As wrestling fans, we all start with someone. There is always that one superstar that keeps you hooked and involved. For me it started when my dad turned on UPN and Smackdown was on. We didn’t have cable so Smackdown was all I could watch. I was 12 years old and the first thing I remember seeing is Edge and Christian going against The Hardy Boyz. I was attracted to Team Extreme. They dressed cool, Jeff was awesome, and Lita was hot. Everything a pre teen wants right? But Edge and Christian kept me hooked. The tag team scene was great during this period of time where guys like Triple H, Stone Cold, and The Rock reigned supreme. I was just waiting for the next five second pose and their skits with Kurt Angle and Mick Foley.
Soon they donned gold suits and became the conquistadors, which was ridiculous, but fun. A short time later, shortly before Wrestlemania 17, I went to Monday Night Raw at the Pepsi Arena in Albany, New York. On this night not only did Vince never forgive Linda for giving birth to Shane, but Edge and Christian won the tag team titles. Even though they were dropped to The Dudleyz shortly after, I was so excited. My favorite team had just won the tag titles and that was the coolest thing I saw all night. Luckily they won them about two weeks later in a fantastic Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match.
After doing the tag team for a while, it was Edge’s time. He became King of the Ring and even challenged Brock Lesnar for the WWF title on a few occasions. He started morphing into a rock star with Rob zombie entrance music and I was stuck on Edge. I came to my feet at live events for Edge and there was no one I wanted to see more than him. He entered a silly feud with Booker T over a Japanese shampoo commercial but finally got to realize a dream as he entered the Skydome with 67000 fan cheering their hometown star on.
Edge got an injury before Wrestlemania 19, and unfortunately we didn’t get to see him on what was a great Wrestlemania. I watched WWE programming until shortly before the Royal Rumble in 2004, as I entered high school and girls in Oklahoma City weren’t really into guys showing up at school wearing WWE merchandise. I missed some pretty bad programming during this time and the good I have gone back and watched. The rise of Edge and the money in the bank cash in on John Cena will always be one of my favorite things to watch over and over again.
In 2008, I was staying with my best friend, and like 7 years earlier, he was on Smackdown. I saw Edge again and couldn’t stop watching. This was my first exposure to the product in 4 years and Edge was about to face The Undertaker in a Hell in a Cell match at Summerslam. Edge was a decorated star at this point with one of the coolest entrances in wrestling and multiple title reigns. I wanted to watch everything he did. He was amazing in the ring and his charisma was off the charts. Having my own money now, I naturally spent a shit ton of my money on Edge merchandise and spending hours on you tube watching what he did during my hiatus on wrestling. I was lucky enough to watch him win the world title multiple times before his retirement.
I attended Wrestlemania 25, not the best Wrestlemania by any means, but watching Michaels vs. The Undertaker was truly awe inspiring. The match right after was a triple threat match between John Cena, Edge, and The Big Show. Edge’s performance carried this match and it was an honor to watch him work. My final time seeing him live was on the debut of Smackdown on SyFy. He came out and speared the Swagger soaring eagle and vowed to rid the WWE of stupidity. I wish I had been able to see him wrestle, but just seeing him was reward in its own.
At Wrestlemania 27, Copeland wrestled his last match, defeating Alberto Del Rio and retaining the World Heavyweight championship. The next night on Raw he said he needed to retire. I didn’t believe him. I didn’t want to believe him. I wanted more time to see him. I wanted him to feud with Christian. But his time was done, and I am glad he gets to enjoy his new life on his terms. Adam Copeland will always be my favorite wrestler. He had a great attitude and was an amazing worker. He deserves his place in the Hall of Fame and I look forward to showing my kids matches of the man who captivated me with 5 second poses, and then later captivated me by being the Rated R Superstar. I still watch WWE to this day, and I believe guys like Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler, and so forth would not have had their opportunities had Edge not received one first. The WWE took a chance on Copeland, and he repaid them with an unmatched work ethic. I am grateful for Edge and what he has given me as a WWE fan, and I miss him so much.
