Adam Copeland is peeling back the curtain on the early days of Judgment Day, and according to him, Vince McMahon wanted the group to have some serious Brood energy from the start.
During a conversation with SHAK Wrestling, Copeland was asked about Rhea Ripley’s rise in WWE and how her growth compared to what he expected when she first linked up with him in Judgment Day. That’s when Copeland explained that the group started with Vince McMahon telling him to put together a faction. Copeland said Vince wanted him to start a group, and his mind immediately went back to The Brood. Once Vince asked who should be in it, Copeland didn’t hesitate.
“Vince said, ‘I want you to start a group.’ And I wanted to be like The Brood. And I went, okay, okay. So I’m thinking three people and he said, ‘Who would that be?’ I was like, Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley. No hesitation. Those are the two people that could make this really cool group.”
Copeland then made it clear that Vince’s reaction told him a lot. In his eyes, McMahon didn’t fully understand the level of talent he had sitting right there with Priest and Ripley.
“I think he was kind of surprised by that, and that made me realize he didn’t understand what he had in those two, and I thought that was a shame.”
Copeland said he viewed Judgment Day as a way to get Priest and Ripley more screen time, more reps, and more experience. Looking back now, he believes the whole thing did exactly what it needed to do.
“So I truly thought, hey, this can be a vehicle. So hopefully they just start getting more reps and some more experience. And I think that’s essentially what it did.”
Copeland also said working opposite them helped the act get over, because he and Rey Mysterio were positioned as babyfaces against the heel group. In his view, that gave Judgment Day the kind of setup they needed to succeed.
“And then I got to view them for a year. So I got to be their babyface along with Rey. And when you got two babyfaces like us, chances are your heel group is going to do okay.”
Judgment Day obviously survived long after Copeland’s exit from the group, and Rhea Ripley went on to become one of WWE’s biggest stars. Copeland said he is proud of what both Priest and Ripley did with the opportunity, especially Ripley.
“And still going, I think. So, you know, it worked. But I’m proud of them. I’m super proud of them. I’m proud of where she’s taken it and gone with it. And it’s exactly where I thought it could go.”
Copeland’s comments give fans a pretty interesting look at how Judgment Day came together behind the scenes. Vince McMahon may have had The Brood in mind, but Copeland clearly saw Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley as the pieces that could make the whole thing click.
What do you think about Adam Copeland saying Vince McMahon didn’t realize what he had with Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest? Sound off in the comments and let us know your thoughts.
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