10 Biggest Breakout Stars Of WWE's Original Brand Extension

4. Edge

In 2012, Edge was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, a reward for his years of excellent service to the company. There was a time, though, when it looked like the Toronto native would never quite live up to the potential so many saw in him.

In 2001, Edge won the King of the Ring tournament and captured a handful of championships, including the Intercontinental and United States titles. By the time he arrived on SmackDown in 2002 as one of the brand's bright young stars, it appeared as if he was finally on his way to greatness.

Then tragedy struck, a broken neck putting him out of action for a year.

It would take him two years to return to the upper echelons of WWE but a new concept called Money in the Bank would provide him the fuel he needed to get over the hump and become the main event star so many expected him to be.

In January 2006, Edge cashed in his guaranteed championship opportunity and defeated John Cena to become the WWE champion for the first time in his career. It was a landmark moment and one that generated considerable momentum for the Rated-R Superstar.

There was no looking back. From that moment on, he became one of the lead villains in WWE.

Picking up where JBL left off two years earlier, Edge became the heel that SmackDown was built around from 2007 onwards. His relationship with Vickie Guerrero was ridiculously self-serving and his antics were nauseating. He was the ultimate opportunist and a damn fine in-ring performer responsible for some of the best matches of his generation.

Like so many of the superstars on this list, he may never have been able to navigate the waters and become the bona fide main event star without having the way cleared for him by the brand split.