WWE star Edge is one of the most recognisable wrestlers of all time, both for WWE fans and wrestling fans in general.
The Canadian-born Superstar is one of the most successful wrestlers in WWE history, having won an incredible 30 titles with the promotion.
He also has two Royal Rumble wins to his name. In addition, he is a Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion in the company.
The WWE career of Edge can be split into two parts. His first run ended in 2011, when he was forced into retirement due to a severe neck injury. He was suffering from cervical spinal stenosis, and told fans in an emotional speech that he had felt numbness in his arms.
Edge wrestled what fans believed to be his last match at WrestleMania 27, defeating Alberto Del Rio to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.
He remained in WWE, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. But he engaged in no physical wrestling until 2019, when he performed a Spear on Elias at SummerSlam. Edge then made a sensational return to wrestling in 2020. He appeared at the Royal Rumble after being medically cleared to compete.
During the second phase of his career, the ‘Rated R Superstar’ has put on some classic matches. These have been against opponents such as Randy Orton, Seth Rollins and AJ Styles.
He also briefly led the Judgment Day stable earlier this year. However, he was kicked out of the group. He is currently feuding with the group, which consists of Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor and Damian Priest, alongside Rey and Dominik Mysterio.
Where did the WWE ring name ‘Edge’ come from?
Throughout his WWE career, the one-named moniker of Edge has been ever-present as the Canadian Superstar – real name Adam Copeland – has captivated viewers.
In a time when one-named wrestlers – Ciampa, Theory, Doudrop, to name a few – are becoming far more commonplace, the name Edge just seems to fit the character perfectly.
But while most wrestlers are given a choice of ring names to choose from these days, Edge has revealed that he came up with his own ring name before his televised debut in 1998.
He told Fox News (quotes via Wrestling Headlines): “I actually came up with Edge. I would have preferred Adam Copeland, but that wasn’t the way it really worked [then], right?
“Don Callis and I were driving. The radio station, it was in Albany, and it was ‘Edge 1-0-something’. Growing up in Toronto, Edge 102 was always one of my favourite stations.
“I was like, ‘Hmm, that has a bit of a rock ‘n’ roll feel to it, Edge’. They were tossing around names like Rage, Riot, and you know, it was the late ’90s, right? I just thought, ‘Edge. I’ll throw that out there’. At least that’s something I could relate to a little bit better. And it stuck.”
Given that Edge went on to become the legendary ‘Rated-R Superstar’, it’s fair to say the ring name choice was a good one.
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