Gangrel suggests that Paul “Triple H” Levesque may have been the driving force behind the cancellation of a planned Brood reunion at WrestleMania 39.
Discussing the matter with Chris Van Vliett on the Insight podcast, the wrestling veteran addressed long-standing speculation surrounding Edge’s potential return. While some have pointed to Vince McMahon as the reason behind the missed opportunity, Gangrel believes Triple H may have ultimately rejected the storyline.
“I’m not sure, but I think maybe it might have been Hunter. Some people said Vince, but I think it might have been Hunter. Someone kiboshed it. So when that didn’t go down, he left the next year to AEW. Then he wanted to make sure that he’s a guy that wants to have his way. Don’t tell him no on something, he’s gonna figure it out. So in AEW, he had me come back and come up to the ring and stuff like that.”
When questioned about how close the reunion came to happening, Gangrel emphasized Copeland’s efforts to revive their partnership, though WWE ultimately declined to support it.
Copeland’s perspective differs, asserting that WWE felt fans might not remember Gangrel.
“That’s what they said, that’s what he said. But I think there’s a little bit more to it. I don’t know what it is, but I think it was a bit more like it’s weird too, because I was just speaking of the name, you know, the nostalgia deals they have. And so I went through that. I’m not going to mention what the person in the office is going through, but it was all lined up. It was right down to the final things and then on the, when last their end should be signed. They come through, they came to me and said ‘Do you have a letter saying from White Wolf that you can use the name, that they relinquish the name to you?’ I go ‘You have lawyers after lawyers.’ They clearly could see that I have the trademark in the register, all that stuff. And like ‘No, you don’t have a letter.’
Following this interaction, communication ceased entirely. While a WWE return would interest him, Gangrel acknowledges his current commitments have kept him occupied.
“And then I never heard back from him again. So it’s something weird. It’s something a little bit more to it. But at this point, I’ve motored on and found my own thing for so long that it would be great to go back in some kind of form or fashion and do something that of course, that would be awesome. And I’m sure the money’s great and, you know, and it gives you longevity to be on that powerful TV. But at the same time, I’ve been busier than I’ve ever been busy.”
Gangrel also highlighted Copeland’s role in facilitating his AEW appearances, noting his influence and creative control in arranging their collaboration.
“That’s just Adam. He wanted it, him and he, I think he talked to the House of Black and they thought it would be cool too. He had a lot of creative control there. He orchestrated all that from all that together.”
