March 26, 2011

Edge was the World champion and in the main event at WrestleMania 24 in Detroit. Photo by Mike Mastrandrea

On April 2, at WrestleMania 27, Edge will try to defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Alberto del Rio. Having competed in nine Manias to date, one might expect that Edge will have the advantage over Del Rio, who will be making his WrestleMania debut. But with Edge's overall 5-4 Mania record, with all of the losses coming in the past four years, it could very well be the challenger who, pardon the pun, has the edge going into the match.

Edge made his debut at WrestleMania 2000, partnering with Christian in a triangle Ladder Match against the Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boys. The next year, the three had a rematch, this time in a TLC Match. Both times, the six men put on one of the best matches of the year, as they took creative violence to new levels. With bodies seemingly flying everywhere, off of ladders and through tables, the matches often resembled accident scenes, to the delight of the fans on hand and watching on pay-per-view. The first of the series was tremendous and featured some amazing moments, including Jeff Hardy putting Bubba Ray Dudley through a table in the entrance aisle after a Swanton off of a giant ladder. The second was even better, with Lita, Spike Dudley, and Rhino also joining the fray. An iconic image from this one was Jeff Hardy hanging onto the belt, only to get hit with a super Spear by Edge. Both times, it was Edge and Christian coming out on top to win the Tag Team Championships. Record: 2-0.

Edge deals with Spike Dudley at WM2000. Toronto Sun file photo.

At WMX8, Edge competed in front of his hometown Toronto crowd against Booker T. This match had a lame build-up, with the feud based on the two supposedly competing for a Japanese shampoo commercial. The match was solid, if unspectacular, with Edge taking the win to the delight of his countrymen (if not for The Rock-Hulk Hogan match elsewhere on the show, Edge would easily have won the award for loudest cheer of the night). Record: 3-0.

After a two-year absence due to injury, Edge made his return to Wrestlemania at the 21st edition, competing in the first ever Money in the Bank match. A spectacular affair, this one featured Edge, Christian, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Shelton Benjamin, and Kane in a match that was a 15-minute long highlight reel. Once again proving his expertise in these high-risk affairs, Edge was able to come away with the victory and a guaranteed title shot, which ultimately springboarded his career to new heights. Record: 4-0.

By WrestleMania 22, Edge was a full-fledged bad guy, and with his new attitude came a new hardcore edge, which he showed off against a legend in that genre, Mick Foley. This match remains one of this writer's favourite Mania matches of all time, as it was an intense, bloody fight from bell to bell. Barbed wire, thumbtacks, and chairs all came into play, but it was a Spear by Edge that sent both men crashing through a flaming table that got Edge the win. Record: 5-0.

That match saw Edge's winning ways at the big event come to an end. For the last four years, he has lost his matches, twice costing him the Heavyweight Championship.

At WM 23, Edge competed in the Money in the Bank match, though his participation was short-lived. After a series of Spears on every other competitor, Edge saw himself on the wrong end of a ridiculously high Jeff Hardy Swanton through a ladder bridging the ring apron and the guardrail. The move broke the ladder, and Edge as well, as he was stretchered out of the match that was ultimately won by Mr. Kennedy. Record: 5-1.

Wrestlemania 24 saw Edge fall victim to The Streak, as he squared off against The Undertaker in the night's main event. Despised by the crowd in Orlando, Edge gave it his all against the challenger, but would ultimately have to tap out to the Devil's Triangle submission hold, costing him the Heavyweight Championship. This match was excellent, and was easily Taker's best of all of his WrestleMania victories up to that time. Record: 5-2.

Edge appears a little annoyed that he has to put Chris Jericho over at WM26 in Phoenix. Photo by Mike Mastrandrea

By the following year, WM 25, Edge was champion again, and had to defend against John Cena and The Big Show in a triple threat match. This one may have suffered from placement on the show, as it had to follow The Undertaker-Shawn Michaels match which had put the Houston crowd through the emotional wringer. This one featured John Cena's Eminem-esque entrance, where the aisleway was lined with Cena impersonators in a cool visual. Edge's highlight was spearing Big Show right through the ringside security wall, and into the feet of the ringside fans. Cena ultimately won after hitting each of his opponents with the Attitude Adjustment, costing Edge the title. Record: 5-3.

After making a surprise return from injury, Edge won the 2010 Royal Rumble, and he chose to face his former friend and partner Chris Jericho at WrestleMania XVI for Y2J's Heavyweight Championship. Edge had been spearing Jericho at every opportunity in the weeks leading up to the match, and it was expected he would do the same at Mania to take the title. He wasn't able to avoid all of Jericho's sneaky shenanigans, though, and Edge's losing streak continued. Record: 5-4.

At WrestleMania 27, Edge will have to reverse his Mania momentum if he hopes to successfully defend against the newcomer Alberto Del Rio. Though Edge is known to be the Ultimate Opportunist, he hasn't been able to capitalize on them, at least at recent Manias. That might be a sign that Del Rio might very well be poised to win the match and, in his words, achieve his destiny.

RELATED LINKS

Edge bio and story archive

More on WrestleMania 27

Bob Kapur uses Edge shaving gel because he's allergic to the foamy stuff. E-mail him your medical woes at bobkapur@hotmail.com.