AEW Star Helped Adam Copeland Train For Famous WWE Comeback

AEW star Dax Harwood has revealed his role in helping Adam Copeland train for a WWE return in 2020.

‘The Rated R Superstar’ made a shock in-ring return during the 2020 Royal Rumble match having initially retired from active competition due to a serious neck injury suffered in 2011.

The former WWE Champion had largely focused on a career in acting in the ensuing years, starring in hit shows ‘Vikings’ and ‘Haven’ and appearing at peace with the ending of a storied 19-year wrestling career.

Ultimately, it would be a training session involving Copeland’s wife, Beth Phoenix, that would lead to the Toronto-native returning to the squared circle.

‘During a recent chat with ‘WrestleZone’, FTR star Dax Harwood revealed that Copeland had first stepped back into the ring whilst he and partner Cash Wheeler were helping Phoenix prepare for a 2019 WWE return:

“We met Beth Phoenix and Natty and they asked us to go to Tom Prichard’s school to help them with tag team stuff because Beth was going to come back for a little ‘Mania run as a tag team with Natty and they wanted us to work on tag team psychology with them.

Of course, they were going to bring Adam because Adam’s a friend of ours, and towards the end of the training with Beth and Natty, Adam decided to jump in the ring and he just wanted to try a few things out.”

Harwood would go on to admit that he had no idea at the time that Copeland would soon set his heart on a WWE come back but confirmed that he also had a hand in the WWE Hall Of Famer’s training ahead of his big return:

“We had no idea what that would have led to, and then fast forward, I want to say maybe a year and a half later, he told us that he was seriously thinking about it and he had a ring near his house, which is now going to be our wrestling school, and we joined him and helped him get ready for his big return in WWE.”

AEW Star Remains Troubled By Danielson Defeat

Another AEW star who made a stunning comeback following a number of years out of the ring is Nigel McGuinness.

The former ROH World Champion made a shock return to the ring as part of the Casino Gauntlet Match at AEW All In 2024, marking his first in-ring action in almost 13 years.

Despite the initial joy at having returned, McGuinness revealed that he continues to be haunted by a defeat suffered at the hands of former rival Bryan Danielson at AEW Grand Slam 2024.

H/T: WrestlingInc for the above transcription.