought Suzuki and I would be really cool,” said Copeland. “It’s something you wouldn’t even think of until you think of it, right? It’s going to be hard-hitting. And the word that keeps coming to mind is grizzled. But I never thought this match would ever happen.

“So I asked Tony, ‘Can we get Suzuki?’ He said he’d find out. As soon as he found out, literally as soon as he got off the phone, he advertised it on air.”

Copeland continued: “I’m sitting in the locker room getting changed, and Moxley says to me, ‘Hey man, it’s you and Suzuki next week. So you can only imagine my excitement. Immediately, I’m thinking, ‘I need to cut a promo about it.’”