Folks, it’s time for some Rated R rehabilitation news. Adam Copeland, the man who has leapt from countless ladders, tables, and now, unfortunately, right into a broken tibia, is here with an update. After taking a wild dive off the top of a steel cage during AEW Double or Nothing back in May, Copeland found himself with one of the worst wrestling souvenirs—his tibia in pieces.
But in a recent chat on The Takedown, Copeland, now 50 and still one of the toughest guys in the business, opened up about his road to recovery. And folks, it sounds like he’s been grinding through it—literally.
“It feels really good,” Copeland began, surely gritting his teeth just thinking about the surgery he had on June 1. “I’ve never broken my leg before, so I didn’t know what that entails… it was a lot of grinding of teeth.” A leg injury isn’t exactly like stubbing your toe on the couch. We’re talking about the second-largest bone in the body here, people.
With the injury hitting his lower tibia, Copeland explained that the recovery process has been especially tricky because of how close the plate is to his ankle. Getting that full range of motion back? Not exactly a walk in the park. “The plate butts up against that ankle bone… that’s the last area that doesn’t want to go yet.”
While he didn’t give a firm return date—he’s a wrestler, not a calendar—there’s some good news. Copeland is back on his feet, walking, and even doing some light ring work. Sure, he’s not doing any spears just yet, but baby steps, folks. Or in Copeland’s case, giant steps, because this guy doesn’t do anything small.
“I know I still have some work to do to return to where I need to be,” Copeland said. But with his contract still counting down, we can be sure he’s got his eyes set on a comeback. And when he does? Expect fireworks. Maybe not from the top of a cage this time, though.