Steve Maclin has made no secret of his interest in potentially working with All Elite Wrestling in the future.
After stepping into the ring with Adam Copeland at Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Northern Rising event in Toronto, Canada, Maclin discussed what an AEW opportunity could mean for him. The former WWE and TNA talent said he would be interested in joining the Jacksonville-based promotion, pointing to both the personal connections he has there and the range of opponents he could face.
Maclin challenged Copeland during the Northern Rising weekend in a match positioned as a major homecoming moment for the Rated-R Superstar. Copeland emerged with the victory, preventing Maclin from spoiling the occasion, but the bout put Maclin opposite one of AEW’s most recognizable names on a significant Maple Leaf Pro card.
In comments to TSN, Maclin said an AEW destination is firmly on his radar.
For more background on this topic, read Tony Khan Reportedly Ordered AEW’s PAC Tribute Episode To Avoid PPV Promotion.
“Yeah, I’m always interested in that end of the world with AEW,” Maclin said. “Especially with my wife there, but then a lot of my friends are also there – my best friend, Josh Alexander, you got the Rascalz [Myron Reed, Zachary Wentz and Dezmond Xavier] there now, too – a lot of TNA alumni, but there’s also a lot of the talent on the AEW roster I’ve been around a long time. There’s dream matchups for me, as well, and if that were to come to fruition and I ended up there, that would be awesome. I would love the opportunity to go out there on ‘AEW Dynamite,’ ‘Collision,’ Ring of Honor.”
Maclin identifies several ties to AEW
The comments were not framed as confirmation that Maclin is headed to AEW. Rather, they outlined why the possibility appeals to him if the right opening arrives. Maclin emphasized that AEW includes a number of people he knows well, from close friends to former TNA colleagues and performers with whom he has shared locker rooms over the years.
The most prominent personal connection is Deonna Purrazzo, Maclin’s wife. Purrazzo has been an AEW wrestler for three years, giving Maclin a direct family tie to the company. She has also remained active in Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, competing in two MLP matches during 2026. That overlap illustrates how the promotions and their talent pools have continued to intersect.
Maclin also specifically named Josh Alexander, describing him as his best friend. Alexander was part of the Northern Rising event as well, defeating Stu Grayson in a Maple Leaf Pro Canadian Title Unification Match. With Alexander and Maclin both featured on the same weekend, Northern Rising provided another reminder of the established relationships surrounding the MLP and AEW landscape.
The Rascalz were another group Maclin mentioned by name: Myron Reed, Zachary Wentz, and Dezmond Xavier. Their presence, along with the broader number of TNA alumni connected to AEW, adds to the list of familiar faces Maclin sees in the company. For a wrestler considering a possible next chapter, those relationships can matter as much as the marquee names on a roster.
Northern Rising creates a notable showcase
Maclin’s match with Copeland carried added relevance because Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and AEW have built a strong partnership over the past year. That relationship has created an environment in which performers connected to both groups can appear on the same major events, while also giving MLP cards added attention through appearances by established AEW names.
Facing Copeland in Toronto was therefore a substantial showcase for Maclin. Copeland’s return to his home country was a central attraction, and Maclin was tasked with standing across the ring from a veteran whose history and stature made the contest one of the event’s most visible matches. Although Maclin did not defeat Copeland, competing in that spot placed him in front of an audience invested in the homecoming atmosphere.
For Maclin, the result does not erase the value of the opportunity. Wrestling a top AEW name in a major Maple Leaf Pro setting gave him a chance to demonstrate how he fits alongside talent operating at that level. It also arrives as he is openly discussing his desire to test himself against AEW’s roster on a larger stage.
There is no stated indication that the Copeland match was designed as an audition or that it has led to any formal discussions with AEW. Still, Maclin’s performance at Northern Rising naturally invites attention because of the existing partnership between MLP and AEW, as well as his own public interest in working Dynamite, Collision, and Ring of Honor.
Dream matches are part of Maclin’s interest
Maclin’s statement was about more than reunions with friends. He also pointed to potential dream matches as a reason an AEW run would appeal to him. While he did not identify specific opponents, his remarks make clear that he sees the roster as offering matchups he would value pursuing.
That distinction is important. Maclin did not present AEW solely as a place where he would have familiar support systems. He also described it as a competitive environment filled with talent he has known for a long time, along with possibilities that would be new for him. The chance to work across AEW’s televised programs and Ring of Honor would offer multiple platforms for those encounters.
His mention of Dynamite, Collision, and Ring of Honor also underscores the scope of the opportunity he envisions. Maclin is not limiting his interest to a single appearance or a narrowly defined role. He expressed enthusiasm for the prospect of performing across the company’s broader wrestling ecosystem, should a move ever come together.
At the same time, the key language in Maclin’s comments remains conditional. He said that if the situation came to fruition and he ended up in AEW, it would be “awesome.” There is no announcement of a signing, debut date, or planned program. The present reality is that Maclin has stated an interest and has recently worked a prominent match involving an AEW star through Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling.
What comes next remains uncertain
Maclin’s Northern Rising main event against Copeland may have increased the conversation around a possible AEW appearance, especially given the connection between Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and AEW. The event also featured Alexander’s Canadian Title Unification Match victory over Stu Grayson, while Purrazzo’s MLP activity in 2026 further reflects the crossover surrounding the promotion.
Those facts create a compelling backdrop, but they do not establish what Maclin’s next move will be. Whether his showing against Copeland caught the attention of AEW President Tony Khan is not known. Nor is there any confirmation that Maclin is currently set for Dynamite, Collision, or Ring of Honor.
What is clear is that Maclin would welcome the chance. He has identified meaningful personal ties inside AEW, a roster full of potential opponents, and an interest in working on its various platforms. After sharing the ring with Copeland in Toronto, Maclin has put his ambitions in plain view.
For now, the Maclin-AEW discussion remains one to watch rather than a completed transaction. His comments ensure that any future crossover involving Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, AEW, or Ring of Honor will draw additional interest, particularly if it provides another opening for him to pursue the dream matchups he has in mind.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.