-
edge
- Birthdate:
- 1973-10-30
- Birthplace:
- Orangeville, Ontario, Canada
- Birthname:
- Adam Joseph Copeland
- Height:
- 6 feet 5 inches
- Weight:
- 241 lbs
- Debut:
- 1992-07-01
- Finisher:
- Spear
- Twitter:
- https://twitter.com/EdgeRatedR
- Notable Allies:
- Christian, rey mysterio, kurt angle, randy orton
- Notable Rivals:
- John Cena, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Jeff Hardy
- Current Promotion:
- AEW
- Instagram:
- https://www.instagram.com/edgeratedr/
- Hair Color:
- Blonde
- Eye Color:
- Blue
Highlights
- Adam Copeland wanted Gangrel to join him at WrestleMania, but WWE shut it down, underestimating fan nostalgia.
- WWE has a history of undervaluing fan memories, unlike AEW which embraces past storylines and characters.
- Copeland believes rewarding fans for remembering wrestling history is important, but understands he must work within WWE’s limitations.
Adam Copeland is now in AEW, killing it as the TNT Champion after working a long feud with his real life best friend, Christian Cage. In 2021, however, Copeland was still in WWE as Edge and working a darker character. After being kicked out of the Judgment Day faction that he created, Edge feuded with Finn Balor, eventually facing him at WrestleMania 39 at Hell in a Cell. During this time, he began leaning into his old character from the Brood, created during the Attitude Era. He’d eventually come out to the Brood theme music, making for a great entrance at SummerSlam 2021, but at WrestleMania, fans were hoping that the Brood’s former leader, Gangrel, would be by his side. Alas, it didn’t happen, but that doesn’t mean Adam Copeland didn’t try.
In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Copeland said:
“I tried and I just got shut down. Every person shut it down. [Why?] So this isn’t a knock on WWE, but I’d always get the ‘well nobody remembers.’ People remember, wrestling fans remember and I think wrestling fans want to be rewarded for remembering. And that’s a way to reward them. That’s what I’ve always felt.
“I think, you know, you fast forward to me and Matt Cardona doing a Cope Open. And his music hits and he comes out. I mean, they remembered. And so I’ve always been a fan of pulling in things from the past and kind of integrating them into current things. But yeah, that was one I just kept getting shut down. I realized, okay, that was not a hill to die on because it didn’t get to happen. It’s not my sandbox, I got to do with what I’ve been given.” (h/t Inside the Ropes)
WWE Has A History Of Underestimating Their Fans
Adam Copeland made his WWE debut in 1996, but didn’t appear on TV until June 1998 as the loner character Edge. His lifelong best friend, Christian, played his brother. This being the wild Attitude Era, it’s no surprise that there was a vampire character, with fangs and all, called Gangrel. After feuding with him, Edge joined Gangrel alongside Christian, and the trio became known as the Brood. They didn’t have a long run together, but their entrance was unforgettable, and it led to Edge and Christian becoming one of the greatest tag teams of all-time.
It’s no surprise to hear that WWE shut it down. Even though he didn’t mention who one person was who said no, we can all guess. WWE did that a lot, second guessing what their fans knew about the past. Vince McMahon didn’t believe in Sting or AJ Styles when they signed with WWE. Tony Khan’s AEW has been the opposite. You can argue that he brings in too many wrestlers that casual fans don’t know, but having Adam Copleand take on Matt Cardona, reuniting Edge with Zack Ryder one more time, was quite the fun sight to see.
