	Follow @2xzone

Reaction Zone - Rated R for Retired

Apr 12, 2011 - 8:56:38 PM by Jacob Gilbert

On April 3, Edge retained the WWE World title, defeating Alberto Del Rio at Wrestlemania. Some time before, he had an MRI done after experiencing numbness in his arms, losing feeling, a long-term side effect from the neck fusion surgery he underwent in 2003, which cost him nearly a full year of action.

On April 8, on Smackdown, it was announced that Edge & Del Rio would meet again at Extreme Rules, this time in a ladder match. As the poet Robert Burns wrote many years ago, the best laid plans of mice & men often go astray. Never is that more certain than in the WWE creative office, where Chairman/CEO Vince McMahon seemingly changes his mind on different matters on a daily basis, which is one major argument for McMahon needing to step down and let Triple H & Stephanie take over. The only reason they're not in full control now is because Vince just won't retire.

However, on Raw, on April 11, that is exactly what Edge had decided to do. The "Rated R Superstar" walked into the ring in Bridgeport and announced his retirement after nearly 20 years in the business, most of it spent in WWE in some form, starting in training camps & dark matches 15 years ago.

It was a year and a week after Shawn Michaels had done the same thing, choosing to walk away after losing to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 26. This wasn't going to be like Ric Flair 3 years ago, when everyone believed the "Nature Boy" was finally hanging them up, and he got a grand send-off. Of course, we know what Ric is doing these days.

On May 1, Alberto Del Rio will again challenge for the World title, but his opponent will be determined on the April 15 Smackdown, after Edge formally vacates the title. This will be the 2nd time Edge has had to vacate the title, but this time, it's for good.

Edge departs after 13 years on the main roster, with 11 World or WWE titles, 2nd to Triple H on the list. Doubtlessly, Randy Orton and/or John Cena will pass him within the next 2-3 years. He's also had the rare double of winning both the Royal Rumble (2010) & King of the Ring (2001), one of just 4 men to accomplish that feat (Triple H, Bret Hart, & Steve Austin are the others). And, then, there are the tag titles:

7 with Christian (1999-2001).
2 with Chris Benoit (2004)
1 each with Hulk Hogan (2002), Rey Mysterio (2003), Randy Orton (2006-7), & Chris Jericho (2009).

13 tag titles in all, which is #1 in the WWE record books. Add 4 Intercontinental titles, and Edge's final total is 28 total championships, also #1 in WWE history. There is already speculation that with Wrestlemania 29 in Toronto in 2013, Edge will likely be inducted into the Hall of Fame, along with countrywoman Trish Stratus. Say what you will about the way he has conducted himself, be it as a face or heel, but he has earned it.

But, what happens to Smackdown, which now has a huge void on the face side? Undertaker is, for the most part, a "special attraction" these days. Rey Mysterio is nearing the end of his career. Inevitably, Sin Cara, who just debuted, will succeed Rey on Smackdown. However, the first hints came on the same episode of Raw, when Michael Cole berated Jack Swagger after the former World & ECW champion lost to Jerry Lawler. Cole poked Swagger several times and slapped him. Swagger did a slow burn, as they don't want Cole to get his comeuppance from someone other than Lawler just yet. However, as often as Kurt Angle flipped from heel to face and back again during his 7 years in WWE (1999-2006), Swagger could possibly be rebooted as a patriotic face down the road, and turning him face within the next few weeks would start him on that path.

Also, they are teasing breaking up the Corre after just a few months. Hindsight being what it is, creative may now be looking at Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel as a face team in the long term, especially now that Smackdown is missing 2 of its top faces. Gabriel especially, since he just didn't look right as a heel in the first place.

More than ever, WWE needs to start rebuilding for the rest of the decade. They have the foundation in place in Sin Cara, Swagger, the Corre, et al. It's time to finally let them shine.

TNA could learn a lot of lessons from this, but, well.......