Adam Copeland is set to compete in the Clockwork Carnage at WrestleDream 2026. However, a new report suggests he may not have been part of the original plans. Copeland reportedly joined the match after Jay White suffered an injury, which forced the promotion to make changes.

Copeland earned his spot in the first-ever Clockwork Carnage match by defeating Josh Alexander on the October 14 episode of AEW Dynamite. He will now challenge reigning AEW World Champion Will Ospreay alongside six other competitors.

On the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer reported that White was initially set to compete in the Clockwork Carnage match.

“Jay White was originally going to be in it but he got hurt, and Adam Copeland was not going to be in it,” Meltzer revealed.

Meltzer also noted that Copeland and Christian Cage were originally expected to team up. However, Cage suffered an injury, forcing AEW to change those plans as well.

“Because Christian [Cage] got hurt, they were going to be a tag team, but because Christian got hurt they moved [Copeland] into it. So I guess Jay White would have been in the spot that Adam Copeland took. That’s what it looked like to me,” Meltzer said.

Bryan Alvarez also backed up Meltzer’s report, confirming that Copeland replaced White after the injury. However, neither reporter confirmed whether Ricochet’s place in the match was also linked to White’s absence.

Ricochet was originally scheduled to face White before taking on Ace Austin in a qualifying match on AEW Collision.

White suffered the injury during the Tailgate Brawl match on the September 26 AEW All Out 2026 pre-show. He teamed up with his Bang Bang Gang stablemates Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Ace Austin to face The Dogs and The Death Riders.

White’s team won the eight-man match. However, the victory came at a cost, as White suffered an undisclosed injury during the bout. AEW commentator Tony Schiavone later announced White’s injury during Collision.

The promotion has yet to reveal an official diagnosis or provide details about his treatment and recovery. There is also no confirmed date for his return.