Adam Copeland is right, AEW is punk rock to WWE's pop music

During a recent interview with TV Insider, Copeland discussed AEW's penchant for pushing boundaries. He also labeled AEW as "punk rock" in what is an apt description of the company.

"I also feel like AEW is not afraid to take some risks. For a lack of a better analogy, we’re kind of a bit punk rock," Copeland said. "It’s not always going to be pretty. It’s an alternative. It’s something different. I think if you look throughout the history of the company, it’s not something new. Darby Allin was falling off ladders and glass and thumbtacks. It has always been there to an extent. Let’s also face it. If you have two wrestlers coming out to wrestle a technical match every match, that can get pretty boring."

Punk rock has always been edgy. From mosh pits to brightly colored hair and tattoos, there is a clear alternate statement made by the music and the aesthetic. AEW perfectly fits that description, especially when pitted against the more family-friendly, PG-13-rated WWE. In fact, in this metaphor, WWE is pop music. Everyone enjoys it, but it also has a very clear demographic that allows it to dominate the mainstream consistently.

Copeland has worked at both companies. He is in the Wrestling Hall of Fame. So it makes sense that he sees AEW for both what it is and what it can be. His presence has coincided with a bigger focus on storylines and ensuring that not every match is thrown together. 

AEW is certainly punk rock. Fortunately for president Tony Khan, you only need to look at Blink 182 or Sum 41 for proof of how successful punk rock can become when done well.