With the 2022 edition of WWE's WrestleMania Backlash just around the corner, it means that it is closing in on two years since fans bore witness to the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever”. This of course was the billing for Edge vs Randy Orton prior to their match taking place, which was something that baffled fans at the time. With this being the tagline for the match and for the 2020 Backlash event, the expectations were extremely lofty, and it felt like an impossibility for Edge and Orton to reach that level – but in the end, how well did they do at combatting those expectations?

The Billing For Edge Vs Randy Orton Was Ridiculed

At the start of 2020, Edge made a sensational return to WWE, and during his Rumble return, he eliminated former tag team partner, Randy Orton, from the match. This led to an Orton heel turn, and the start of a personal and vicious rivalry, and it had a lot of hype leading into WrestleMania. Due to the pandemic, WrestleMania took place in front of no fans, meaning that their Last Man Standing match ended up being a long and boring slog, acting as more of a tour of the Performance Centre than an actual match.

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Edge v Randy Orton WrestleMania 36 Cropped

With Edge winning, the hope was for him to start wrestling the newer stars of today, but his feud with Orton continued. With the pair being two of the most experienced veterans on the roster at the time, as multi-time world champions, putting on several great matches over the years, WWE decided to bill their match at Backlash as the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever”. To paint that tagline on a match before it even takes place, especially one between two men who are more methodical wrestlers than being flashy, and especially a match in front of zero fans, was absolutely crazy, and it was ridiculed by both fans and the competitors themselves online.

WWE Used The Empty Arena Setting To An Advantage

Judging by how their previous match had gone, in addition to all the factors at play, everything set this match up to be a disaster. However, WWE used a lot of those factors to their advantage. With there being no real fans in attendance, it allowed WWE to get creative with how they presented the match. Instead of airing the match live, it was pre-recorded, with it involving reshoots to make spots look crisper and cleaner, in addition to using unique camera angles, including ones where a cameraman was placed inside the ring.

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Edge vs Randy Orton Backlash 2020

The crowd noise was also piped in, which at times did manage to distract from the empty arena. The match itself lasted for over forty minutes, with the pair attempting to put on an epic encounter. It was made to feel big with the addition of the classic Madison Square Garden microphones, the inclusion of Howard Finkel’s voice, and a throwback referee attire, and all these elements did manage to elevate the meaning of the match. With all that in mind, the end product was the most important thing.

The Match Turned Out To Be A Great Encounter Between Edge & Randy Orton

Edge and Orton put their absolute all into this match, with both showing just how much range they had as performers, and how much they can hold back at times. From chain and mat wrestling to smooth counters, to speed, they showcased how good they were as professional wrestlers, and how, with the WWE style of match, they may go under the radar in terms of in-ring greats. It was a well-paced back and forth match, which felt nowhere near as long as it actually was.

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In many ways, this was a homage to wrestling history, with the pair implementing some of the finishing moves of all the greats, with nods to their respective pasts. With that in mind, the statement “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” may even hold true. Not in terms of emotion, story, or even execution, but certain elements of the match made were a whole load of fun, with tributes being made to the sport.

Randy Orton v Edge Backlash 2020 Cropped

It certainly wasn’t the best match ever, but it was as close as they were going to get with those expectations. Edge and Orton put on one of the best matches of their entire careers, and whilst it is hard to judge due to reshoots and no crowd, it was a nice change of pace to many of the pandemic era matches. An unfortunate outcome, caused by reshoots, was an injury sustained by Edge, ruling him out for the rest of the year. But in terms of how badly wrong and received this match could have been, it turned out brilliantly.