Fans returned to arenas after more than a year away recently and there have already been some big reactions to a couple of special moments. John Cena returning to confront Roman Reigns at Money in the Bank and, of course, the return of CM Punk after more than seven years away from wrestling. Prior to the pandemic, one of the last big reactions from in-house fans was when Edge returned during the 2020 men's Royal Rumble match.
Edge had been gone for almost nine years and fans thought they would never see him compete again. Edge himself didn't think he would wrestle again for most of that period. Things changed, and now Edge is back. But what would have happened if The Rated R Superstar never had to retire in 2011? Would he still be around today?
What Did Happen
Edge successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship, the 11th World Title reign of his career, against Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania XXVII. Not a match to write home about and probably one that would have been more or less lost in the annuls of time had it not been for what happened eight days later. Edge made an announcement on Raw, and it was one that knocked pretty much everyone watching for six.
Edge revealed that due to a build-up of neck injuries, he would no longer be able to wrestle. Not a few months off for surgery or a year off to recover, but no more wrestling ever again. Well, for nine years in hindsight, but at the time Edge believed he was done for good. The speech was so heartfelt that it landed Edge a role on the TV show Vikings. He got inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, started a family with Beth Phoenix, and eventually returned to the ring in 2020.
What Could Have Happened
After successfully defending the World Title at WrestleMania, WWE would have likely had Edge put it on the line against Del Rio in a rematch. Extreme Rules took place a month later, allowing for the rematch to be no DQ affair. Del Rio could have won, allowing Edge to then take some deserved time off.
When you think about WWE in 2011 then CM Punk and John Cena's iconic feud for the WWE Championship is likely what springs to mind. That stole headlines after Punk beat Cena for the title at Money in the Bank and left with the championship. That would have all still gone ahead as planned right up until the point Punk goes AWOL.
Desperate for a way to not only tempt Punk to return but also get his title back where it belongs, Vince McMahon calls upon Edge who has been absent since losing to Del Rio. McMahon holds an elaborate ceremony to crown Edge the new WWE Champion, knowing that it will not only play to The Rated R Superstar's ego but also give Punk no other choice but to return to WWE along with the real title.
Cue an extended rivalry between the two with Punk at his peak. A main event match between Punk and Edge to crown the one true WWE Champion at SummerSlam. Punk wins, but the two of them continue to have main events matches at PPVs through the next couple of months. Edge becomes a 12-time champion but loses the championship back to Punk at Vengeance. The pair's feud ends with a 5-on-5 match between the two of them and their respective teams at Survivor Series.
Edge continues on, wrestling newcomers like Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins, and Roman Reigns. Eventually, he decides time is no longer on his side. He wants to start a family, but not while he is away from home as much as he needs to be a WWE Superstar. He teams with Christian, not outwardly saying this is the perfect way to end his run, but knowing inside once they have been Tag Team Champions one last time, he's done.
They don't manage to do that, but Edge is okay with it. Christian, however, is not. Edge's lifelong friend turns on him after they fail to win the Tag Team Titles, citing that all his career he has been holding him back. That builds to a WrestleMania match where both agree that the loser must retire. In a moment reminiscent of when Shawn Michaels lined up Ric Flair for a Sweet Chin Music at WrestleMania XXIV, Edge wipes tears from his eyes as he spears Christian, pinning him and forcing his best friend into retirement.
The following night, Edge closes Raw, revealing that he is also done. Christian comes to the ring once he's done and the two of them hug it out. Edge leaves wrestling, starts the family that has been on his mind, and still finds his way into acting a little later in life. That triumphant return to wrestling never comes though because in this alternate timeline, he doesn't need it.