Adam Copeland has finally addressed one of AEW’s most talked-about promo exchanges, putting to rest long-running speculation that he and Ricky Starks shared legitimate backstage heat after their verbal confrontation on AEW Collision.
The segment sparked debate almost immediately, with fans wondering whether the sharp back-and-forth had gone off script.
However, Copeland has now explained what was really going through his mind when the moment unfolded — and his version of events paints a much different picture.
Adam Copeland says there was never any backstage issue with Ricky Starks
Speaking with SHAK Wrestling, Copeland dismissed the rumors that followed his October 14, 2023, promo battle with Ricky Starks, now known as Ricky Saints.
During that exchange, Copeland referred to Starks as a “vanilla midget version” of The Rock and suggested he was imitating the WWE legend.
Starks fired back by saying Copeland’s comments had sent him “over the edge,” a line many fans interpreted as a reference to Copeland’s former WWE ring name.
Those verbal jabs fueled speculation that the two had genuine backstage issues or had gone off script. Copeland, however, said there was never any real conflict.
“We got out there. He started cutting a promo on me. I’m like, well ok I’m not in angle with him. Ok. That was it,” Copeland said.
He added that he viewed the exchange as no different from countless promo battles during wrestling’s past eras.
“It’s just like a thousand promos in the Attitude Era. By the next day, it’s like, okay, now what do we got? Like, I don’t care. I’m sure Ricky doesn’t. I don’t care.”
Copeland’s comments suggest that what many fans believed was backstage friction was simply two performers trading verbal shots to entertain the audience. Sometimes the best promos blur the lines, but in this case, it appears the internet worked itself into a shoot.
With Copeland now setting the record straight, the infamous Collision segment looks less like a locker-room dispute and more like two talented talkers doing exactly what they were supposed to do — keeping fans guessing until the final bell.
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