Adam Copeland on His Arena Mexico Debut Reaction Compared To His WWE Royal Rumble 2020 Return & Tony Khan Knowing How Much It Means To Him To Compete For Maple Leaf Pro at Maple Leaf Gardens

A recent episode of the What Happened When with Tony Schiavone podcast featured AEW commentator and co-host Tony Schiavone revealing what Adam Copeland had texted to him after Copeland made his official Arena Mexico debut at the August 5th AEW Grand Slam Mexico 2026 show.

“It’s just I’ve never experienced anything like it. The very next day I sent a text to Adam Copeland. I said, ‘I know you’ve had a long and tremendous career. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced a pop like that before in your life. Because I’ve never experienced anyone get that reaction anywhere.’ And he said, ‘It’s probably the best. When I returned to the Royal Rumble’ he didn’t give the year. I don’t know what year he was talking about,’I got a pop that was equal to that. But that has to go down as the best.’

And we opened the show with him, and it was his first time in Arena Mexico. The fans lost their freaking minds. I remember just looking at Excalibur and looking at Nigel (McGuinness), and I was shaking my head like, ‘What the hell?’ So it was in many ways a special night. We had some great matches ”

Wednesday’s episode of MLP Mayhem on TSN featured a video airing of Copeland giving his thoughts about AEW CEO Tony Khan allowing him to work for Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and Khan knowing how much it means to him personally to be able to compete at the Maple Leaf Gardens venue for MLP’s upcoming Northern Rising 2026 event.

“In terms of doing this show, I’m contracted with AEW, but the beautiful part about Tony Khan and his outlook in terms of pro wrestling is that he wants pro wrestling to flourish.

AEW and Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling are partners. It’s a partnership that can help wrestling thrive in a place that needs to have wrestling thrive.

He also knew what it means to me and how special this place is to me. And I don’t think I was going to be able to retire without a bit of a bee in my bonnet unless I did this. I think this allows me to go, “Right.”

The seeds for all of this coming to fruition started with Scott D’Amore seeing an interview that I did where I said, you know, my place, my hallowed ground that I have to perform in before I’m done is Maple Leaf Gardens.”

When @RatedRCope steps into Maple Leaf Gardens, it will continue to help wrestling thrive in a place where wrestling needs to thrive.#MLPMayhem pic.twitter.com/afMNd0lt4t

— MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) August 13, 2026