Ever since the WWE Hall of Famer and former WWE champion Adam Copeland (AKA Edge) wrestled his last match against Sheamus, his prospects in professional wrestling have been a matter of utter intrigue. In fact, Edge’s revelation concerning his WWE contract led to speculation about his future in WWE and pro wrestling at large. Now one thing that has raised the dubiousness of fans is the next step that the “Rated R Superstar” will take considering his wrestling future.
The August 18th episode of Friday Night SmackDown was heavily promoted by WWE, as Edge had completed 25 years with the company. Not only that, the battle fought by the 49-year-old was his last under the promotion. The fact that Edge is a free agent right now has made the equation even more riveting, and time and again, the questions concerning his road to AEW have surrounded the situation. But what could be the possible reasons that could pave his path towards Tony Khan’s promotion? Will this be the right move for him at this point in his career or is he better off staying away from AEW?
AEW is a name that pops up every time there is a free agent coming out from WWE. Stars like Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, and Adam Cole have graced the AEW ring in recent years after their WWE stints. So first we take a look at two reasons why Edge can consider a move to WWE’s rival promotion.
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Reunion with his old friend Christian
Christian Cage has found a new lease of life in his current AEW run as the TNT Champion. His heel persona has won over the fans and critics and he is set to defend his title against Darby Allin at AEW’s WrestleDream on October 1. However, this match could be a perfect platform to witness the arrival of Edge in the AEW landscape.
According to PWTorch, Edge presented demands of a new contract to WWE, which were turned down. His current contract expires at the end of September and it is not known whether the contract included a non-compete clause. Apart from that, PWinsider also revealed recently that the former WWE champion was removed from the miscellaneous list of WWE’s internal roster, which features the names of those who are currently injured or are not part of the regular roster. This could mean Edge could show up at AEW’s latest pay-per-view offering.
Interestingly, there are chances for Luchasaurus to cost Christian Cage his upcoming contest, but since Edge was Christian’s former teammate, they could have Edge come to the rescue of Cage, eventually astounding the fans in the Climate Pledge Arena. In case his move to AEW is delayed, the heel Christian could eventually be confronted by his best friend Edge down the road, leading to a match.
Read More – Edge’s Latest Comments About the Future of His Wrestling Career Might Not Be What Fans Wanted to Hear
Another reason why Edge should move to AEW is the chance to have an eventful run with a bunch of new talents.
Edge’s love for pro wrestling and a chance for fresh feuds
Ever since Edge’s WWE future was thrown into question earlier this year, the promotion that was speculated to be a prime contender for WWE to have Edge was Tony Khan’s AEW. On top of everything, Edge’s love for pro wrestling is not hidden from the enthusiasts. In fact, his second run as a wrestler after suffering several neck injuries is true evidence of his bond with pro wrestling.
Just to let you know, he retired from professional wrestling back in 2011 but started doing what he loved the most again, making his return to the WWE in the Royal Rumble 2020 and showcasing that he still has all it takes to stand against various bigwigs in pro-wrestling. After facing the likes of Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns in his second WWE run, the time may be right for Edge to go to AEW and have fresh feuds in what is likely to be his final run as an active performer.
Feuds with the likes of MJF, Adam Cole, Jon Moxley, and Kenny Omega among others would excite the fans and allow Edge to add more impressive accolades to his already stellar career. Edge has done it all in WWE and faced the best on offer, a different challenge in a different promotion will be a big allure and reason for him to consider a move.
But things may not be that straightforward. For once, Edge may decide to hang up his boots after his comeback to pro wrestling served him well. With a family to look after, will he risk the chance of another injury at this point in his life? The prime point of concern would be whether his body is ready to sustain unimaginable pain again. With this, we take a look at two reasons why he should stay away from AEW.
Another career-ending injury might be a matter of utter concern for Edge
Edge has indeed had an incredibly accomplished resume as a pro wrestler. With a seemingly long career as a Grand Slam champion, he is a multifaceted figure in the WWE. But one thing that hindered his smooth run as a wrestler was the barrage of injuries he had to witness. Among those, the most brutal was a neck injury that he experienced while locking horns against WWE legend Eddie Guerrero in a ladder match. He further revealed that, because of that vicious neck injury, he was not able to feel his arms, eventually resulting in spinal fusion surgery.
"I bumped on the ladder, and I heard a crack…and I thought it was the ladder." – @EdgeRatedR #WWENetwork #BeyondTheRing pic.twitter.com/TqKHStk7Ev
— WWE Network (@WWENetwork) October 5, 2017
That injury, however, grew with the passage of time. While Copeland enjoyed various title runs, he had no idea that it would come to haunt him again as he called it quits at the sports in 2011. Thus, he would be cautious about preventing the same from happening, which could potentially bother him further. Hence, there are chances that Edge might not join AEW due to this big hurdle.
Edge’s stellar WWE career might hamper his AEW run
In the recent scenario, WWE stands as the biggest wrestling promotion, with AEW as its fierce rival. Thus, the speculation regarding his future revolves around these two kingpins only. While the rumor mill is loud about him becoming All-Elite, it is important to point out Edge’s devotion to WWE. He has spent 25 glorious year with the promotion and has won multiple titles, main event runs and headlined WrestleMania. With the success “The Ultimate Opportunist” has had in WWE, parallels will always be drawn if he goes to AEW. Anything less than a bona fide main event status might not go down well within the pro wrestling circles.
Moreover, many WWE loyalists might see this as a move in the downward direction for a decorated Hall of Famer, especially given the contrasting fortunes of the two promotions in recent times.
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While AEW was embroiled in CM Punk’s backstage controversy saga at All In, leading to his eventual firing, WWE merged with UFC under Endeavor to form TKO Holdings in a $21 billion deal. Also, following the signing of Cody Rhodes and more recently Jade Cargill by WWE, it may appear that the Stamford-based promotion is the place to be in the current scenario.
So even though the options are open to Edge, his next step could define what will remain his last legacy in pro wrestling. Should he call it a day and retire with a near-perfect WWE career or go to AEW and prove himself all over again?
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What do you think should be Edge’s next career move, let us know in the comments.
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