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Tonight's episode of WWE SmackDown ended in shocking fashion, as Edge returned to confront Roman Reigns. The Universal Champion has been incredibly dominant on the Blue brand, which left Paul Heyman asking who's next. We got our answer in the form of a WWE Hall of Famer.
But why did The Rated-R Superstar come back to WWE TV a few weeks before touring resumes? And why is he continuing to target Reigns? The last time we saw him, The Tribal Chief stacked him and Daniel Bryan up to earn the most dominant main event victory in WrestleMania history.
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However, there is some meat on this bone. WWE may have several schools of thought over why Edge will likely take on Reigns at Money in the Bank for the Universal Championship. Either way, we will witness yet another excellent feud to add to both superstars' collections.
Here are five possible reasons why Edge is the next man to challenge Roman Reigns for his title. Are you excited for this match? Would you like to see The Rated-R Superstar defeat The Head of the Table? Let us know by sounding off in the comments below.
#5 Edge was initially promised a one-on-one title match after winning the Royal Rumble
Back in January, Edge did the unthinkable. He won the Royal Rumble Match from number 1, putting in an incredibly gutsy performance in the process. He had earned a one-on-one Championship match at WrestleMania, but it didn't go that way.
Daniel Bryan was inserted into the main event feud between Edge and Roman Reigns, leading to a triple threat at The Show of Shows. The WWE Hall of Famer has every right to be aggrieved, as his sanity unraveled each passing week before 'Mania.
Edge is still due a one-on-one title match. One he probably didn't need to win the Royal Rumble to have, considering he retired while still being the World Heavyweight Champion.
Also, the fact that Bryan faced Reigns a few weeks after WrestleMania only intensifies Edge's claim at another shot at The Tribal Chief. WWE has barely scratched the surface between the two of them, as will be seen in the weeks leading up to Money in the Bank.
Roman Reigns and Edge are both masters at storytelling, so we better get excited for their Universal Championship match.
#4 Edge had an incredible night at WrestleMania 37 but there is unfinished business
One of the reasons why Daniel Bryan was added to the WrestleMania main event may have been out of concern for Edge. He was seemingly looking older and more grizzled every week. It did not seem like the WWE Hall of Famer would be able to pull off such a huge match on his own alongside Roman Reigns. But he did.
In fact, his showing possibly exceeded expectations. He was ridiculously over, while the fans were mixed for Bryan and universally against Reigns. Edge replicated their energy in the ring, performing at his highest level. He was the babyface in the match, despite the story drifting away from that during the build.
This proved just how much he has left in the tank, with the fans playing a huge part in making him feel special again. The Rated-R Superstar may have also had the match won at WrestleMania, despite being stacked alongside Daniel Bryan and pinned by Roman Reigns.
Edge hit Bryan with a Con-chair-to before Jey Uso rushed in and attacked him, allowing Reigns to put him down. But the 11-time world champion is back and has unfinished business with The Head of the Table. His performance at WrestleMania may have contributed to this feud continuing.
#3 Edge's return further stacks WWE's first pay-per-view back with a full crowd
Now that we established why Edge is back in contention for the Universal Championship after Roman Reigns beat him at WrestleMania, let's look at why WWE did not wait until the full-time return of crowds to bring him back.
It seemed like The Rated-R Superstar would make his return on the July 16th episode of SmackDown, at the earliest. But here he is, surprising fans across the world. WWE may have brought him back a few weeks beforehand to kick off the return to touring with a bang.
Money in the Bank is already a big pay-per-view, as it features two ladder matches with enormous stakes. Adding Edge vs. Roman Reigns simply adds to the excitement for the event. The company will want to create the best card possible, with this match doing the job perfectly.
While the reaction for Edge at WrestleMania was thunderous, it may be even better next month. It was so good in a half-packed open-air stadium, so imagine what it would sound like in a packed arena. This is a great choice as the main event of WWE's first pay-per-view with a full crowd since March 2020.
#2 It provides a logical gateway for Edge to face Seth Rollins at SummerSlam
Edge's likely SummerSlam opponent looks to be Seth Rollins. It seemed like the WWE Hall of Famer would go straight into a program with him upon returning, but that isn't the case. It does make sense, considering the unfinished business Edge has with Roman Reigns and the Universal Championship.
Seth Rollins had his eye on a title match against The Tribal Chief on SmackDown, before The Rated-R Superstar returned at the end of the show. This could prove to be the perfect gateway between Edge's feuds with Reigns and Rollins.
The four-time WWE world champion can show his frustration at being forced to compete in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match, instead of for the Universal Title, at the pay-per-view. He may end up costing Edge the match and thus, setting up their SummerSlam bout.
Alternatively, Seth Rollins could appear after the match is over and attack Edge. He did this to Cesaro at end of WrestleMania Backlash, after Roman Reigns defeated him.
The WWE Hall of Famer's comeback has been one large thread of storytelling continuity. From the Randy Orton feud to the Royal Rumble victory, everything is connected. This is why the impending angle with Rollins will probably play a part in his Universal Title match.
#1 Edge's return allows Roman Reigns to get a huge win before facing John Cena at SummerSlam
WWE may have brought Edge back to face Roman Reigns at Money in the Bank, with SummerSlam in mind. We already saw how The Rated-R Superstar could transition into a feud with Seth Rollins at the August supershow, but this match may also focus on building Reigns up for his own blockbuster SummerSlam clash.
The Head of the Table is likely to defend the Universal Championship against John Cena, with the 16-time world champion set to return to WWE next month. He is already a megastar, but the company may have wanted to further boost him in preparation for his main event opposite Cena.
WWE is doing everything in its power to make Roman Reigns a bigger star, and this feud with Edge is no different. He will likely dominate his way to another big victory before he takes on Big Match John. Every week, Reigns keeps on getting bigger and better. The list of challengers he has put down is immense.
And while he did pin Edge at WrestleMania, Jey Uso was a major factor in it. The Universal Champion could defeat the WWE Hall of Famer without any help from The Usos at Money in the Bank, although how Seth Rollins factors into it remains to be seen.
Reigns' recent streak of clean wins is on the line. Another one will only make his likely match with John Cena at SummerSlam an even bigger deal.
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