Adam Copeland Headlines Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling’s Northern Rising

Adam Copeland had a rare chance to fulfill a long-held dream at Northern Rising, a Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP) event at Toronto’s historic Maple Leaf Gardens. Known for voicing his passion for performing at this venue since witnessing his first pro wrestling match there as a child, Copeland had missed the opportunity during his WWE career due to their shift to larger arenas.

Maple Leaf Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) made this possible, allowing Copeland to face one of wrestling’s top free agents, Steve Maclin. The event, on October 3, 2026, featured a hard-hitting street fight between Copeland and the U.S. Marine-turned-wrestler Maclin, known for blindside attacks on AEW “Dynamite.”

Intense Street Fight

The main event showcased Copeland’s extraordinary efforts at 52, highlighting his legendary status. He suplexed Maclin from the ring apron into a propped ladder and delivered a splash from the top turnbuckle onto Maclin through a table outside the ring. Maclin retaliated with a brutal suplex onto a ladder. Deonna Purrazzo, Maclin’s wife, interfered, but Rhino countered, leveling the playing field.

Copeland regained control by executing a dramatic sprint down the aisle to spear Maclin through the ropes, sealing the victory with another spear.

Undisputed MLP Canadian Champion

Before Copeland’s bout, Josh Alexander and Stu Grayson fought for the Undisputed MLP Canadian Championship. Grayson, the interim champion, faced Alexander, who returned from a knee injury. Their intense match included several high-risk moves, with interference attempts playing a crucial role. In the end, Alexander used a hidden screwdriver and executed two C4 piledrivers for the win.

Title Defenses and New Champions

The event also featured defending champions and new titleholders. Priscilla Kelly successfully defended her MLP Canadian Women’s Championship against Nikki Storm. Kelly dominated with a series of kicks and retained her title after 55 days.

Andrade El Idolo defended the AEW National Championship against Rohan Raja. Despite Raja’s spirited performance, Andrade’s expertise secured his victory. He acknowledged Raja post-match as a rising talent.

The Grizzled Young Veterans, James Drake and Zack Gibson, captured the MLP Canadian Tag Team Championship from 1st Faction amidst a chaotic triple-threat match. Their victory marked the third tag team title change since MLP’s resurgence.

Additional Results

• Jonathan Gresham defeated Tarik and Vaughn Vertigo.
• Rudra bested Jonny DeLuca.
• Luigi Primo, El Reverso, and Mo Jabari overcame Johnny Parisi, Gama Singh Jr., and Michael Allen Richard Clark.
• Máscara Dorada and Subculture defeated TJP, Johnny TV, and Gabriel Fuerza.
• Alice Crowley and Jody Threat triumphed over Kinsley and Alexia Nicole.
• Psycho Mike took down Dan Maff and Crazzy Steve.

Ryan Gaydos oversees this coverage as a senior editor for Fox News Digital.