Steve Maclin attacks Adam Copeland backstage at AEW Dynamite

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He didn’t show up on our screens during Dynamite last night (Sept. 9), but it seems Adam Copeland was on hand in Athens, Georgia’s Akins Ford Arena. Like a lot of his colleagues in the business, the WWE Hall of Famer and reigning AEW Tag champ was probably on-hand to support Rebel and her ALS-fighting efforting. But the Canadian formerly known as Edge was also there to help set-up his debut for the relaunched Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling in his home country, which takes place at the historic Maple Leaf Gardens on Oct. 3. The build for that started last week, when Cope called out former TNA World champion Steve Maclin for talking trash about The North. Christian Cage’s friend and tag partner laid out his Canuck bonafides (“I piss Molsons and maple syrup”, says Cope) for the U.S. Marine veteran, then asked if Maclin had “a set” to face him at MLP Northern Rising next month. Maclin didn’t want to just record a response. “Mayhem” crashed the Rebel Heart edition of Dynamite to show Cope his “set” in person. The Rated R Superstar didn’t get visual proof though, because Maclin blinded him with a mace-like weapon. We saw all of that, including the Children’s & Family Emmy Award nominee screaming “MY EYES” in case you missed his rival spraying something in his eyes, on this week’s MLP Mayhem (the name of Scott D’Amore’s promotion’s show, and also Maclin’s nickname): Tonight backstage at @AEW Dynamite, @SteveMaclin viciously attacked @RatedRCope. Mr. Mayhem is clearly stopping at nothing to prove his point.#MLPMayhem pic.twitter.com/KRgFbJV3V3 — MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) September 10, 2026 That’s already led to a response from long-time Cage & Cope friend Rhino, who will now face Mayhem on Mayhem next week as the build to Copeland vs. Maclin continues: Exclusive: Rhino has taken exception to the heinous attack last night at @AEW Dynamite from @SteveMaclin on @RatedRCope! The challenge is down for next week on #MLPMayhem, and Rhino plans to meet Maclin there with a GORE!!!@Rhyno313 pic.twitter.com/BmC7aVBD0o — MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) September 10, 2026 The “disrespecting Canada” motivation for the feud is pretty rote, but MLP is putting together a solid little feud from it. It joins this line-up for Northern Rising, with the title unification bout just having been announced this morning: Breaking News: Josh Alexander @Walking_Weapon is cleared to compete, and he is ready to defend the MLP Canadian Championship October 3rd against the Interim Champion, @stu_dos! Watch live worldwide on pay-per-view on MyAEW Saturday, October 3rd at 7PM ET/ 4PM PT pic.twitter.com/k8pPJ9OBp3 — MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) September 10, 2026 MLP Canadian championship match: Josh Alexander (c) vs. Stu Grayson (c*) *Interim MLP Women’s Canadian championship match: Gisele Shaw (c) vs. Nikki Storm Singles match: Adam Copeland vs. Steve Maclin My question is whether or not Cope’s “blinding” will linger into future episode of AEW programming, or even the Tag title Ladder Match against The Young Bucks and FTR at All Out in a couple weeks. How tight do you think MLP and AEW are? What do you make of Cope’s return to his Canadian roots so far?