13 Wrestling Matches That Cost Wrestlers Their Custom Belts

4. Edge’s Rated R WWE Championship

Gold Ic Goldust Ahmed Johnson
WWE.com

On Raw (21 August 2006), Edge gloated about successfully defending his WWE Championship against John Cena the previous evening at SummerSlam. He introduced Lita on location at a bridge with the belt. To “erase” Cena further, he called for a “beautiful burial at sea”. Lita flung Cena's championship into the water, and Edge beckoned for the Rated-R Championship to come down from the roof through a spurt of steam.

Edge (c) vs. John Cena - TLC match

Unforgiven 2006

At Unforgiven 2006, Edge was set up as having all the advantages. He was a hometown hero, TLC was Edge’s signature match, and, as Jerry Lawler stated multiple times, Edge had never lost a TLC match. It became obvious early on that underdog Cena was leaving with the championship.

Cena couldn’t even apply a headlock on Edge without boos making the Air Canada Centre feel claustrophobic. Even a slap by Edge drew thunderous cheering. Cena’s big weapon spots were wisely limited early in the match, when the fans still had full vitriol. Edge recreating his classic ladder spear from WrestleMania X-Seven was a highlight. However, Cena claimed the belt after hitting an FU from the top of a ladder, sending Edge through two stacked tables.

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