Adam Copeland Reportedly Replaced Injured AEW Star In Clockwork Carnage

The line-up for the first-ever Clockwork Carnage match is officially set, and eight AEW performers will put their bodies to the test at AEW WrestleDream 2026 in order to win the AEW World Championship. Will Ospreay will have to defend his crown against Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, Samoa Joe, "Speedball" Mike Bailey, Ricochet, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland, but the line-up did have one major change in recent weeks.

It was noted during Ricochet's qualifying match against Ace Austin on "AEW Collision" this past Wednesday that "Switchblade" Jay White was supposed to wrestle Ricochet, and in the latest edition of "Wrestling Observer Radio," Dave Meltzer reported that White was meant to be in the match, and his spot would eventually go to Adam Copeland.

"Jay White was originally going to be in it but he got hurt, and Adam Copeland was not going to be in it, but because Christian [Cage] got hurt, they were going to be a tag team, but because Christian got hurt they moved [Copeland] into it. So I guess Jay White would have been in the spot that Adam Copeland took. That's what it looked like to me." Bryan Alvarez confirmed this report by stating that Copeland did in fact step in to replace White because of his injury. However, neither man confirmed whether Ricochet being in the match was change made because of White's injury either.

Copeland announced on Wednesday night that Christian Cage suffered three broken ribs and a collapsed lung at AEW All Out 2026, the same show were White suffered his own injury. Because Cage is out for the foreseeable future, Copeland stated that he wants to win the AEW World Championship before he retires, with 2027 being his last year as an in-ring performer. 

Please credit "Wrestling Observer Radio" when using quotes from this article, and give a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.