Edge was one of those Superstars that WWE knew it wanted to push dating all the way back to his debut in 1998 but every attempt they made to do so never quite worked out the way they would have liked. A singles push following the split of his team with Christian worked, to an extent, but a logjam of talent at and near the top of the card prevented him from making any real upward movement. A neck injury in 2002 and reluctance from fans to accept him as a top babyface upon his return in 2004 hurt later attempts to give him that major push. A heel turn in late-2004 allowed Edge to show some intensity and aggression that he had never really had the opportunity to display but it was not until news broke of a very real affair between he and Lita, the girlfriend of Matt Hardy, that Edge received the boost that he needed. With crowds chanting obscenities in Lita's direction on a weekly basis, she was turned heel, and paired with the former intercontinental and tag team champion. Together, they became the most hated act on WWE programming. Dubbed the Rated R Superstar and touting his penchant for sex and violence, Edge excelled. With Money in the Bank in his possession and a guaranteed title opportunity at his disposal, he became a must-see Superstar leading into 2006. At the January 8 New Year's Revolution pay-per-view, he cashed in his title shot and defeated John Cena to capture his first WWE Championship. The following night's "Live Sex Celebration" between he and Lita, as well as the TLC match between he and Flair for the title, led to increased ratings for Monday Night Raw. That fact did not seem to matter as Edge dropped the title back to Cena weeks later at the Royal Rumble. Frustrated and feeling slighted, Edge was determined to show management why he deserved a spot at the top of the card. Luckily for him, he would have a WrestleMania dance partner in Mick Foley, who wanted desperately to have a great match on the biggest show of the year and achieve that WrestleMania moment that eluded him throughout his legendary career. Edge and Foley provided fans with a masterfully crafted hardcore match that featured the use of thumbtacks, barbed wire, steel chairs, a wire-wrapped two-by-four and the steel ring steps. The finish instantly became a highlight in both men's careers and an unprecedented WrestleMania moment. After catching Foley low with a two-by-four, Lita saturated a table in lighter fluid and set it ablaze. Edge took off from one side of the ring and delivered a spear through the ropes, sending both he and Foley through the flaming table and to the arena floor. The crowd in Chicago erupted as the violent and chaotic scene they had just witnessed, then applauded both competitors following Edge's pinfall victory. It was a moment that proved to the entire world the lengths Edge would go to become a star in the industry. And he did. The following night, he shared the ring with Cena and Triple H and was immediately inserted into the WWE Championship picture. He would capture four WWE titles and seven World Heavyweight titles before prematurely retiring in 2011 due to a severe neck injury. He would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
