'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
SmackDown has featured some of the best talents in the world of wrestling since its inception. It has not only challenged WWE's flagship show, Raw but has even beaten it in the ratings for a period in the early-2000s. What is the first name that comes to your mind when you think about Smackdown during that period? There is a whole list of wrestlers who could lay claim to being the best superstar to represent the company's blue brand; but, no one comes even remotely close to Edge. He was there since the inception and played an essential role in Smackdown’s early days as a unique brand by becoming part of the infamous ‘Smackdown six’. No one was more hatred than him as a heel and no one was cheered more than him as a babyface.
He has seen lots of success both as part of a faction and as a bonafide singles competitor. Although his career was short, it was filled with breathtaking matches which define his legacy. He played lots of different characters in a career ranging from a mid-carder heel to a top babyface champion. So, let's take a brief look at all those different faces of Edge in chronological order.
#1 Edge and Christian Show
The Rated R Superstar got his first big break in 1998 when he teamed up with his best friend Christian. Both these wrestlers were young and hungry to impress the audience and management with their daredevil style of wrestling. But, the biggest problem for them was that they came into the wrestling scene when Stone Cold, Vince McMahon, HBK, and DX would steal the limelight every week. So it was a huge task for two youngsters to even get screen time. The audience back then was very expressive and picky about their wrestling storylines. But, E&C's 'cool' heel persona was too good to turn a deaf ear. Right from their catchphrase ‘reeked of awesomeness’ to their 5-second pose, everything was new and brought a sense of uniqueness.
Both these youngsters had great chemistry and they went on to win 7 tag team championships together. The pair had some insane matches against The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz, which used to become the talk of the town whenever it would happen. Their day in the sun came at Wrestlemania 2000 when they beat the Hardy Boyz and defending champions the Dudley Boyz in one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time. The match was even selected as the PWI Match of The Year for the year 2000 and the team was described as the best Tag Team of the year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. This initial tag team run was a dream for any young wrestler.
Till 2001, Edge was only seen as a tag team wrestler, but little did we know about what lies ahead of him in the future.
#2 First Singles Run (2001-2002)
Edge got an opportunity to prove his worth as a singles competitor for the first time in 2001 when he won the King of the Ring tournament defeating Rhyno and Kurt Angle on the same night. The plan was simple for him moving forward. After getting the big push by becoming the King of the Ring, he started brawling with his former best friend Christian, who had betrayed him. This feud felt really personal as both were really good friends and the jealousy had ruined everything they had built in their career as a tag team. This established Edge as a babyface and helped him in 2002 when he fought Test, Kurt Angle, and Mr. Perfect.
But, everything went downhill from here during the build-up to Wrestlemania 18. Even after proving his potential as a star, he didn't get a shot at the company's top prize and was instead booked in a weird storyline with Booker T where they were fighting over fictitious Japanese shampoo endorsement. This rivalry certainly affected his brand as no one took him seriously after this until he went to Smackdown.
#3 The Smackdown 6 (2002 - 2004)
During Paul Heyman’s time as SmackDown’s head writer, Edge became part of the infamous ‘Smackdown 6’ and featured in some highly praised matches, alongside his then tag team partner Rey Mysterio. Heyman wanted to the build the whole show around his six centerpieces Eddie Guerrero, Rey Mysterio, Edge, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, and Chavo Guerrero in different permutations and combinations as he saw a bonafide star in each one of them.
This was arguably Smackdown's best era as all six of them went on to become huge main-eventers and champions. Edge even rekindled his magic as a tag team wrestler when formed a team with Rey Mysterio in 2002. This period truly established Smackdown as the home of Rated R Superstar.
#4 The Ultimate Oppotunist (2004-2008)
After suffering a groin injury in a non-televised match, Edge returned to Raw in October 2004 and embarked on the most popular heel run in the recent history. He became the 'Ultimate Opportunist' and started using endless clever and wicked tricks to get the better of his competitors which helped him in getting genuine heat. The crowd reaction that he used to get every time his music would hit is a dream for any heel wrestler. Edge found his dark side with this crazy, obsessive, and brutal character and truly solidified himself as company's top heel at the New Year's Revolution PPV in 2006 when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on helpless and bloodied John Cena.
Their back and forth exchanges throughout the year were fascinating and Edge's dirty and shrewd tricks played a big role in getting the storyline over. In between this feud, he even had a hardcore match with Mick Foley at Wrestlemania 22, which was filled with gruesome spots and left both the men covered in blood. It particularly helped Edge moving forward as people started looking at him as a man of big moments, who can be involved in dangerous stipulations.
He further established his legacy as a top heel in the feud with the Undertaker in 2007, when he cashed the Money in the Bank contract for the second time in his career and defeated The Deadman with the help of Mark Henry. The rivalry took place during the time when Edge was at the top of his career and both went on to have series of great matches including the memorable Hell in a Cell Match at Summerslam 2008. The Ruthless Aggression Era will always be remembered as the era of manipulative Edge.
#5 One Last Spear (2010-2011)
For me, Edge's final run in the company is his most memorable run. He made a surprise return to WWE at the 2010's Royal Rumble after being in the sidelines for months due to a leg injury and seized the throne by winning the Royal Rumble Match. He took himself directly to the main-event scene, where he belonged. By that time, he had become somewhat of a locker room leader and used his ‘experienced veteran’ status in the company, to elevate some of the younger talents on the roster. Feuds with wrestlers like Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio helped them in the years to come.
Edge competed in his last televised match at Wrestlemania 27, where he successfully defended his World Heavyweight Title against Del Rio. After that, he abruptly had to end his career because of a life-threatening neck and spinal injury. He may have not received a memorable retirement match like Shawn Micheals (not counting Crown Jewels) or Ric Flair, but he finished his career as the face of the company. He is one of the few wrestlers who are irreplaceable and I will always remember him as the most hated heel and the most loved babyface.
