Quick Links
Edge is synonymous with a couple of legendary feuds that helped define his impressive career. The Hardy Boyz, Kurt Angle, John Cena, and The Undertaker are just some names that fans associate as great opponents for Edge. Even his recent return has shown noteworthy rivalries against Randy Orton and Seth Rollins.
However, there is one important name in Edge’s past that somehow doesn’t get discussed as much as the others. WWE had Shawn Michaels and Edge in one of the top feuds for the Raw brand during an important time in Edge’s career. The underrated work together stands the test of time and is even more entertaining today. WWE fans will appreciate a look back at Edge becoming the next big heel after working with Michaels.
Edge Was Struggling In WWE Before His HBK Feud
WWE always wanted to make Edge a major star for the company’s long-term future and that clearly worked looking at his status decades later. However, the company truly invested in Edge by ending his tag team run with Christian when things were going perfectly there. Edge, though, had a lot of issues coming up with his singles face character, from injuries to losing crowd interest.
SummerSlam 2004 featured Edge getting booed out of the building in his home country of Canada as a face vs Chris Jericho and Batista. WWE finally committed to turning Edge heel shortly after this, with Edge wanting to enter the World Championship picture, but showing resentment towards other faces getting opportunities over him.
The heel turn officially came when Edge was livid about Shawn Michaels winning a Taboo Tuesday 2004 vote to challenge Triple H for the World Championship. Edge left his tag partner Chris Benoit to fend on his own that night and later cost Michaels his chance to win the gold.
Edge And Shawn Michaels Battled At Royal Rumble 2005
WWE moved forward with Edge becoming a dastardly heel for the rest of 2004 when Shawn Michaels took some time off. Edge feuded with his tag team partner turned enemy Chris Benoit and earned an Elimination Chamber spot for the World Championship in early 2005. The six men in the ring competing for the title saw Michaels added as the special guest referee to add some pizazz to the event.
There was tension between the two due toEdge costing Michaels the gold a few months prior. An unintentional spear by Edge towards Michaels led to HBK hitting Sweet Chin Music and causing Edge to be the first eliminated. Both men engaged in various physical attacks towards each other throughout the next few weeks to create the anticipation for them to face off.
WWE booked two noteworthy matches between the two stars that delivered big time. Edge scored a win at the 2005 Royal Rumble event before they later faced off in the Rumble match. Michaels won the street fight rematch on Raw, which felt like a bigger deal since it received so much time. The two matches showed outstanding chemistry that could have extended to WrestleMania if they wanted.
His Matches With HBK Set Up Edge's Future As A Top Heel
The feud between Edge and Shawn Michaels is forgotten since it only lasted a short time. WWE moved them both into other plans in time for WrestleMania 21. Michaels had a classic match against Kurt Angle, but Edge was the one to benefit most from their feud. WWE trusted Edge to be a main event caliber heel after this program by booking him to be the first-ever Money in the Bank briefcase winner.
Edge gained some momentum that led to the greatest success of his singles career up to that point. The love triangle gone wrong in real life added Lita to his act as a love interest and manager. Edge continued building steam by cashing in MITB to become the WWE Champion and move into the premiere heel spot for a few years.
WWE never really went back to the Edge vs Michaels feud outside of the tag program of Rated RKO vs D-Generation X, but that only lasted a few months as well. Edge utilized his time with Michaels to prove he could get fans to hate him and deliver in big-time matches. WWE originally wanted Edge to be a top face, but this feud changed his career forever. Michaels was the perfect foe to make Edge an over heel who turned into an all-time hated character for all the right seasons.