The potential return of Adam “Edge” Copeland to wrestling has become one of the top industry stories of 2019. It all started when Edge had his first moment of in-ring contact since retirement, hitting Elias with a Spear at SummerSlam to a huge ovation.
Recent reports have indicated that Edge was even spotted in Pittsburgh, location of the WWE doctor. This could potentially see him being cleared and coming back in the near future. Both WWE and AEW will likely have huge offers ready for a legendary performer like Edge. Let's take a look at his potential reasons to join each company. Here are five benefits of Edge joining WWE and five of joining AEW, if he returns to the ring.
10 WWE: Legacy
Edge has a fantastic legacy, with one of the all-time great WWE careers behind him. He delivered incredible matches and was a top star for most of his run. WWE counted on Edge to thrive in important matches and he always delivered.
Should he wrestle again, expectations would be sky high. Edge could be risking his WWE legacy if he chooses to leave for a new start in AEW, or any other promotion for that matter.
9 AEW: Chance to work with Chris Jericho again
Chris Jericho is one of Edge's closest friends in the wrestling business. Both men have the Canadian roots and started in WWE around the same time. Their first few years in WWE would see them as neighbors, living close to each other in Florida.
Edge and Jericho both teamed together to win tag gold and faced each other for the World Championship at a WrestleMania event. The chance to work together again could provide AEW with one of their biggest box office attractions, if Jericho faces Edge.
8 WWE: WrestleMania main events possible
The landscape of WWE has changed, with few established main eventers on the roster. Names like The Undertaker and The Rock have stopped having annual matches at WrestleMania. Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar are the only two wrestlers to have multiple WrestleMania main events over the past five years.
Edge could easily be slotted into that role if he does return to WWE. There is no one significantly above him in the pecking order, aside from maybe Lesnar. Given his WWE track record, Vince McMahon would trust him in such a role, making a second WrestleMania main event (or more) possible for him.
7 AEW: New opponents
The AEW roster is full of young stars and new talents hoping to break out. Established wrestlers like Chris Jericho saw the advantage of this. The potential of facing new talents for the first time and getting fresh match-ups is a huge draw.
Edge would have the same appeal with the entire roster. Aside from Jericho, Jack Swagger and Dustin Rhodes, there is no one that Edge has worked a legitimate storyline with before. Names like Jon Moxley, PAC, Adam Page and many others would have top level matches with Edge.
6 WWE: His wife works there
The marriage between Edge and Beth Phoenix will likely play a huge role in whatever Edge decides for his future. Phoenix has made a few returns for WWE in shorter agreements before the recent full-time return as one of the NXT commentators.
Edge will likely have more fun working for the same company as Phoenix, since they’ll be able to support each other. The potential for Phoenix getting to commentate one of Edge’s matches if he does return to WWE would be a dream scenario for their entire family.
5 AEW: Potential face of the company
AEW is currently wide open, with opportunities for both new and familiar wrestlers. The faces of the company are currently Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley and the members of The Elite. Edge joining the company would put him in that category at the very least.
The face role would be a good fit for Edge, since fans will cheer him regardless of what he does in a return. Edge would be on the same level of star power as Jericho, but the face role would put him over the top as the face of the company if things worked out perfectly.
4 WWE: Paying off feud with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch
Edge and Beth Phoenix got into a personal war of words with Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins on Twitter earlier this year.
Rollins ended up being one of Edge's targets, as the best way to get back at Lynch. Despite never responding, Rollins would likely be ecstatic about wrestling the legend. WWE could make money fronm a feud between Rollins and Edge --or even a mixed tag match between the couples-- after the social media beef.
3 AEW: Dream match with Kenny Omega
The biggest dream match for Edge on the AEW roster would be Kenny Omega. A reputation as the best wrestler in the world has seen Omega deliver classics against talents of different styles all over the world.
Edge and Omega have the shared Canadian background and a clash of styles that could work perfectly. AEW would create huge business if they could ever bring Edge in, even if it was for just one match against Omega. The match would give Edge the chance to add another classic to his career after Omega had arguably the best bout of Jericho’s career in NJPW.
2 WWE: Part timers run the company
Edge’s legendary status means he will likely never return to WWE in a full-time capacity, wrestling every week on television and appearing on house shows. The part-time legends currently run the WWE with the most opportunities and biggest paydays.
Brock Lesnar, The Undertaker, Goldberg and a few others always get major matches any time they want to return. Edge is in the same tier as those names and would likely create better matches. The return could see him making even more money and having more success than he did in his prime, when looking at how much the other part-timers thrive.
1 AEW: Making a difference
The biggest positive of Edge potentially joining AEW is that he’d be making a difference in the wrestling industry. Nothing changes for the business if Edge returns to WWE, other than his fans getting some fun moments. The promotion has a loaded roster, with legends returning quite often these days.
AEW, meanwhile, is trying to create the first major successful promotion in wrestling since WCW died. A star like Edge joining would give them more credibility. Edge wrestling in AEW would give him the chance to add a completely new chapter to his legacy and help the entire industry.