7 Crazy WWE Attitude Gimmicks That Almost Happened

7. 'Deaf Mute' Edge

Edge Debut
WWE.com

Pyrotechnic booms and fireworks aplenty signalled the start of pulsating WWF programming during the Attitude era, but one man's character wouldn't have heard a thing had Vince Russo's plan come to fruition. Wandering loner and soon-to-be vampire Edge was almost a completely detached entity who neither heard promos or delivered them.

Vinnie Ru thought the future Hall Of Famer had the personality of a potted plant.

That's why Edge (the real 'Silent Rage') was nearly cast as a "deaf mute" who kept his council verbally in favour of delivering it physically. Obviously, this idea would've restricted the guy's chances of engaging with fans or getting over beyond his early honeymoon burst. That didn't concern Russo, 'cause he didn't think Edge could talk.

Others within the company thankfully ignored Russo's suggestion and went off in another direction. Edge didn't become a speechless enigma with hearing problems, and he was slowly-but-surely allowed to try his hand at promos to show that hey, he did have charisma.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.