Updated

Updated · Fox News · Oct 2

Adam Copeland Debuts for Maple Leaf Pro at Northern Rising, Facing Steve Maclin in Toronto

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Oct 2

Adam Copeland Debuts for Maple Leaf Pro at Northern Rising, Facing Steve Maclin in Toronto

Q: Why did it take a new promotion to finally fulfill Adam Copeland's childhood dream at Maple Leaf Gardens?

It took a new promotion because Adam Copeland narrowly missed Maple Leaf Gardens during his peak years, and only Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling was willing and able to build a show around finishing that unfinished chapter. Copeland has said Maple Leaf Gardens was his childhood “white whale” — the arena where he first saw wrestling live and decided he wanted to become a wrestler. But by the time he broke into WWE, the company had already shifted major Toronto events away from Maple Leaf Gardens to the SkyDome and later Air Canada Centre. In his words, he missed the chance by only months. That left the dream unfulfilled for decades, even as Copeland became one of Canada’s biggest wrestling stars. The opening came only after MLP founder Scott D’Amore saw Copeland publicly talk about wanting to wrestle there and moved to make it happen. D’Amore, a longtime friend and former roommate of Copeland’s, had control of a Canadian promotion, access to the revived Maple Leaf brand, and the ability to run a marquee event in the building now known as Mattamy Athletic Centre. The final piece was AEW’s approval. Because Copeland is under AEW contract, MLP could not simply book him without permission. D’Amore has credited Tony Khan for giving the green light after recognizing how much the venue meant to Copeland personally. So the dream was fulfilled now not because it mattered more than before, but because the timing, the venue access, the promoter’s intent and AEW’s cooperation finally aligned.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 2

Saturday’s Northern Rising card at Maple Leaf Gardens will feature Adam Copeland’s Maple Leaf Pro debut against Steve Maclin, a matchup built after Maclin began tormenting him in recent weeks.
Maple Leaf Gardens gives the bout extra weight for Copeland, who said it was the first venue where he saw wrestling live as a child and a longtime bucket-list arena to wrestle in.
Rohan Raja, who faces Andrade El Idolo for the AEW National Championship on the same show, said Copeland’s homecoming has created a "historic buzz" around what MLP sees as one of its biggest events of the year.
The pay-per-view card also includes three title matches, with Priscilla Kelly defending the MLP Women’s Championship and Josh Alexander facing Stu Grayson for the Undisputed MLP Canadian Championship.