Bold truth: this is the kind of underreported moment that can change everything, and it almost didn’t happen. Adam Copeland recounts how a single connection with Bret Hart helped launch his WWE journey, a path that hinges on the kindness of one surprising ally.
During an Inside the Ropes appearance recorded in 2018, Copeland, who hadn’t yet returned to competition, explained how a chance tip led him toward Bret Hart. While touring the Maritime provinces, someone urged him to reach out to Hart, who was sidelined with a knee injury but still the WWE Champion at that time.
With no lodging or money, Copeland faced a daunting reality. He contacted Johnny Smith, who opened his home to him and agreed to drive him to Bret Hart. Copeland describes that moment: he had just spent all the money from his tour on a plane ticket to Calgary, had no stable place to sleep, and knew no one in the city. He even considered sleeping on a mat at a YMCA to buy himself time to prove his wrestling skills to Hart.
In a flash of improvisation, Copeland remembered a tenuous thread—Jericho was in Calgary, and Johnny Smith lived there as well. He reached out to Smith, who happened to be Davey Boy Smith’s younger brother in the Stampede era. Smith didn’t just offer a couch; he fed him, arranged daily rides to Bret Hart, brought him to the gym, and trusted him enough to supervise his daughter for a stretch. That support—priceless in its impact—accelerated Copeland’s trajectory when money was tight and options were few.
Eventually, Copeland met Hart in the ring—though this was the only time future Edge and Bret Hart ever shared a ring before stardom. After that week, Copeland sat with Hart in his office, and Hart offered a decisive vote of confidence: Copeland’s talent was clear, and Hart agreed to put in a word on his behalf.
Copeland then had to return to the Maritimes for another tour, but upon returning, he brought along Christian. Hart’s evaluation of their work sparked further interest, and eventually, Hart’s management contacted them with the news: WWE was interested in signing them.
“I picked up the phone, and it was Carl DeMarco,” Copeland recalls. “He said, ‘You’ve got to go down to Stanford. There’s a contract waiting for you.’”
For broader context, Copeland also noted the six-year anniversary of his 2020 Royal Rumble return earlier in January, which fans can revisit in Fightful’s coverage.
If you reference any quotes above, please credit Fightful and include a link to the source for the transcription.
But here’s where the story gets controversial: how many small acts of generosity—like Johnny Smith’s hospitality and trust—actually determine the course of a career in wrestling? And this is the part most people miss: one ordinary decision by one supportive person can ripple into a life-changing opportunity. Do you think such pivotal moments are common, or do they require a rare confluence of timing and mentorship? Share your thoughts in the comments.
