Edge’s retirement: Losing one of the good guys

After his emotional retirement speech on Raw, I felt it was only fitting to shine a spotlight on one of the brightest careers in the WWE, Edge. The fact that Edge retired as World Heavyweight Champion is absolutely fitting. Since his WWE debut, Edge has captivated audiences around the world and performed at a championship level his whole career. A life-long wrestling fan, Edge still claims to be a big WWE fan to this day, showing a love for the wrestling business and a passion for what he did. Edge has won 31 Championships in WWE including eleven Heavyweight Championships (four WWE Championships and a record seven World Heavyweight Championships),

Edge’s WWE career started off with him as a loner and his first really big feud was with Gangrel and his storyline brother, and real life best friend, Christian. After eventually joining Christian and Gangrel and forming the Brood, the gothic vampire-like trio joined the Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness. Eventually, Edge and Christian would break out on their own and form on of the greatest tag teams in the WWE. While feuding with the Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boys, Edge and Christian put tag team ladder matches on the map, even competing in and winning the first two TLC (Tables, Ladders and Chairs) matches.

It was during this time we started to see a different side of Edge. Instead of playing a normal-style “bad guy” heel, Edge, along with Christian, were more laid back, funny heels. They had their own secret handshake; played kazoo’s and (for the benefit of those with flash photography) performed cheesy 5-second poses. These antics were backed up by show-stealing tag team matches and when all was said and done, Edge and Christian became seven-time tag team champions. Edge would go back to tag team wrestling over the rest of his career winning tag team gold with Hulk Hogan, Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton resulting in 12 Tag team title reigns. But his best work was with Christian and Edge and Christian are considered to be one of the best WWE tag teams of all time.

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Edge eventually went back to being a baby face and won his second Intercontinental championship as well as the United States Championship. He spilt with Christian leading to them feuding over the Intercontinental championship. Edge enjoyed both singles and tag team success until in February 2003; he suffered a neck injury that kept him out for a full year. Upon returning, Edge won both the Tag team and Intercontinental championships until he turned heel and became the Rated-R Superstar. Edge skyrocketed to the top of the card, competing in the Elimination Chamber and culminating at WrestleMania 21 when he won the first ever Money in the Bank Ladder match guaranteeing him a World Title shot whenever he wanted it for a year.

During that time, it was found out that Edge was having an off-screen relationship with Lita who was his close friend Matt Hardy’s real life girlfriend. Hardy was fired in all the uproar which made Edge an even more despised heel. Hardy was eventually re-hired and he and Edge engaged in an on-screen blood feud centered around Lita.

Right after his program with Hardy came to a close, Edge achieved his dream by cashing in his money in the bank contract and pinned John Cena to win his first of eleven World Championships. Edge became a full-time main event talent and one of the most despised wrestlers in the world. Over the years, Edge has done some of the most controversial things in WWE history such as slap the glasses off of John Cena’s fathers’ face, participate in a live sex celebration with Lita, beat Ric Flair in the first ever single’s TLC match, banished the Undertaker from the WWE, Marry Vickie Guererro to guarantee himself a World Championship and spear Chris Jericho off of a table through the security wall. Edge is the only man in WWE history to win the King of the Ring tournament, Money in the Bank and the Royal Rumble. He is also one of two men to hold every WWE championship currently defended and his seven World Heavyweight Championship reigns are the most in WWE history. He is a great wrestler, talker, and all around entertainer. He’s a record-setter, a show-stealer, the master manipulator, the ultimate opportunist, and the Rated-R Superstar. He is King Edge the Awesome. And all we can do is thank you Edge. Thank you for the memories. And hope, wish and pray that you’ll live the rest of your life without any pain. I’m sure that the WWE will still see more of you. After all, there’s a spot in the Hall of Fame waiting for you.