WWE: The Enigma that was Edge

Still shocked and awed from one of the most amazing WrestleManias in history, every WWE fan in the world tuned in to Monday Night Raw with only one thing in mind: The aftermath and the backlashes which always follow the showcase of immortals. They did get that for sure, but what started off the night was the shocker of the year. One of the greatest professional wrestlers of all times, Edge, announced his retirement from wrestling, citing repetitive injury as the reason.

Edge: The R Rated Superstar

As the WWE Universe is still reeling from the effects of this monumental announcement, we take a look back at the illustrious career of The Ultimate Opportunist, and try to guess why he had to take this step in the prime of his career, immediately after an epic World Heavyweight Title defence at the grandest stage of them all.

Edge’s career in the WWE is best summed up in the first line of every one of his entrance themes, ‘You think you know me’. When it came to this man, you could always expect the unexpected. From marrying general managers in the ring, to bringing in not one, but two impersonators in his matches, The Master Manipulator has used every trick in the book and won a bountiful of championships throughout the 15 years of his WWE career. Even now, when you would expect him to make a huge victory speech, the first thing he does after entering the ring is announce his retirement!!

Edge started his wrestling career in the early 1990s, and in 1997, with the recommendation of fellow Canadian and one of wrestling’s all-time greats, Bret ‘Hit man’ Hart, Edge got his ticket to the WWE. And boy, did he make one hell of an impact. Edge would soon join forces with Christian, and after a brief stint with The Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness, the two Canadians went on to form one of the most successful tag team, capturing the WWE Tag Team titles no less than seven times. Edge and Christian, along with the Hardy Boys and the Dudley Boyz, revolutionized the tag team division and introduced everyone to the crazy dimension of Tables, Ladders and Chairs. In fact, Edge & Christian won consecutive TLC matches against The Hardys and the Dudleys at WrestleMania XVI and XVII.

Edge spears Mick Foley through a burning table at WrestleMania 22

2001 saw Edge establish himself as a singles competitor when he won the King of the Ring tournament, after which Edge went on to win the European, Hardcore and InterContinental titles several times. During this time, Edge was involved in various notable feuds, including the one with Kurt Angle, where he shaved Angle’s head and gave him the bald look which he carries to this day. Edge also won multiple Tag Team titles with Hulk Hogan, Rey Mysterio, Chris Benoit and Randy Orton. Edge’s Hardcore match with Mick Foley at WrestleMania 22 was voted as ‘the best hardcore match ever’ by a panel of WWE Hall of Famers.

But the biggest break of Edge’s career would come at New Year’s Revolution, 2006, where Edge gained the ‘Ultimate Opportunist’ tag by using his Money –In-The-Bank contract (Which he won at WrestleMania 21) to beat a battered John Cena and win his first ever WWE Championship. Edge’s mercurial run would continue for the next 4 years, during which he win the WWE Championship 4 times and the World Heavyweight Championship 7 times!! This period once again saw Edge involved in numerous great matches with the likes of John Cena, The Undertaker and Batista.

Edge’s career was marred by injury more than once. He had to undergo surgery for a severe neck injury in 2003, which kept him sidelined for more than a year. After his return in 2004, Edge suffered a groin injury which forced him to relinquish his Intercontinental Championship. Again in 2006, Edge had to step down as World Heavyweight Champion as he tore his left pectoral muscle. In 2009, Edge suffered a torn Achilles tendon, which again put him on the shelf for months. These repeated injuries are the reasons cited by Edge for his surprising decision.

So, as we bid adieu to one of professional wrestling’s greatest entertainers, here are some interesting facts from the life and career of Edge:

1. Edge’s real name is Adam Copeland. Born to a single mother, he has never met his father, nor seen a picture of him.

2. Edge got admission to his first wrestling training course by winning an essay contest with the topic ‘Why I should be a pro-wrestler’.

3. Edge holds a diploma in radio broadcasting.

4. Bret Hart’s recommendation got Edge his WWE contract. Ironically, Edge’s first WWE appearance came a day after Bret was screwed by Vince McMahon and left the WWE.

5. Edge has held the World Heavyweight Championship for the most number of times (7) since the title was brought back in 2002.

6. Edge is one of the very few wrestlers to write his autobiography entirely by himself, in longhand. The book is titled Adam Copeland on Edge.