The “Aw, Dude” moment from an AEW Collision promo battle between Ricky Starks and Adam “Edge” Copeland has exploded back into the spotlight. A wave of elaborate video edits, from silent film remakes to Animal Crossing and The Sims recreations, has driven the meme to a sudden resurgence in September 2026.
The clip, which originally aired on October 14th, 2023, shows Edge fumbling for a comeback after Starks insults him. The moment has become a favorite among wrestling fans, who have spent years reposting and remixing it. Now, a fresh round of high-effort edits on X and TikTok has pushed the meme back to the forefront of wrestling internet culture.
The Origin of the Clip
The moment took place during a promo battle on AEW Collision. Starks and Edge traded insults, but things took a turn when Starks made fun of Edge for having bug eyes. Edge appeared unsure how to respond and was heard saying, “Aw, dude,” a reaction that many fans interpreted as him losing the exchange.
The two continued their back-and-forth, but Edge’s stumble became the defining moment. Wrestling fans latched onto the phrase, reading it as a genuine moment of defeat from a veteran performer. The clip quickly became a memorable piece of wrestling media.
How the Meme Spread
The clip was reposted on social media numerous times over the years. On October 14th, 2024, X user @TheDrainmaker posted it, gaining over 2,400 likes in two years. The post kept the moment alive in the minds of wrestling fans.
On February 27th, 2026, X user @notwhydeegee2 posted the clip with the caption, “‘aw dude’ he was fucking STEAMING LGMFMDNDNFNFNF,” which garnered over 2,400 likes in seven months. The caption conveys the user’s sense that Edge was visibly upset in the moment, with the string of capital letters adding emphasis. The post helped keep the meme circulating ahead of the September resurgence.
The September 2026 Resurgence
The meme saw a significant spike in September 2026, driven largely by elaborate video edits. On September 6th, X user @TripleFraud posted, “‘aw dude’ might be cope’s greatest contribution to the business man i be saying that shit at least five times a day,” garnering over 6,400 likes in three days.
The next day, X user @BigBeann61 posted an edit that made the clip look like an old silent film. That edit gained over 4,000 likes in two days. On September 8th, X user @embestar posted an Animal Crossing edit of the scene in response to a The Sims edit, gaining over 5,000 likes in a day.
That same day, TikToker @turboowrestlin posted a “case that doesn’t sit right with me” edit based on the clip. The TikTok gained over 142,000 views in a day.
The Variety of Edits
The recent edits go far beyond simple reposts. Fans have recreated the scene in entirely different visual styles, from the grainy aesthetic of early cinema to the cheerful worlds of life simulation games. The Animal Crossing and The Sims versions recast the heated promo battle in a comically mundane setting.
The silent film edit reframes the moment with a classic, dramatic flair, adding a layer of absurdity to Edge’s fumble. These transformations show how a simple moment of awkwardness can be stretched into a versatile comedic template.
“‘aw dude’ might be cope’s greatest contribution to the business man i be saying that shit at least five times a day,” — X user @TripleFraud
The “case that doesn’t sit right with me” edit applies its own framing to the clip, with the TikTok’s hashtags referencing analog horror. The variety of formats suggests the meme has found a lasting place in the fan vocabulary.
What Fans Read Into the Moment
The “Aw, Dude” moment works because fans have interpreted it as a visible stumble in a promo battle. Some have built jokes around that reading, with @TripleFraud saying he uses the phrase daily. The clip has become a touchstone for a certain kind of comedic defeat.
Edge appeared momentarily lost for words, and fans latched onto that reading.
Platform-Specific Takes
The resurgence has been driven by different platforms. X has been the home of the high-effort video edits, with users like @BigBeann61 and @embestar gaining thousands of likes for their creative takes. TikTok has carried its own distinct version of the meme through the “case that doesn’t sit right with me” format.
Each platform has produced its own distinct take on the clip. The silent film and life-simulation edits on X lean into visual transformation, while the TikTok format applies a different narrative frame to the moment.
A Lasting Piece of Wrestling Media
The “Aw, Dude” moment has proven to be a durable meme among wrestling fans. The clip has been reposted numerous times since it aired, and the September 2026 resurgence brought a new wave of attention.
The elaborate edits represent a new phase for the meme. Instead of just sharing the clip, fans are now building entire productions around it. This level of effort suggests the moment has become a genuine part of wrestling fan culture.
Key Facts
- The “Aw, Dude” moment aired on AEW Collision on October 14th, 2023.
- @TheDrainmaker’s October 2024 post gained over 2,400 likes in two years.
- @notwhydeegee2’s February 2026 post gained over 2,400 likes in seven months.
- @TripleFraud’s September 6th, 2026 post gained over 6,400 likes in three days.
- @BigBeann61’s silent film edit gained over 4,000 likes in two days.
- @embestar’s Animal Crossing edit gained over 5,000 likes in a day.
- @turboowrestlin’s TikTok edit gained over 142,000 views in a day.
The meme’s staying power is clear from the repeated reposts and the volume of engagement each new version attracts. The recent edits have given the clip new life, and “Aw, Dude” remains a fixture in the wrestling conversation.
Source: knowyourmeme.com
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