Edge returned to WWE at the 2020 Royal Rumble in what will go down in history as one of the most emotional returns ever. Here are five dream matches for the Rated R Superstar after his WrestleMania 36 rivalry with Randy Orton.
When I heard the whisper “you think you know me” followed by the trademark Alter Bridge drums, I had to grab the table for extra balance as my mouth and eyes opened wider than they would in front of a plate of Fesenjān. In shorter words, I was shocked.
Edge‘s return to the Royal Rumble was surreal and one of the few actual shocking moments in the modern era of wrestling. Sure, there were rumors “spoiling” the return, but nobody REALLY believed them. I mean, they were fun to contemplate, but it was totally different to actually see Edge wrestle in a Rumble match after it seemed like he’d never be able to perform again due to a scary neck injury.
For many fans, it will still be tough to watch Edge wrestle, no matter how they hear about WWE‘s safety protocols.
Still, for others, those feelings of uneasiness are balanced by the eagerness to see Edge wrestle some of the WWE roster’s best and brightest. And this is by far the most talented the roster has ever been from an in-ring standpoint.
Here are five dream feuds for Edge in 2020 after he finishes up his current rivalry with former tag team partner Randy Orton at WrestleMania 36.
Seth Rollins
It was Seth Rollins who, essentially, threatened to end Edge’s life after Survivor Series 2014 in a ploy to get John Cena to agree to restore The Authority, whom Rollins derived all his power from. Cena complied to save Edge, who would have incurred Rollins’ wrath anyway, and the Ultimate Opportunist never got to exact revenge on The Architect for it.
Now, Edge is back in WWE and competing on Raw (though it doesn’t seem like he’s signed to a brand…he’s too big for that, right?)
And Rollins is Raw’s top heel, gloating alongside his backup in the show’s main event scene as he makes as many babyfaces’ lives miserable as possible.
Rollins vs. Edge is a dream match befitting of any major PPV, such as SummerSlam 2020 or even WrestleMania 37. The story-telling, promos, and historical references between these two wrestlers would be incredible, and I’d also love to see how “The Stomp” and Edge’s Spear would be countered and used in their matches. They could have a special program.
Andrade
Like Edge, Andrade is an “ultimate opportunist” whose willingness to do anything to win has made him a perennial favorite to win the Money in the Bank ladder match. We won’t hold our breaths for a 2020 victory, but we would love to see La Sombra take on Edge in a dream match.
Andrade has been a great United States Champion, putting on killer matches with Rey Mysterio and Humberto Carrillo in Raw’s fluid upper mid card. Paul Heyman clearly wants to push Andrade, who has shown megastar potential in WWE since he was first brought on to SmackDown, excelling despite no real plan for him.
Now, there does some to be a plan in place, and legends, such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, have been raving about his massive potential.
Andrade and Edge could be an interesting clash of in-ring styles and backgrounds, and Zelina Vega always adds an interesting layer to any of her client’s feuds.
Buddy Murphy
Another up-and-coming star whom Paul Heyman seems to be quite high on, Buddy Murphy has joined Seth Rollins in the Raw main event scene as part of a truly villainous stable. Murphy’s in-ring ability has earned him plaudits by wrestling fans over the years, and his match against Roman Reigns on SmackDown last year was a hidden gem.
If Rollins and Edge have a program this year, then Murphy would surely be a part of it. Murphy and Rollins seem to be headed for a slow-burn feud of their own that’s sure to have high-quality matches, but before we get to that point, a Murphy vs. Edge match as a setup to a Rollins vs. Edge match would be delightful.
Like Andrade, Murphy and Edge would have totally different in-ring styles, and it would be interesting to see how they mesh. As a one-off match, this could be a great way for Edge to put over Murphy, even in defeat.
Cesaro
A special, once-in-a-lifetime athlete in WWE, Cesaro established himself as one of the best tag team wrestlers in the company’s history during his runs with Tyson Kidd and, most recently, Sheamus. Now, fans can potentially look forward to him putting on tag team clinics alongside former NJPW legend and NXT Champion Shinsuke Nakamura, who has brought over his manager – and also former NXT Champ – Sami Zayn.
But Cesaro’s in-ring qualities are so renowned that he shouldn’t just be restricted to tag matches. Fans have missed Cesaro as a singles competitor, as he’s been a part of some truly exceptional, show-stealing mid-card title matches.
Cesaro is a safe, consistent worker who could put on a gem of a match with Edge, accentuating the Rated R Superstar’s strengths. Edge can still “go” in the ring, judging by his Rumble performance. Cesaro may be a random opponent for Edge, and because of the latter’s limited schedule, this bout may never happen. But if it does, it’ll be a treat, especially for members of the faithful Cesaro Section.
Roman Reigns
For my money, the biggest match for Edge isn’t actually Edge vs. Rollins, but, rather, Edge vs. Roman Reigns.
The Big Dog is the company’s top male star for a reason. He moves the meter, he has unwavering fan support, and he puts on ridiculously good matches. There are so few wrestlers at the top level in WWE who are as consistent as Reigns. Whether it’s an episode of Raw or SmackDown or a big-ticket PPV, Reigns leaves it all on the line.
So Edge’s best quality match could easily be against Reigns. The Spear vs. Spear angle is already there, and the promos should be excellent. Edge and Reigns seem like they have the chemistry – and they certainly have the knowledge of the business – to bring the best out of each other on the mic. This program could be massive for both.
Most importantly from WWE’s perspective, Reigns is a safe/experienced enough worker and a big enough name to ensure that a match with Edge can main event a PPV and be befitting of the Rated R Superstar’s status as a highly-paid veteran wrestler.
Mustafa Ali
I had to throw this one in there, because the beauty of having a performer like Edge back in WWE is that he can give a boost to superstars who have earned that little bit extra. And over the years, few have work harder to build a platform and to share that platform with others than Mustafa Ali. He is an absolute gift to pro wrestling.
Ali’s promo skills are out-of-this-world-good, as anyone who has watched his self-made videos can attest. And in the ring, there are only a handful of more intelligent and dynamic wrestlers than Ali, who would be owning the mid-card scene if WWE knew what was good for them.
During his feud with Daniel Bryan in late 2018, Ali showed that he has what it takes to be in the main event scene in WWE. A one-off match between Ali and Edge could blow the roof off any building, put over Ali, and give the under-appreciated star another boost. There are some matches worth dreaming about just to will them into the universe, and this is one of them.