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The Rated-R Superstar is coming back to WWE! Yes, you read that right. Coming out of retirement after nine years at the Royal Rumble 2020, the story of the return of Edge is nothing less than a miracle. After a stellar performance in the over-the-top-rope match, Edge went on to have arguably the best feud leading up to WrestleMania 36 against Randy Orton.
The two clashed at the Show of Shows at the Performance Center on Night 2 of WrestleMania 36 in a Last Man Standing match. It was Edge who won the gruesome 36-minute long match after hitting The Viper with the Conchairto on top of a production truck. The Rated-R Superstar has been on a hiatus since then until the announcement on the latest episode of RAW.
As announced, Edge will be returning to Monday Night RAW next week, the first time since his WrestleMania 36 match.
But why has Edge been called back out-of-nowhere by WWE? Let's look at the five potential reasons for the same in this article.
#5 WWE needs big names to improve the TV Ratings
WWE has been massively struggling with its TV ratings, which have hit all-time low records recently. A major reason for this is the empty-arena shows due to the current global pandemic of COVID-19. While the storylines and matches have been decent, the shows seem to be lacking in energy and excitement without the live audience.
Vince McMahon looks set to continue WWE's programming and the need of the hour for them is to find a way to improve their TV ratings. One simple way to achieve this is to bring back massive names like Edge, who has a huge fan-base and star-power to attract more eyes to the product.
Being one of the last few Superstars of the Attitude Era on the roster, he caters to both the hardcore as well as the casual fans. I, for once, will surely tune in to RAW to see him next week!
#4 To reignite his rivalry with Randy Orton
Alongside Edge, another massive name announced to appear on RAW next week is his WrestleMania opponent and former tag team partner, Randy Orton. Now the vignette that was aired made it seem like the two will be reigniting their rivalry but there is no official confirmation on the same.
There's no doubt about the fact that the feud between Edge and Randy on the Road to WrestleMania was one of the most engaging storylines in recent WWE history, with both Superstars blurring the lines of kayfabe and reality.
We often see such massive feuds drag up to multiple PPVs but the ending of the match at WrestleMania looked a decisive one to me. But even if WWE plans to reignite their feud, what made them wait for a month? Maybe they were selling the injury to both Superstars during their 'Mania encounter.
Or does WWE plan to throw a massive curveball at us by letting the two Superstars join hands and reform the Rated-RKO? Well, that certainly would be a huge surprise!
#3 He was originally supposed to wrestle at the Saudi Arabia event
As per the rumors after WrestleMania 36, the original plan for Edge was to go on a short break after WrestleMania and then come back to start a feud for the next Saudi Arabia show. Now, the Saudi event is almost certain to get canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but WWE probably decided to bring Edge back anyway!
Edge has signed a part-time deal with the company to wrestle a fixed number of matches a year, which could be extended as well if both the parties agree to common terms. WWE surely isn't in great financial condition right now and having spent a lot of money on Edge, the decision probably is to use him as much as possible.
It was reported that the contract Edge signed was worth $3 million-a year, and he'd be paid the full amount if he wrestled three matches a year. However, it is understood that Edge has committed to wrestling 5 matches a year. This means Edge signed to wrestle on shows other than the "Big Four" as well.
The next PPV for the company after Money in the Bank should be Stomping Grounds, even though there has been no official confirmation on the same. And it would be a huge stretch to imagine Edge having a match at the PPV.
#2 To set up his next big feud leading to a SummerSlam match
Whether Edge wrestles at Stomping Grounds/Extreme Rules or not, WWE will surely use him for the Biggest Party of The Summer, SummerSlam. It was at last year's Summerslam where Edge appeared during the pre-show and speared Elias in front of the WWE Universe, his first Spear since his retirement in 2011.
In the recently released WWE Network documentary on Edge's return, Beth Phoenix was shocked and livid to see Edge deliver the spear as she expected him to just cut a promo. This was one of the first few moments that led to the Rated-R Superstar believing in himself and finally making a miraculous comeback.
His appearance on Monday Night RAW could be used as a perfect set-up for his next big feud, leading to a match at this year's SummerSlam. If the situation in the entire world does get better by then, we might even see the return of the live crowd for the show, something which was majorly missing in Edge's first singles comeback match at WrestleMania last month.
#1 A confrontation with the Money in the Bank winner
While Edge is arguably one of the biggest babyfaces on the current roster, he has been a massive heel for a major part of his career, and a very successful one too.
He is set to return on Monday Night RAW next week, which will be the show after this Sunday's Money in the Bank PPV. Now if you don't remember, Edge was the first-ever Mr. Money in the Bank, when he won the inaugural MITB match at WrestleMania 21. The Rated-R Superstar went on to cash it in on John Cena at New Year's Revolution in January 2006 and became the new WWE Champion.
One of the favorites to win the men's MITB match this year is AJ Styles, who returned to RAW this week and won the Last Chance Gauntlet Match to book a spot in the match. If he does end up winning the match, the Phenomenal One is sure to boast about it on RAW next week and maybe call himself the greatest "Mr. Money in the Bank". That would be a perfect setup for Edge to return and have a show-down against Styles.
In one of his recent interviews, Edge mentioned AJ Styles as one of the Superstars whom he would like to face in the future and maybe we can see that happen very soon!
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