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Edge returned to WWE at the 2020 Royal Rumble in what was one of the biggest shocks in the history of the pay-per-view. The Rated R Superstar was forced to retire from the company in 2011 following his WrestleMania victory over Alberto Del Rio when it was revealed that he had injured his neck.
Edge originally broke his neck in 2003 and had it surgically repaired, but he later revealed that the injury he suffered eight years later was above the point of fusion (from his 2003 surgery) which was why he was forced to walk away. Doctors warned him that one bad bump could leave him paralyzed so Edge retired from wrestling the next night on RAW.
Nine years later he has been able to pick up where he left off in a WWE ring. He defeated Randy Orton in a Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36. It's been a long road for the 11-time former World Champion and his recent 24 documentary was able to shed some light on the journey.
#10 Edge was planning to take a break from WWE before he was forced to retire
At the time of what would turn out to be his final match in 2011, the WWE Universe was unaware that Edge was in pain on a near-constant basis. As part of the 24 documentary, Edge revealed that his neck pain was getting worse but he thought he had about another year in him.
Before he found out that the neck pain was worsening because of a new injury rather than wear and tear, there was a plan for him to take some time away from WWE. This would have allowed him to rest his body after what had been a busy few years for the former World Champion.
#9 Edge couldn't stand up for more than a few hours without being in pain
When Edge was told that he had to retire from WWE he was also told that he had to undergo surgery again, but he wasn't chomping at the bit to go under the knife. The former champion moved onto an acting career and was able to put off the surgery for several months until he was forced into it in 2012.
His wife, WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix, revealed that ahead of the surgery Edge's neck was so bad that he couldn't stay upright for more than a few hours at a time and he was struggling to even hold a coffee cup -- surgery, obviously, was an absolute necessity.
#8 It was a bike accident that began his quest to return
Edge continued working out to remain in shape for his acting roles. Just last year he was part of a YouTube show alongside Sheamus, who often invites fellow wrestlers to be part of his Warrior Workouts.
Edge and Sheamus went for a bike ride through the mountains and it was then that The Rated R Superstar fell off his bike and realized that he didn't hurt his neck. He went to get things checked out after the fall just to be safe, and it was then that he was told that his neck looked like it was in good shape.
#7 Edge and Beth Phoenix only connected after he retired
Beth Phoenix and Edge worked together in WWE for a few years before Edge's retirement. Phoenix debuted in 2006, so they were on the road together for about 5 years, but the couple actually only connected after Edge had announced his retirement.
The 11-time former champion revealed that it was on Edge Appreciation Night in September 2011 where he and Beth first showed interest in a relationship. They are now, of course, married and have two young daughters called Lyric and Ruby.
#6 Beth Phoenix didn't know about the spear at SummerSlam
The rumors regarding Edge's return to action started back in 2019 when he returned as part of the SummerSlam kickoff show. The event was in his hometown of Toronto and was the first piece of action that Edge had seen in almost a decade. Clearly, according to fans, that must have meant that something had changed.
The WWE Universe were shocked by the possibility that Edge could wrestle again, but not as much as his wife Beth, since she didn't know anything about the spear until after it happened. Phoenix was told that Edge was just going out to cut a promo, so she wasn't happy when she saw her husband delivering his famous finisher.
#5 AEW approached Edge ahead of his return
Edge's return was always going to make headlines since he is one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time and sadly had his career cut short well before it was time. This is why it didn't come as much of a surprise that AEW approached the former champion in an attempt to bring him into their company.
Edge was obviously loyal to Vince McMahon who had always supported him and offered him so many chances throughout his career, so he revealed that his response was that he needed to talk to Vince before making any decision, and The Chairman decided to make Edge an extraordinary offer that AEW could not match.
#4 WWE gave Edge his own ring
Social Media has been something that has both helped and hindered the wrestling business over the past few years, but when it comes to returns, more often than not the surprises are spoiled.
In order to ensure that the WWE Universe was not aware that he was training to prepare for a return to action, Triple H sent Edge his own ring which he then set up in a warehouse. He could then use it to wrestle as much as possible to get back into ring shape.
#3 He trained with Dash Wilder ahead of his return
Beth Phoenix was by Edge's side throughout his training before the Royal Rumble, but wrestling Beth wasn't quite enough to get him into ring shape. He called in a favor from his good friend Dash Wilder, who was local to the area and had been friends with Edge for a very long time.
Wilder and Edge met when they went to the same gym a number of years ago. The two stellar wrestlers were finally able to face off in a ring for the first time when one-half of The Revival helped him on his quest to make his comeback.
#2 His Royal Rumble entrance jacket weighed 40 pounds
Edge's Royal Rumble return is one that will go down in history as one of the most surprising and emotional moments in the history of the pay-per-view, if not WWE as a while. The Rated R Superstar decided to mark the occasion in his own way, having a brand new custom jacket made for his entrance.
Interestingly, Edge revealed that the jacket weighed around 40 pounds. With all that added weight, it may have been smarter for him to have left it on -- it would be more difficult to eliminate an man who is suddenly 40 pounds heavier.
#1 Edge was the reason Dash Wilder was signed to WWE
The Edge Appreciation Night was not only the show that saw The Rated R Superstar first connect with his future wife -- it was also the night that Dash Wilder's life would change forever.
Edge approached John Laurinaitis after the event and showed him footage of his good friend (then known as his real name, Daniel Wheeler) so that he could have a look at what Edge believed was a star in the making. Wheeler went on to become Dash Wilder when he was signed to WWE in 2014, definitely in part thanks to the recommendation of his Hall of Fame friend.
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