Edge was always ear marked out for main event stardom by WWE... unfortunately he was also blighted by a terrible neck condition. The state of Edge's neck first led to a loss of feeling in his arms during 2002. A lot of this was down to the daredevil ring style he had pioneered in early TLC matches - there's simply no way you can expect to fall ten feet off a ladder and not suffer the consequences. By 2003 Edge was in need of surgery. He was scripted out of WWE storylines when he was found 'knocked out' backstage at No Way Out, a storyline attack which WWE curiously never followed up on when Edge returned 14 months later. The big neck surgery had proved somewhat of a success in that Edge went on to many successful years, but the issue never really left him. By 2011 the condition had deteriorated to the point where he simply couldn't continue in the business. Edge was forced to retire. He left the company when he was still the champion and after he had just defended the belt successfully at WrestleMania 27. It had looked like he was still on the top of his game, but the injury stopped him with any potential he may have had. Just like the injury had robbed WWE of a big face push planned for Edge in 2003, they were left in 2011 with all plans for the star having to be scrapped.
