When Edge turned heel in 2004 and adopted the Rated R Superstar persona shortly thereafter, he embarked on one of the greatest runs by a heel in company history. Unafraid to partake in the most vile and detestable actions, to engage in the most explicit segments WWE had ever seen, it was easy to hate the talented worker with rock star looks. That he stopped at nothing, seized every opportunity to achieve greatness only made him that much unlikable. When a real life affair with Lita was exposed, that dislike increased tenfold. The relationship with Lita enhanced the Rated R Superstar character significantly and made the couple the most hated in the company. The blatant sexuality of the couple, the way Lita helped Edge win matches against the top stars in the industry and the vicious and violent way in which the Torontonian would approach matches against Mick Foley, John Cena and D-Generation X also made the entire act one of the most must-see on WWE television. On SmackDown, he engaged Vickie Guerrero in a relationship that somehow made him more despicable and more detestable than he was before. Perhaps it was the way that he took advantage of Guerrero and dragged her down to his level of deviousness. Maybe it had to do with the depths that he would sink to achieve his goals. More than likely, it was a mixture of both, as well as the fact that no one truly believed that loved the older woman or even had any real feelings about her. Beating the wildly popular Undertaker, Batista, Jeff Hardy and John Cena only added to his heat. Edge would end his career was a babyface and would retire as one of the most respected stars of his generation. Without the heel run, who knows exactly how far Edge would have made it in WWE. There is reason to believe that, without becoming the villain that he did, Edge would have gone down in history as an underachiever. He did not, though, and today he is celebrated and honored as one of WWE's greatest. And rightfully so.
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.
