Every WWE Wrestler Of The Year For The 2000s

Key matches: Vs. Ric Flair (TLC, Raw), Mick Foley (WrestleMania 22), Vs. Triple H & John Cena (Backlash), w/Mick Foley Vs. Tommy Dreamer & Terry Funk (ECW One Night Stand), Rob Van Dam (Vengeance), John Cena (SummerSlam & Unforgiven)

Edge had quite the tumultuous 2005, his ascent to the top of the card momentarily derailed as he dealt with Matt Hardy. Their lengthy feud was the result of Edge's real-life affair with Matt's then-girlfriend Lita. When the story blew up, WWE fired Matt, only to bring him back to work a programme with the Rated-R Superstar.

Edge won that feud, eventually banishing his foe to Smackdown, paving the way for his climb to the WWE Title. Shocking the world at New Year's Revolution, the first pay-per-view of the year, Edge cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and bested John Cena following Cena's successful defence of the strap inside the Elimination Chamber.

Fans responded to Edge as champ by tuning in in their droves. For about three weeks, anyway. Indeed, Edge was a transitional champion on the first attempt, dropping the title back to Cena at Royal Rumble. Edge then turned his attention to Mick Foley, clashing with the hardcore legend in a captivating street fight at WrestleMania 22.

After that, Edge was pretty much always in the WWE Title picture and won the belt back after defeating Rob Van Dam on the July 3rd episode of Raw (in a match also featuring Cena). He retained in the top-liner at SummerSlam, before losing it once again in a great TLC stunt show at Unforgiven. He had more good matches with Cena before forming an alliance with Randy Orton in an attempt to get rid of DX.

That's how Edge finished the year; forcing the sophomoric crotch-choppers to get serious. Throughout the course of the year, Edge's work had been sublime, from a character, promo and in-ring perspective. He carried himself like a star and proved that he was championship material.