Will Ospreay has made no secret of the respect he has for Adam Copeland, but his latest comments place that admiration in an especially personal context. Following Copeland’s announcement that he intends to retire from professional wrestling in 2027, Ospreay said he hopes the AEW veteran will make room on his remaining schedule for a match between the two.
Copeland revealed his retirement plans on the most recent episode of AEW Dynamite, where he also qualified for the Clockwork Carnage match at AEW WrestleDream. The announcement immediately added a new dimension to every major appearance and potential opponent in Copeland’s final stretch as an active wrestler. For Ospreay, it also created an opportunity to state a wish that is rooted in much more than a high-profile dream bout.
Speaking with 1010XL, Ospreay explained that Copeland was one of the performers he watched while growing up and described the experience of getting to know him as a meaningful one. Ospreay particularly emphasized Copeland’s support while he was facing neck surgery, a subject Copeland has firsthand experience with from his own career.
“I mean I’ve grew up watching Adam and me meeting him in person was such a cool thing for me because a lot of people say never meet your heroes, but like meeting him he’s brought me out such relief, especially going down my path when I was going in for neck surgery, he was amazing with all of that. He was great to be, like, an ear and a great, like, voice to be able to, like, listen to because he went through it himself.”
For more background on this topic, read Will Ospreay Reflects On Earning Kenny Omega’s Trust For One Winged Angel Kick-Out At AEW All In.
Ospreay’s remarks underline why Copeland’s presence has mattered beyond the matches and television segments he has brought to AEW. A wrestler’s influence can be felt in the ring, through the audience response they generate and in the locker room through the perspective they offer younger or less experienced peers. In this case, Ospreay pointed to a difficult and deeply personal point in his own career, saying Copeland was someone he could listen to while preparing for neck surgery.
That shared understanding is central to Ospreay’s appreciation. Copeland’s career has included a well-documented path back to the ring after neck issues, making him a particularly valuable voice for someone confronting concerns of his own. Ospreay did not present Copeland simply as a celebrated name from his childhood; he described him as a reassuring presence who offered guidance at a moment when that perspective carried genuine weight.
With Copeland now publicly targeting retirement in 2027, Ospreay hopes that appreciation can eventually lead to a one-on-one match. He said he is grateful for Copeland’s place in AEW and was clear that the veteran’s final run should be treated with the significance it deserves.
“I’m super grateful for his presence in AEW, and, like, I’m hoping that, like, if this is going to be the last run of his career, like, of course, I’m flattered to be in the Clockwork Carnage with him and everything is going to be about him, making sure that I keep that championship. But then I just kind of want to say to Adam Copeland, like, you’ve got to save a date for me, boss.”
Ospreay and Copeland share WrestleDream stakes
Before any potential singles meeting can be considered, Ospreay and Copeland are set to share the ring in the Clockwork Carnage match at AEW WrestleDream. Copeland’s qualification places him in a major match as the countdown to his announced retirement continues, while Ospreay indicated that retaining his championship remains his own immediate priority.
Ospreay’s phrasing reflects the balance inherent in the situation. He is honored to be part of a match involving Copeland during what may be the latter’s final run, but he is not approaching WrestleDream as a passive participant. Championships and competitive stakes remain central, and Ospreay made clear that he intends to leave with his title intact.
That combination could make Clockwork Carnage especially notable. Copeland’s presence naturally brings added attention after his retirement announcement, while Ospreay enters with the perspective of a current champion determined to protect what he holds. The match is not yet the direct Ospreay-versus-Copeland encounter Ospreay requested, but it gives the two AEW stars a shared platform at an important point in Copeland’s career timeline.
A request with personal meaning
The phrase “save a date” is straightforward, but the sentiment behind it is substantial. Ospreay is asking for a chance to face a wrestler he admired before they became colleagues, and whose support became meaningful when Ospreay was dealing with a serious career concern. In professional wrestling, retirement announcements often prompt fans and wrestlers alike to look toward long-awaited first-time matchups. Ospreay has now openly placed his name among the possible opponents he wants Copeland to consider.
No match between Ospreay and Copeland was announced during the interview, and Ospreay did not suggest that a date has been set. His comments were a public appeal rather than confirmation of plans. Still, the request establishes a clear personal and professional motivation for the matchup should AEW choose to pursue it before Copeland steps away in 2027.
There is also a generational appeal to the possibility. Ospreay spoke as someone who grew up watching Copeland, then entered the industry and found that his hero lived up to the respect he had earned. Now both performers are part of AEW, with Ospreay positioned as a championship-level competitor and Copeland approaching the conclusion of an acclaimed in-ring career. A singles match would carry the natural sporting intrigue of two elite wrestlers meeting, but Ospreay’s comments show that it would also be a thank-you of sorts.
Copeland’s final run takes shape
Copeland’s declaration that he will retire in 2027 gives his remaining matches a defined horizon without confirming exactly how his final year will unfold. It also invites questions about the opponents, rivalries and major events that could shape the closing chapter of his career. Qualification for Clockwork Carnage at WrestleDream was an immediate indication that Copeland remains focused on competing at a high level rather than simply taking a farewell lap.
For AEW, that creates considerable flexibility while also increasing interest in Copeland’s schedule. The company now has a stated endpoint around which to frame his final run, but there is no need to assume which matches will happen or when. Ospreay’s request is one of the first personal pitches to emerge publicly from within the roster following the announcement, and it comes from a wrestler who has already been linked to Copeland through their upcoming WrestleDream involvement.
Ospreay’s words also offer a reminder that retirement conversations are not solely about legacy packages or final opponents. They can reveal the quieter impact a veteran has had on those around them. Ospreay’s account of Copeland being available as “an ear” while he was headed toward neck surgery gives this particular request an emotional foundation that goes beyond the usual desire to work with a celebrated name.
WrestleDream comes first
For now, the attention turns to Clockwork Carnage at AEW WrestleDream. Ospreay is flattered to be involved with Copeland in the match, but his stated objective remains keeping his championship. Copeland, meanwhile, enters the bout after announcing that 2027 will mark the end of his professional wrestling career.
The possibility of Ospreay facing Copeland one-on-one remains just that: a possibility. Yet Ospreay has made his feelings unmistakable. He values Copeland as a childhood favorite, an AEW colleague and a trusted voice during a challenging health-related chapter. With Copeland’s final run now underway, Ospreay wants one more opportunity from the man he calls “boss” — a date reserved for a match neither wrestler has yet had.
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.