With John Cenas retirement tour looming over WWEs biggest storylines heading into 2026, fans have been throwing out dream matchupsand one name that keeps coming up is Adam Copeland. The idea of rekindling Cenas most brutal rivalry from the mid-2000s has picked up steam, especially after Copelands iconic Money in the Bank cash-in back in 2006 that started it all. But Tony Khan just crushed those hopes with one sentence.
During an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, AEW President Tony Khan was asked directly if WWE had contacted AEW to potentially involve Copeland in Cenas final chapter. Khan didnt dance around it.
Despite the timing being perfect for one last run-in between the Rated-R Superstar and The Champ, WWE never made a move. Copeland, who jumped to AEW in late 2023 after his WWE contract expired, has remained with the company ever sinceeven as hes taken a temporary break to focus on family and outside projects.
This isnt just another what if scenarioits confirmation from the top. WWE had every opportunity to reach across the aisle, and they didnt.
That rivalry between Cena and Copeland helped define an entire generation of WWE, and the fact that there was no outreach at all will leave a lot of fans wondering what could have been.
Should WWE have reached out to AEW about Copeland for one last run with Cena? Would you have liked to see their story come full circle in 2026? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
