“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you start where you are and change the ending.”
C.S. Lewis
On April 11, 2011, Adam Copeland (Edge) had to do something he never wanted to do, he was forced to give up something that was his boyhood dream, the thing he wanted the most, he was forced to give up his career as a professional wrestler. He knew that one day that he would have to retire, but not at only 37 years old. Adam’s neck injury was severe enough that he was strongly advised to never wrestle again.
So, Adam did what was necessary and reluctantly accepted his fate that he could no longer do what he loved and retired. What made this even more difficult for him was he was the reigning WWE World Heavyweight champion, so he had to relinquish the title and leave the business not on his own terms. Many athletes have difficulty walking away from something that they love doing, but it is so much harder when the choice is taken out of your own hands. At only 37, Edge was already a first ballot HOF talent and a legitimate GOAT in this business.
In 2012, Edge became the youngest WWE HOF Inductee at only 38 years old. Edge still missed the business, but that void of the ring was filled by starting a family with fellow WWE wrestler, Beth Phoenix. In 2017, Beth would surpass Edge as the youngest inductee at only 36 years old. The two young legends that accomplished more during their runs than people that have been in the business a lot longer were seemingly content with their new lives away from the ring.
Edge would make occasional WWE appearances over the years in strictly non-physical appearances often alongside someone that he considers his brother, Christian. Edge and Christian who grew up together and had the same dream to be WWF superstars. They would make it there together and create iconic moments together as a tag team and of course as singles stars. Ironically, Christian would also be forced to give up his dream as well in 2014 due to concussion issues. Neither man was able to retire on their own terms.
However, during a bike ride in 2019, Adam would fall off his bike and he felt fine. Adam had the thought could I possibly get cleared to get a chance to go out on my own terms. It wasn’t such a crazy idea as legendary performers, Shawn Michaels, who was forced to retire due to a back injury in 1998 made a miraculous comeback in 2002 and wrestled for years after that return. Bryan Danielson, who was forced to retire due to concussions in 2016, was able to get cleared in 2018 and is still wrestling today.
In a moment that shocked the world at the 2019 Summerslam, Edge not only made an appearance, but for the first time in over 8 years he got physical in the ring by delivering a spear. He didn’t take a bump, but the fact that WWE let him get physical immediately started the rumors and rumblings from the fans that not only Edge was cleared, but that he was going to make a WWE return. Edge denied the rumors, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t something that he wasn’t looking into.
There were rumblings a couple months before the 2020 Royal Rumble that Edge was either cleared to return or at least pursuing it. Well, the wrestling world exploded the moment those iconic words played over the arena’s speakers, “you think you know me?”.
The look of pure excitement and surrealness was written all over Edge’s face. It was the look of someone that was trying to figure out if he was in a dream or was this really happening? After almost a 9-year forced hiatus, Adam Copeland was getting an opportunity that very few people ever get, a second chance to end his story on his own terms.
Adam Copeland didn’t owe us anything, he had given us all that he had for almost 13 years since his WWF debut in 1998 to his forced retirement in 2011. I distantly remember watching his WWF debut on Raw and remember thinking he will be a future world champion and he ended up being that multiple times. Edge’s second run has been truly special, because we all knew every match was an added bonus and any one of them could have been his last match.
Edge gave us everything that he had and like the unselfish performer that he is, he wanted to give back and get younger talent over. He didn’t return to pad his resume or win titles; it was about giving back to the business and to let the fans see him go out on his own terms.
Last week, it was announced that Edge’s 25th anniversary celebration in Toronto on Smackdown was his last “contracted” match. Edge and Sheamus tore the house down and no one knows if this is Edge’s last match ever or his last match in WWE or just his last match in his last match in his hometown of Toronto.
Edge Is Not Going To AEW:
The reason that I’m writing this piece is shortly after word came out that Edge’s match on Smackdown was his last contracted match under his current WWE contract. Dirt sheets immediately started publishing articles with headlines like “Exclusive: Internal Believe In WWE That Edge Is AEW Bound” or “Those Close To Edge Believe A Jump to AEW Is A Real Possibility”.
Honestly, I don’t believe these dirt sheets have any real scope here and are probably pulling these stories out of their asses. These are clickbait stories at best in my opinion.
First off, I don’t think Adam Copeland has even decided what he wants to do. He had a phenomenal send off on Smackdown and if he wants that to be his final match of his career no one can legitimately argue that wasn’t going out on a high note and on his terms. So, if Adam hasn’t decided what he wants to do how could he possibly be talking to people in the “know” that are reporting to their dirt sheets on his future.
Second off, there are likely very few people in the wrestling world that Adam would even have conversations with about his wrestling future and they are likely not going to the dirt sheets with that news. I don’t see Beth Phoenix, Christian or FTR running to the dirt sheets to spill the dirt on Edge’s future.
Finally, Adam Copeland has shown a complete and total loyalty to WWE. Tony Khan approached Edge before he was even cleared to see if he could get him to go to AEW. Adam had ZERO legal reasons to do this, but he has said he told Tony, I owe Vince McMahon essentially the opportunity at first refusal before he would agree to a AEW contract.
When Adam told Vince, according to Adam, Vince said if you are going to return to the ring it is going to be under a WWE banner. We all know what happened, Adam stayed in the WWE family.
So, my personal opinion is based on Adam’s WWE loyalty and how he has never once complained or gave any indication of him being unhappy with this WWE run.
I believe if Edge wrestles again, it will be for WWE and not anyone else including AEW. Edge has a loyalty to WWE much like a mentor of his, the Undertaker, so I truly don’t believe he is leaving WWE.
If Edge Wrestles Again, It Will Be For WWE:
I get why the speculation since FTR and Christian are in AEW, but I don’t think it is anything more than dirt sheet click bait and fan pipe dreams. The images of Edge and Christian standing across from one another in the 2021 Royal Rumble and the subsequent hug are absolutely iconic. Moments like that are so amazing because you know they are genuine, and it reminds us why we are all fans in the first place. The fact that Christian a year after Edge was able to get a chance to re-write his ending too was such an unbelievable moment especially because there was zero rumor or speculation about it unlike Edge the year prior.
I’m sure there are fans fantasy booking going well if the Elite won’t work with CM Punk they could do Edge and FTR vs the Elite. Listen I fully get wanting to see Edge and Christian together one last time in the ring, but I don’t believe Edge is willing to cross the line to end his career in a smaller company.
As great as Edge ending his career in front of his family, in his hometown and on the Smackdown brand which he took great pride in representing, the one thing missing was Christian. I do think that if Edge does wrestle again, which there is no guarantee that he will, but I think I know where it may possibly be, and it could involve Christian.
March 28, 1999 – WrestleMania 15 – Philadelphia, PA – Edge and Christian made their WrestleMania debuts as they were lowered from the rafters of the First Union Center onto the top of the Hell in a Cell. In a post-match segment, they participated in the hanging of the Big Boss Man after his match with the Undertaker.
As we all know, 25 years later WrestleMania is returning to Philadelphia. What better place for Edge and Christian to end their careers on the grandest stage of them all, together and 25 years after their WrestleMania debuts?
Now before anyone says how is that possible with Christian under AEW contract, Christian jumped to AEW in March 2021. So, if he signed a standard 3-year deal and no extensions have taken place that would mean his deal would be up in March 2024. Just in time for him to make a WWE return for WrestleMania.
I think the one match that Edge would agree to would be at WrestleMania especially if Christian is involved. You could absolutely do Edge vs Christian one last time, but I would suggest for Edge and Christian’s last matches as I think them retiring together is the most fitting.
I would have Edge and Christian tag together one last time against a team that is almost identical to them as these two men are practically brothers as well in Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. These four fellow Canadians will absolutely tear the house down and will ensure Edge and Christian go out on the highest note possible.
Final Thoughts:
I don’t know if we have seen the last match of Edge’s career and I don’t believe any of the dirt sheets know either. I don’t think Adam Copeland knows for certain whether or not he is going to lace up his boots again so if the sheets are talking to “sources”, I don’t believe they know anything. Even if Adam has decided and let people know, the few he would likely tell are very unlikely to be talking to the dirt sheets.
If Edge’s last match was his match with Sheamus then he went out on a high note on his own terms. He doesn’t owe us another match regardless of whether it is in WWE or AEW or anywhere else. I truly don’t believe at the time I’m writing this (8/20/23) Adam Copeland wants to end his career in a smaller company, but it comes down to how badly he wants to have his career end with Christian and if Christian can’t or won’t leave AEW. Like I said if Edge wrestles again I would think the logical place is WrestleMania 40 whether Christian is involved or not.
If Edge never wrestles again, I’m just grateful I got to see him wrestle live one last time at WrestleMania 39. Being able to sing along with his entrance theme one last time was a truly special moment with the Wrestling Republic Crew. Regardless, whether Edge wrestles again or not I just want to say Thank you Adam Copeland (Edge) for all that you have done for me as a fan providing me so many unbelievable moments of entertainment.
ITTMP
