Copeland vs. Okada AEW International Title Match Winner, Top Highlights from Full Gear 2026

Kazuchika Okada beat Adam Copeland at Full Gear on Saturday to retain the AEW International Championship.

After several recent run-ins between them, Okada and Copeland were finally given the chance to settle the score with the international title hanging in the balance on pay-per-view.

Both Okada and Copeland were part of the Clockwork Carnage match for the AEW World Championship at WrestleDream last month, and while Will Ospreay won the match to retain, Okada did gain a pinfall over Cope during it.

That was only the beginning of their rivalry, though, as Okada involved himself in a tag team match Copeland had on the Oct. 21 episode of Dynamite.

Copeland and Ospreay came out on the losing end against Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight thanks to Okada helping his Don Callis Family members by using his International Championship belt against Cope.

Two weeks later, Okada and Copeland were on opposing teams in Blood & Guts, and the Don Callis Family team was victorious when Copeland surrendered to save Ospreay from getting stabbed with a screwdriver.

Given all the misdeeds of Okada and the Don Callis Family, Copeland clearly wanted to make them pay at Full Gear.

On top of that, Copeland got the opportunity to become international champion for the first time and a singles champion for only the third time in AEW after previously holding the TNT Championship twice.

That was easier said than done, though, as the 53-year-old veteran had to face an opponent in Okada who is regarded by many as one of the best in-ring performers in the world.

Okada ultimately proved too tough for Cope to overcome, as The Rainmaker delivered another successful title defense at Full Gear.