Recent promos by Adam Copeland, known in wrestling as Edge, on AEW Dynamite sparked rumors that he might return to WWE as John Cena‘s final opponent at the Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13. This development excited many fans hoping to witness their final showdown before Cena retires, centering the discussion on the John Cena Edge Final Opponent scenario.
However, these hopes were quickly tempered by reports from Mike Johnson of PWInsider, clarifying that the 51-year-old’s potential WWE return is highly unlikely. Contrary to fan speculation, the idea that Edge will leave AEW temporarily to face Cena one last time is described as not even remotely true.
The reason given for Edge’s absence from AEW television relates directly to his acting commitments, as he is believed to be filming the latest season of the series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. This explanation disappointed those eager to see the Canadian legend close his long-standing rivalry with Cena inside WWE rings once more.
Edge’s Role in AEW and the Reality of Inter-Promotional Cooperation
Since his contract with WWE expired in October 2023, Edge has become one of AEW’s prominent talents, making the prospect of him returning to WWE all the more complicated. The relationship between WWE’s chief content officer, Triple H, and AEW president Tony Khan suggests that cross-promotional arrangements are nearly impossible, despite the unpredictable nature of pro wrestling business deals.
The only known exception to AEW talent appearing on WWE television was WWE-linked wrestler Chris Jericho’s 2021 appearance on Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions podcast, which aired on the WWE Network. Still, the likelihood of AEW allowing its contracted stars to wrestle for WWE remains very low under Khan’s leadership.
During his over 16 years in WWE, Edge was one of John Cena’s chief competitors, significantly contributing to Cena’s rise as the company’s top babyface. Recently, Edge paid tribute to Cena in a tag team match alongside Christian Cage against FTR at AEW’s All Out event, a gesture that mirrored Cena’s own homage to the Rated R Superstar prior to his loss to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza.
John Cena’s Farewell Tour and AEW Contract Constraints on Edge
From a contractual standpoint, Edge will not serve as one of John Cena’s final adversaries. Despite rumors suggesting an AEW contract expiration soon, Copeland himself disclosed last December that his deal still had
about a year and a half left
, pushing the end date near the conclusion of 2026.
In response to what many view as poor management of Cena’s Farewell Tour by WWE, fans and analysts have speculated about a potential extension beyond the planned December 13 finale. However, any additional matches may have to wait until WrestleMania 42, given that big events tend to align with contract expirations and the fact that this pay-per-view takes place shortly before Edge’s AEW deal concludes.
Inter-promotional negotiations, if they occur, would likely involve exchanges to benefit both sides. For example, Tony Khan might request an appearance from WWE’s AJ Styles—also approaching retirement in 2025—to balance any agreement allowing Cena to face Edge once more.
John Cena’s reputation for commitment suggests extending the Farewell Tour would require significant persuasion, especially with just five dates remaining. His next anticipated bout is against Styles at Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia, on October 11, underscoring the competitive schedule ahead.
