Adam Copeland can't use "Edge" due to WWE but AEW has sneakily found a way to do it

WWE and AEW are rivals known to occasionally take shots at each other. This time, Tony Khan's company snubbed its competitors by finding a way to use one of their references for new merchandise for Adam Copeland.

During the January 1 edition of Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen, Adam Copeland returned to in-ring action following a triumphant return to the company at Worlds End. But he came back with an interesting change.

As ring announcer Justin Roberts made the announcement, he simply referred to him as The Rated-R Superstar "Cope." This was a shortened ring name of his real name and stunned the fans.

Interestingly, Tony Khan took the opportunity to bring up Copeland's old WWE roots as part of their merchandise. All Elite Wrestling recently took to X (fka Twitter) to reveal a new t-shirt for Adam Copeland to commemorate his return as "Cope." The company used "Ledgend" text on the t-shirt, making direct reference to his old WWE ring name and status as a legendary figure in the business.

"LEDGEND! This NEW @RatedRCope shirt just arrived at ShopAEW.com!"

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Cope made his return to AEW after months of being on the shelf

Adam Copeland had been out of action since Double or Nothing 2024. He suffered a devastating ankle injury and had to relinquish the TNT Championship in the process. After months of rehabilitation, the WWE Hall of Famer is back in the mix with All Elite Wrestling.

He has aligned himself with FTR, with the trio picking a huge victory over Death Riders' Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli. Moreover, "Cope" has already declared his intentions to go after Jon Moxley, who is the current AEW World Champion.

With the Rated-R Superstar back in action, it will be interesting to see him make a place back on the roster. Furthermore, the seeds have been planted for a potential Moxley vs. Cope bout for the AEW Championship, which is expected to be a huge blockbuster for the company.