Edge told the WWE SmackDown crowd in Toronto that his match on Friday was his last in the city.
Speaking to the audience during a post-show promo after defeating Sheamus in the SmackDown main event, Edge said that he doesn’t foresee having another match in Toronto, considered his hometown as he grew up in nearby Orangeville.
Edge said:
“Toronto, what I can say is this is my last time in front of you all. I don’t think I can make it another forum to get here for another match, I’m just being honest with you.”
But don’t let that be a downer. Cuz man, what an experience you all gave me. I will never forget it. And when I’m 84 years old and don’t remember much, you’re damn sure I’m gonna remember this.”
“Thank you.”
Edge stopped short of announcing his retirement, stating that he was going to recover this week and discuss his future with his family:
“I don’t know what the future holds, I really don’t. I’ve got to sit home this week and lick my wounds, talk to my family and see what they want me to do. But what I can say, Toronto, is thank you. Thank you for being the city that I have always been proud to represent, that I’ve always been proud to be announced from. And I came out here in full-on Maple Leafs gear, pandering to all of you.”
“But wherever I make my main residence, this [Toronto] is always first in my heart. I am Canadian first and foremost, and I am so damn proud of that.
Edge revealed this week that the match with Sheamus was the last on his WWE contract.
Edge returned to the company in January 2020 at the Royal Rumble after a forced retirement due to being medically disqualified by WWE in 2011.
In August 2019, speculation began that Edge had been medically cleared by WWE, as he took part in his first physical WWE angle in years on the SummerSlam pre-show in Toronto.
During the promo, Edge also thanked his trainer Ron Hutchison, and revealed that Hutchison had trained him for free because he was aware of Edge’s financial situation coming from a single-parent household.
He also noted that because of WWE, he met his wife Beth Phoenix, the mother of his children.
Sheamus posted photos of Edge in the locker room after their match on social media:
A Canadian & an Irishman had a brawl that would make a banshee bawl.. what then? They had a pint of Guinness and said good night & thank you all. #ThankYouEdge#Edge25pic.twitter.com/QmkbOnB5h2
Edge will celebrate 25 years in WWE by squaring off with Sheamus on tonight’s SmackDown from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The match was set up when Edge called out Sheamus last week, saying they had never faced each other one-on-one. Sheamus joined Edge in the ring to accept his challenge.
Also slated for SmackDown is a tag team match that pits Bianca Belair & Charlotte Flair against WWE Women’s Champion IYO SKY & Bayley.
SKY and Bayley interrupted Charlotte’s match with Asuka last week as SKY attacked both wrestlers to end their match in a no contest.
The Grayson Waller Effect will welcome in Santos Escobar and new United States Champion Rey Mysterio. Last week, Escobar was unable to compete in a scheduled title match due to an attack by Austin Theory. As a result, Mysterio took Escobar’s place, ultimately beating Theory to win the US title.
Our live coverage starts at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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– Kevin Patrick welcomed everyone into the show. Patrick, Michael Cole and Corey Graves then hyped up the card for the night.
The Grayson Waller Effect with Rey Mysterio and Santos Escobar
Escobar was selling his leg injury from last week with a brace on his knee. Waller started out by congratulating Mysterio on winning the U.S. title last week. Mysterio said it felt great to be U.S. Champion again. Waller asked Mysterio if Mysterio and Escobar were co-champions, but Mysterio said that wasn’t the case. Waller made the case for why Escobar had his chance at the U.S. title stolen from him. Waller said Mysterio wasn’t ready to pass the torch. Waller kept yelling until Escobar told Waller to shut up.
Escobar said the only person he’s mad at is Austin Theory. Escobar said he gave Mysterio his blessing because he has enormous respect for Mysterio. Escobar called Mysterio his mentor. Escobar said Waller’s attempts to break them up won’t work. As Escobar spoke, Austin Theory’s music hit and Theory came out in his wrestling gear with a microphone. Theory congratulated Mysterio on becoming a three-time U.S. Champion. Theory said what happened last week was a tragedy. Theory said Escobar wasn’t man enough to step up to Theory last week. Theory called himself the greatest U.S. Champion ever. Theory said Adam Pearce was going to come out to hand Theory back his U.S. title.
Pearce made his way down to the ring. Pearce said nobody wanted to hear Theory complain and out of nowhere, L.A. Knight’s music hit. The crowd went wild. Knight had a microphone in his hand. Knight started with his “Let me talk to you” line. Knight said Theory fumbled the ball. Knight congratulated Mysterio but said at some point, the title will go to Knight. Knight referenced going through 24 other men at SummerSlam. Knight challenged Theory to a match with the winner getting a shot at the U.S. title. Pearce made the match.
Austin Theory defeated L.A. Knight to earn a shot at the U.S. title [10:14]
This was a fine television match. Knight’s clothesline to the Miz was rough – and, while there’s no mistaking that Knight is super-over with live crowds, there always seems to be an awkward wrestling spot in his wrestling matches, but I digress – but they rebounded and Theory rightly got the cheap win. Does this set up a triple threat for the U.S. title or will it simply be Theory vs. Mysterio? Time will tell. As for this, the guys worked hard despite their limitations and it forwarded the story between Miz and Knight. All told, mission accomplished.
Before the match started, The Miz’s music hit and The Miz walked to the ring. The Miz joined the commentary team. The bell rang and Theory attacked Knight. Theory controlled the first minute of the match until Knight landed a clothesline and a suplex to even things out. Knight hit a powerslam for a two-count. Theory threw Knight outside and Theory grabbed Knight’s face while Miz jawed at Knight. Knight fired up and slammed Theory onto the commentary table repeatedly while Mix screamed at Knight. Miz and Knight exchanged words and Theory kicked Knight in the face, but Knight came back quickly by throwing Theory into Miz. Knight posed and the show went to a commercial break.
Back from break, Theory was working a side head-lock. Theory landed a rolling dropkick for a two-count. Theory hit a strong clothesline and went to the apron, where he went for another rolling move, but Knight caught Theory and hit a back suplex. Knight ran Theory into corners and then landed a neck-breaker. Knight got in a Russian Leg Sweep and a boot for a two-count. Knight was bleeding from his forehead. Knight landed a running knee to Theory’s head. Knight lifted Thoery, but Theory rolled out and chop-blocked Knight. Theory went for A-Town Down, but Knight got out of it and countered into a body slam. Miz jumped to the apron, and Knight turned his attention to Miz until Knight landed a DDT on Theory. Knight then went to the outside and chased the Miz everywhere until Knight clotheslined Miz to the floor. Theory rolled up Knight and held the tights for the win.
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– John Cena sent a video in congratulating Edge for 25 years. Sheamus and Natalya offered up videos, too. The Miz, Charlotte, and Sami Zayn did the same.
– Michael Cole spoke affectionately about Edge at the commentary table and Kevin Patrick threw to a montage of Edge moments.
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Bayley and Dakota Kai made their entrance. Bayley had a microphone and introduced IYO SKY, who then made her entrance to set up the women’s tag team match.
Who says these wrestling companies don’t give women significant TV time?! OK, yeah, WWE, AEW and everyone in between could do better, but this took up a significant amount of time and while it felt a tiny bit over-long, I have to give WWE credit for carving out space for this. The match had its moments both good and bad, but in the end, it’s a good thing to have these women on television this much on the company’s biggest television show. I half-expected Shotzi involvement, but perhaps WWE really wants to eventually get behind Charlotte and Bianca as a tag team? We’ll see. Also of note: IYO SKY is just great.
Bayley and Belair began the match. Bayley went for a takedown, and eventually stepped on Belair’s foot. Belair came back with a slam and then worked a side head-lock. Belair landed a suplex and danced before tagging in Charlotte. Charlotte put the boots to Bayley. Charlotte chopped Bayley to the ground. Charlotte lifted Bayley, but Bayley countered by pulling Charlotte down via her hair. SKY tagged in and Charlotte chopped SKY. Charlotte hit a boot to SKY’s head, which took SKY to the outside. Charlotte then landed a rolling splash onto both SKY and Bayley as the show went to break.
Back from the break, Charlotte had control over Bayley and climbed to the top. Bayley cut Charlotte off and slammed Charlotte from the top. SKY tagged in and kicked Charlotte’s head before sinking in a head-lock. Charlotte worked her way out of it, but SKY came back with a submission attempt. SKY went for a suplex, but Charlotte reversed it with a back body-drop and went for the hot tag, but somehow didn’t get it. SKY landed a dropkick on Charlotte. From there, Charlotte finally got the hot tag to Belair.
Belair attacked SKY and hit a vertical suplex before firing up the crowd. Belair landed a series of punches onto SKY’s head until Bayley ran in and Bayley was the victim of a back-breaker. SKY slowed things down when she dropkicked Belair’s knee. Bayley tagged in and worked on Belair’s knee. There was blood on Charlotte’s face. Belair slammed both SKY and Bayley and Belair got the tag to Charlotte, who came off the top and took both SKY and Bayley out. Charlotte landed a fallaway slam on Bayley and then hit a clothesline for a two-count on Bayley. Charlotte went to the top, but Bayley pushed Charlotte off to the outside. Charlotte clutched her ankle and SKY attacked Charlotte.
Back in the ring, Bayley went for a pin and got a two-count. SKY tagged in and went for a moonsault, but Charlotte moved. SKY followed that up with a strike to Charlotte’s jaw. Bayley tagged in and went for a figure-four, but Charlotte cut her off and tagged in Belair. Almost instantly, Belair landed the KOD on Bayley for the win.
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– Cody, AJ Styles, Bayley, Ricochet, Kevin Owens and more sent in videos giving their thanks to Edge.
– Bianca Belair was being interviewed backstage, but was then attacked by Damage CTRL. IYO SKY hit Belair’s leg with a chair and Belair screamed in agony.
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The Street Profits (Montez Ford & Angelo Dawkins) defeated The O.C. (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) [3:12]
As basic as it gets. The Profits are in the middle of a reboot and Anderson & Gallows are in the middle of … well … not much. Still, The O.C. got in way more offense than I anticipated they would, so good on the Profits for giving them what they did. It still feels like the crowds aren’t ready to completely hate the Profits, so it’ll be interesting to see what WWE does with the trio of them and Lashley as it evolves. As for this match, it was just kind of there.
Gallows and Ford began the match with Gallows coming out strong. Anderson tagged in quickly and hit a series of strikes on Ford, until Ford came back with a strong clothesline. Dawkins tagged in and went after Anderson, eventually hitting a pump-handle slam. Ford tagged in and landed a frog-splash for a two-count that was broken up by Gallows, who was instantly thrown outside. Dawkins put Anderson on his shoulders, but Anderson worked out and hit a spine-buster on Dawkins. Gallows tagged in and and The O.C. went for the Magic Killer, but Ford broke it up. Ford tagged in and the Profits hit their (new?) finisher for the win. After the match, Bobby Lashley’s music hit and Lashley came out to celebrate with the Profits.
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– Paul Heyman was shown backstage and Kayla Braxton approached him asking for an update on the Bloodline. Heyman said he wouldn’t give an update. Braxton said she had been hearing rumors. Heyman asked her about what rumors she heard. Heyman said Jey Uso abandoned the WWE Universe. Heyman asked about Braxton’s mom and dad because he said he heard rumors about her family. Heyman worked in a jab at L.A. Knight which was funny. Heyman answered his phone and stepped away. Heyman said the caller told him that Jimmy Uso will be live on SmackDown next week.
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Edge defeated Sheamus [19:03]
This was fantastic. Edge looked like he might have had enough after about eight minutes, but he gutted it out and those false finishes were a lot of fun. Who knows what happens from here. Who knows if Edge is really done wrestling. Who knows if Edge goes on to wrestle somewhere else. Whatever it is, put it away and just consider how close those two dudes must be because the emotions felt like they were running wild from the second the bell rang. Both guys worked hard and while the outcome probably wasn’t much in doubt, this was one of the better wrestling matches SmackDown has seen in a little while. Add in the extra curricular stuff, and this was very good. It’s not often SmackDown produces a wrestling match that I’d say you should seek out if you missed it, but this was one of them. A tip of the cap to everyone involved.
The two shook hands after the bell rang. They locked up and Edge shoulder-blocked Sheamus to the mat. Sheamus returned the favor. Sheamus landed an Irish Curse to take Edge down and the show went to break. When it returned, Edge landed a back elbow on Sheamus and kept control. Action spilled to the outside, where Edge hit a powerbomb off the apron on Sheamus. Edge rolled Sheamus back into the ring and went to the top to hit a cross-body for a two-count. Edge went for a Sharpshooter, but Sheamus kicked his way out of it. Edge rolled to the apron and Sheamus picked him up for 10 Beats, but Edge cut him off and landed 10 punches on Sheamus. Edge got in a series of knees to Sheamus’s midsection. Edge then went through the ropes and speared Sheamus off the apron as the show went to commercial.
When the show returned, Sheamus was working a submission as the crowd fired Edge up. As a result, Edge punched his way out of it and worked a cross-face on Sheamus. Sheamus made his way to the ropes for a break. The two made it to their feet and Edge ran at Sheamus, but Sheamus got his legs up and then went to the top. Edge cut Sheamus off with a boot and went to the top, too, where he hit a super-plex and then rolled that into the Edge-E-Cution for a two-count. The crowd chanted “You still got it!” Edge went to the top, but Sheamus cut Edge off with a kick.
The two battled while Edge sat on the top rope. Sheamus went to the second rope and hit White Noise from the second rope. Sheamus then landed the Celtic Cross and went for a pin, but it resulted in a very good near-fall. Edge rolled to the apron and Sheamus hit the 10 Beats. Edge flipped Sheamus off and Sheamus went back to the 10 Beats. The whole thing went further than 10 Beats, but who’s counting? Sheamus jawed at Edge, but Edge slapped Sheamus and then clotheslined him. Edge fired up and the crowd did so with him. Edge went for a spear, but ran into a knee from Sheamus. Sheamus followed up with a boot to the face for another great near-fall. Sheamus went for another boot, but Edge rolled him up and hit a spear for another very good near-fall. Edge then landed another spear for the win.
After the match, Edge looked like he was going to cry. Beth Phoenix looked like she was crying in the audience. The commentary team laid out and the show went off the air as Sheamus and Edge hugged.
Edge’s match on SmackDown this week could be the last of his career.
He spoke with ET Canada ahead of Friday’s show in his hometown of Toronto and revealed that his contract expires after he wrestles Sheamus that night. The 49-year-old also said he isn’t sure if his wrestling career will continue after.
“Here’s what I can honestly say, and this isn’t the answer that everybody is going to want: I truly don’t know,” he responded when asked if Friday will be his final match. “I can with 100% truth say ‘I don’t know.’ And that’s strange for me but I don’t. I really, really don’t. I’ve put some thought into it, but not a lot.”
“This is the last match on my current contract. So, I don’t know. I honestly don’t know. I probably won’t know until I get to the locker room that night and just decompress,” he continued.
“I’m going to be 50 in October. It’s not easy anymore. Before, what I used to just take for granted to be able to do, now there’s a process and there’s a fallout, and there’s a lot. It’s the dream gig but it’s getting really hard.”
Edge cut an off-air promo on the August 22, 2022 Raw from Toronto and teased possibly retiring in a year’s time.
“I’m looking at the calendar, and we usually come here in August. So next August, I plan on seeing each and every one of you. And in a perfect world, we all say goodbye to each other that night,” Edge said to the live crowd.
His trainer Ron Hutchinson also noted in a recent social media post that Friday could be Edge’s last match.
So @HulkHogan turns 70 today, @EdgeRatedR is pretty certain he'll be having his last match in Toronto next Friday night, and I'm feeling my age.
HBD Hulkster and I hope that TO turns out in droves next Fri. night for what could possibly be Edge's last match here in the six. pic.twitter.com/mmy7HrM6M8
Edge will wrestle Sheamus on next week’s WWE SmackDown as the promotion celebrates the 25th anniversary of his WWE debut.
As announced during a promo segment on this week’s show, Edge will take on Sheamus in singles competition on the Friday, August 18 edition of SmackDown in Toronto. The show has been promoted as an Edge 25 years celebration.
The match with Sheamus will be the first for Edge since a July 7 SmackDown match against Grayson Waller at Madison Square Garden.
Also announced for next week’s SmackDown, Waller will host The Grayson Waller Effect talk show with guest Rey Mysterio. Mysterio defeated Austin Theory to win the United States Championship in an impromptu match on this week’s SmackDown.
Theory had been set to defend against United States Championship Invitational tournament winner Santos Escobar, but attacked Escobar before the match, giving him a storyline leg injury. On-screen authority figure Adam Pearce then inserted Mysterio in Escobar’s place for Theory’s title defense, and Mysterio captured the US title for the third time in his career.
The announced lineup for next week’s SmackDown:
Edge 25 years celebration
Edge vs. Sheamus
The Grayson Waller Effect with guest United States Champion Rey Mysterio
WWE will celebrate25 years of Edge’s career on the Friday, August 18 episode of SmackDown in Toronto.
As announced during this week’s SmackDown show, Edge will appear in Toronto for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of his WWE debut in two weeks.
Edge was first advertised for the Toronto SmackDown back in June.
Following his most recent match in Toronto last August, Edge teased that this summer’s Toronto show could be for his final WWE match, but he has since hinted that his career won’t wrap up until he gets a shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, currently held by Seth Rollins.
After a feud with The Judgment Day ended at last October’s Extreme Rules pay-per-view, Edge returned to the ring at the 2023 Royal Rumble in January. He then teamed with wife Beth Phoenix against Rhea Ripley and Finn Balor at February’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in Montreal.
In his matches since, Edge has lost a US title bout against Austin Theory, defeated Balor in a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania 39, dropped a triple threat match to AJ Styles in the World Heavyweight title tournament, then defeated Grayson Waller in his most recent match at the July 7 SmackDown at Madison Square Garden.
On a brand-new Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and I discuss the end (maybe?) of The Bloodline in WWE, a big debut for AEW Collision and give our predictions and preview for this weekend’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door this Sunday.
Edge’s first televised match aired 25 years ago today.
He defeated Jose Estrada Jr. of Los Boricuas on the June 22, 1998, edition of WWE Raw. The match was actually taped six days earlier from the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas.
Edge posted to social media about his 25-year anniversary on Thursday. He wrote:
25 years ago today was my first match as Edge on television. Millions of miles, millions of faces, amazing experiences, lots of injuries, accomplishments that didn’t even exist when I started, but way more laughs than anything else. Having a second chance to do this has filled me with gratitude. I’ve had an opportunity to get in the ring with a whole new generation of amazing talent and introduce Edge to a whole new generation of fans. That alone makes it a win. I’ve been able to make a living doing the only job I ever dreamed of. I know how rare that is. Thanks for watching Edge all these years.
25 years ago today was my first match as Edge on television. Millions of miles, millions of faces, amazing experiences, lots of injuries, accomplishments that didn’t even exist when I started, but way more laughs than anything else. Having a second chance to do this has filled me… pic.twitter.com/aXqNNK5MoA
Edge’s debut was stopped early that night after Estrada was injured just a minute into the match. Edge’s leg landed on Estrada’s head during a dive to the outside and the referee awarded Edge the match via count out when Estrada was unable to continue. Estrada would be back on the road with WWE in a little over a month, however.
Vignettes hyping Edge’s debut had been airing in the weeks leading to his debut match. He would soon be entered into a rivalry with Gangrel. Christian would then debut at In Your House: Breakdown that September playing the role of Edge’s brother. The angle would eventually lead to the formation of The Brood.
— Scotiabank Arena (@ScotiabankArena) June 7, 2023
The last time Edge wrestled in Toronto, he defeated Damian Priest to close out the August 22, 2022 edition of Raw. After the show went off the air, Edge teased that his final match could take place when WWE returns to the city in the summer of 2023.
“I’m looking at the calendar, and we usually come here in August. So next August, I plan on seeing each and every one of you. And in a perfect world, we all say goodbye to each other that night,” Edge said.
Edge hasn’t wrestled since the 5/12 edition of SmackDown when AJ Styles won a triple threat against him and Rey Mysterio as part of the tournament to crown a World Heavyweight Champion.
Some of Edge’s top career highlights have taken place in Toronto. He successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against our own Lance Storm on the September 3, 2001 Raw, defeated Booker T at WrestleMania X8, and successfully defended the IC title against Batista and Chris Jericho at SummerSlam 2004. At Unforgiven 2006, Edge headlined the show against John Cena in a TLC match and he also wrestled his longtime friend and partner Christian on the May 17, 2010 edition of Raw.
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns will make his return to SmackDown in Knoxville, Tennessee, in his first appearance since the night after WrestleMania edition of Raw.
Tonight’s show will feature two triple threat matches in the WWE World Heavyweight title tournament.
In one, it will be Edge vs. AJ Styles vs. Rey Mysterio. This will be Styles’ first match since breaking his ankle at a late-December house show. In the other, WWE United States Champion Austin Theory will face Sheamus and Bobby Lashley.
The winners of each match will square off later in the night to determine who faces Seth Rollins at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia later this month to crown the new champion.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez will defend their gold against Bayley & Dakota Kai of Damage CTRL following the challengers’ non-title win over the champions last week.
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– Michael Cole welcomed everyone in, saying we are on the road to crowning the World Heavyweight Champion. Cole and Wade Barrett mentioned that Roman Reigns was going to appear later and Edge’s music hit. We went right into the first match because the Styles and Mysterio entrances were not televised.
AJ Styles defeated Edge and Rey Mysterio Jr. [16:13]
Styles got the win in one of the better opening matches on WWE television in recent memory. I was surprised to see how long this went, but the guys worked really hard despite a few clunky moments. With Edge cutting that social media promo earlier in the week, they had me wondering who might come out on top, which is a rarity in WWE. The match held its own in that it followed up said promo with a worthy pay-off. Add in a few interesting, creative double-team moves and you had a very good first half-hour of wrestling TV.
Mysterio and Styles tried to team up on Edge to begin the match, but Edge came right back with some stiff shots to both opponents. There were a series of three-person team moves that didn’t work great before Edge landed a reverse DDT on Styles for a two-count. Styles eventually regained control with a forearm to Edge and a tilt-a-whirl back-breaker to Mysterio.
Mysterio got his turn to take control and went for a splash on Edge, who caught Mysterio for a fallaway slam. Edge went for a spear, but Styles and Mysterio caught Edge with a double boot. Mysterio landed a Canadian Destroyer on Edge for a nice early match near-fall. With Edge and Mysterio on the outside, Styles took both out and we went to our first break.
When we returned, Styles had Mysterio lifted on the apron, but Mysterio fought out of it. Edge came through the middle rope and speared them both to the floor, inspiring the crowd to chant “Holy s—.” Mysterio and Edge rolled into the ring and Mysterio got a two-count. Edge got up and stomped on Mysterio before Styles threw Edge to the outside. Inside, Styles worked a calf-crusher on Mysterio, but Edge added a cross-face on Mysterio as well. The spot ended with a series of headbutts between Styles and Edge.
Styles and Edge traded blows until Mysterio set both guys up for a 619, but Mysterio ran into a double-dropkick from Styles and Edge, who then double-clotheslined each other. Edge ran Styles into the middle turnbuckle and went to the top, but Mysterio cut Edge off. Styles broke it up via a powerbomb on Mysterio for a two-count. Styles went for Edge and Styles was joined by Mysterio, who landed a sunset flip on Styles, who super-plexed Edge, for a good two-count.
Mysterio set up Edge for a 619, but Styles cut Mysterio off. From there, Mysterio went for another 619, but Edge countered into Edge-ucator on Mysterio. Edge did the same to Styles, but Styles made it to the ropes for a break. Mysterio then came back for another 619 attempt on Edge. Mysterio went for something on Edge, but something was miscommunicated and nothing quite happened. From there, Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm on Edge and got the pin.
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– Michael Cole recapped The Usos/Sami Zayn/Kevin Owens storyline and Sheamus made his entrance for the second WWE World Heavyweight title tournament match.
Bobby Lashley defeated Austin Theory and Sheamus [13:00]
It felt like a surprising win for Lashley because Theory was the only traditional heel in the match and a babyface won the other tournament match of the night, but so it goes. Lashley was bleeding pretty heavily, and it made me wonder if they went home early because of it, but kudos to Lashley for working through it. That’s two matches in the first 45 minutes of SmackDown, which is/was always welcome. All three involved worked hard here as well, but the first match packed more of a punch for reasons I can’t quite articulate. It was nice to see a couple surprise winners for these matches, though.
Austin Theory went to the outside after the bell rang, but Lashley and Sheamus chased him, pounded on him and threw him back inside the ring. Lashley clotheslined Theory to the outside and worked over Sheamus until Sheamus landed a slam on Lashley for a one-count. Sheamus set up Lashley for 10 Beats, but Theory broke it up, only to then be the victim himself of 10 Beats. From there, we went to break.
Back from commercial, Lashley was beating up Theory on the outside. Lashley ran Theory into a ring post and returned to the ring to stare down Sheamus. Lashley and Sheamus brawled. With Sheamus went to the top and went for an elbow, but Lashley caught him and threw him before going for the Hurt Lock until Theory broke up the attempt with a dropkick. Theory hit a Blockbuster on Lashley for a two-count.
Theory stomped a mud hole in Sheamus and clotheslined Lashley over the top rope. Theory ran Lashley into the ring steps. Theory went for a rolling DDT, but Sheamus countered with the Irish Curse. Sheamus hit a series of clotheslines on Theory and hit a middle-rope White Noise for a two-count on Theory. Sheamus lifted Theory, but Theory rolled through for a two-count. Sheamus came right back with a knee to Theory’s head.
Sheamus riled up the crowd, but ran into a spear from Lashley. Theory threw Lashley into the ring post and tried a cover on Sheamus for a two-count. Theory went for A-Town Down, but Lashley, who was bleeding heavily from his head, went for the hurt lock. Sheamus broke up with with a Brogue Kick and Lashley threw Sheamus out of the ring and covered Theory himself for the win.
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– Adam Pearce was shown on the phone backstage, but he was interrupted by Grayson Waller, who said the winner of Styles/Lashley should appear on the Grayson Waller Effect next week. Pearce obliged. We went back to the ring and Baron Corbin was already in the ring as Cameron Grimes made his entrance.
Cameron Grimes defeated Baron Corbin [0:06]
There wasn’t much to this, but I’m happy to see Grimes not get buried right away. We didn’t see too much from him during his last months on NXT, so here’s hoping he gets some love on the main roster. Poor Corbin. At least he still has Paris.
Before the bell rang, Corbin introduced Grimes as the last pick in the draft. Corbin said Grimes had guts and in two minutes, Grimes would be on his way back to NXT. Grimes hit the Cave-In as soon as the bell rang for the win.
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– We received a video package recapping the Cody Rhodes/Brock Lesnar feud.
– Roman Reigns’s music hit and Knoxville loved them some Roman Reigns. Reigns was accompanied by the entire Bloodline. Reigns stood in the ring and soaked in a crowd that didn’t not like him. When Reigns asked Knoxville to acknowledge him, the crowd so. Reigns said greatness garners respect. Reigns said there’s only one royal family in the wrestling business and it’s the family in the ring. The crowd gave Reigns the “What?” treatment.
Reigns said Solo Sikoa stepped up at Backlash. Reigns said there was initial concern with taking Sikoa on the road because it was sink or swim for Sikoa, but Sikoa proved he swims like a shark. The crowd broke into a “Sami!” chant. Reigns said Sami and Kevin Owens aren’t the problem, but there is a problem. Roman said the problem was Sikoa’s brothers. Sikoa nodded.
Reigns confronted the Usos, asking them if they thought they weren’t going to talk about them losing at WrestleMania. Reigns called the Usos out for dedicating a tag-team match to Reigns and then losing. Reigns said they disrespected the family bloodline. Reigns said the Usos embarrassed him. Reigns demanded an apology from the Usos. The crowd chanted “No!” Daniel Bryan style. Reigns palm-faced Jimmy Uso. Jey got in the way of a confrontation and apologized. He said if they get one more shot, they’ll bring the titles back to the Bloodline.
Reigns called on Paul Heyman to make an announcement. Heyman said there will be a tag title match at Night Of Champions when Owens and Zayn face Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns. Reigns said he will dedicated the match to Afa and Sika, the greatest tag-team of all time. Reigns and Sikoa left the ring as the Usos stood in the ring, looking concerned.
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– Kayla Braxton welcomed in Damage CTRL for an interview backstage. Bayley said she and Roman have so much in common, being Grand Slam champions and exceptional leaders. Bayley told Iyo not to worry about her loss at Backlash because maybe Iyo wasn’t ready yet. Bayley told Kayla to tell Roman that SmackDown belongs to Damage CTRL. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez’s music hit and we went back to the ring for the women’s tag title match. Before the match began, we got a Backlash recap video. From there, the Usos confronted the LWO backstage. The Usos mean-mugged them and walked away.
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez defeated Bayley and Dakota Kai [8:09]
Liv and Raquel won in a match longer than expected, but a fine match nonetheless. The miscommunication between Damage CTRL continues, but for me, it’s veering on the verge of overstaying its welcome. Maybe I’m wrong, but Bayley felt like a top-tier star in WWE not all that long ago, but since she came back, this faction hasn’t worked as well as anyone thought it would. It’s nobody’s fault. It’s just time for all three to move on. As for Liv and Raquel … it’s hard to buy into them being long-term champs, but perhaps that’s part of the charm. Let’s hope they’re in line for a meaningful program.
Rodriguez worked over Dakota Kai to begin the match. Morgan tagged in and threw Rodriguez into Kai. Morgan covered Kai for a two-count. Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn were shown watching the match on a TV backstage. Kai came back with a punch to Morgan and tagged in Bayley. Morgan rolled up Bayley for a two-count. Bayley eventually pinned Morgan for a two-count after her and Kai worked Morgan over. Then, we got a break.
We returned to action and Rodriguez received the hot tag from Morgan. Rodriguez hit a fallaway slam on Kai. Rodriguez took out both Kai and Bayley. Morgan tagged in and was promptly thrown into the challengers multiple times. The ring cleared out for Bayley and Morgan. Kai got a blind tag in and kicked Morgan in the head. Bayley held Morgan and Kai landed a double-knees to Morgan. Kai went for the pin, but Rodriguez broke it up at the last second. Bayley tagged in and told Sky to give Bayley one of the titles. Rodriguez stopped the exchange and as a result, Morgan rolled up Bayley for the win.
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– Backstage, the Brawling Brutes were talking and then interrupted by Pretty Deadly. The Brutes didn’t take kindly to it. Sheamus then went out for a pint. The crew was shown setting up the ring for Bianca Belair’s championship celebration.
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– Bianca Belair made her entrance to a nice hometown pop. Her family was in the front row. Before the celebration could really kick off, Asuka’s music hit and Asuka hurriedly got to the ring. Asuka extended a hand and the two shook hands until Asuka spit mist into Belair’s face. Belair sold the hell out of it. We went backstage to see AJ Styles warming up for the main event.
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– Belair was flipping out backstage in the trainer’s room as the show returned from commercial.
– Next week, Owens and Zayn will meet Reigns and Sikoa face to face. Mysterio and Santos Escobar will go up against the Usos. Also up for next week is the Brawling Brutes vs. Pretty Deadly. This is on top of the Grayson Waller Effect, which will feature the winner of Lashley vs. Styles.
AJ Styles defeated Bobby Lashley [12:03]
Styles won in a match where both guys slowed down considerably from their first match of the night. That’s not shade. That’s just that. You have to feel for Lashley, who had his head busted open twice in one night to ultimately not even get to the finals of this tournament. Styles vs. Rollins should be very good-to-great when it comes to in-ring work. Here’s hoping they get the time to do it. This match, meanwhile, wasn’t ever in doubt much because Styles vs. Rollins was always going to be the best match WWE could get out of the finals of this tournament. Maybe? Hopefully?
The two locked up to begin the best match TNA never saw in 2009 (or maybe it did?). They felt each other out as Barrett played up the fact that Lashley lost a bunch of blood in his first match of the night. Styles went for a chop, but Lashley stopped him with some elbows and a boot to the face. Lashley threw Styles over the top rope as the action spilled outside. Lashley ran Styles into the apron before running Styles into a ring post. We got a commercial break after that.
Returning from break, Lashley had control, but Styles quickly came back with a handful of kicks to Lashley’s legs. Lashley immediately got back the upper hand until Styles rolled Lashley into a calf crusher. Lashley worked out of it, but Styles kept control with some right hands and a DDT for a two-count. Lashley’s head was busted open again. Styles responded with punches to Lashley’s head. Styles lifted Lashley, but Lashley countered into a suplex for a two-count.
Styles came back with a sliding punch, but Lashley went for the Hurt Lock and locked it in (pun intended) until Styles got to the ropes for a break. The action spilled outside, where Lashley went to run Styles into a ring post, but Styles countered and ran Lashley into a ring post before rolling Lashley back into the ring. Styles teased the Phenomenal Forearm, but Lashley cut him off and lifted Styles for a suplex, but Styles fought out of it. It worked until Lashley caught Styles for a running powerslam and a two-count.
Lashley went for a spear, but instead hit the ring post as Styles moved. Styles then landed a knee to Lashley’s head. Styles hit the Phenomenal Forearm for the win. The broadcast team ran down the Night of Champions card. Styles and The OC celebrated by the World Heavyweight title to close the show.
Edge believes a run with the new World Heavyweight Championship would be the perfect way to end his career.
The 49-year-old will face AJ Styles and Rey Mysterio in a triple-threat match on SmackDown this week as part of a tournament to determine the title’s first champion.
Edge mentioned in a video he posted to Twitter on Thursday that the title belt looks much like the one he vacated when he was forced to retire 12 years ago.
Edge said:
Some people have been running around saying they are going to finish their stories, and good for them. But it made me think a little bit about my story.
The introduction of the WWE Heavyweight Championship, if I look at that thing it even looks like the title that I never lost, it looks like Big Gold. 12 years ago I was forced to give that thing up, never had a chance to get it back. Now, I have a chance and it all comes full circle.
This ride, it’s going to end sooner than later, let’s face it, we all know that. I gotta get this done. It’s the last thing to do, it’s the period on the end of the sentence. It’s the last sentence in the book.
All of you that are watching this, I assume you’ve been with me on this ride and I really appreciate it. It’s going to end soon and I gotta end it right this time and there is no better way to finish it than to win the World Heavyweight Championship and then when I lose it, that’s it, I’m done. So Rey, AJ, bring your best tomorrow, I know you will. Can’t wait to see you in there, to be honest. Let’s tear it up.
Should Edge defeat Styles and Mysterio on SmackDown, he would advance to face the winner of Bobby Lashley vs. Austin Theory vs. Sheamus later in the show. The winner of that match then advances to face Seth Rollins in the finals at Night of Champions.
During the Big Gold Belt’s run as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship from 2002 to 2013, Edge was one of its most decorated champions. He held the title a record seven times. His 409 days spent with the title is third most all-time behind only Batista (507) and Triple H (616).
Edge believes he might only be able to perform at an elite level for another year.
The 49-year-old was a guest on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive podcast recently and was asked how much time his in-ring career has left.
Edge responded:
I don’t want to stick around to the point where it’s like, ‘Oh, there he is,’ you know? ‘Like, oh okay, we’ll give him the courtesy cheer.’ I don’t want to get there.
When I come out now, I feel the explosion, I feel all of that to throw at them and that’s still there. I don’t know if that, for me, would ever go away but I feel like in this last run like the Rocky Balboa movie, which I watched two nights before my comeback and I was in tears because Stallone’s monologues in it were all things that were going through my mind and I realized I got to get this out of the basement because I didn’t have the chance to end it the way I wanted to. This time, I’m going to get to do that and now I got two little girls that I gotta spend the rest of my life taking care of.
I got a little wish list of things that are still to do but it’s not long and neither is the time. I think at most I might have another year in me to be able to do it at this level and still be able to do it at an elite level where I can still hang. I gotta get in there with Austin Theory, who is 25 and he wasn’t born when I had my first match for WWE.
I want to be sitting on my mountain and watching you guys do your thing and just going, ‘Good for them.’
Edge addressed his potential retirement during an unaired promo segment from an episode of Raw in his hometown last year. He defeated Damian Priest in the main event of the August 22, 2022, show from Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. After the match, he told the live crowd that WWE often runs a show from Toronto every summer and teased that his last match could take place when the company returns in 2023. WWE has an episode of SmackDown scheduled for Toronto on August 18.
Edge has won multiple Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards throughout his career. These include Match of the Year in 2002 for his bout with Rey Mysterio against Kurt Angle & Chris Benoit at No Mercy 2002. He and Christian were also voted Tag Team of the Year in 2000.
*Updates on CM Punk, AEW’s new television deal, issues a Saturday show has to deal with and plusses of a Saturday show
*Lots of news on WWE & AEW major shows the next few months, including All In, SummerSlam, Double or Nothing and Backlash.
*Nick Khan talks the WWE/UFC merer and what it means, upcoming negotiations, how Endeavor can help WWE grow, WWE budget cuts and more
*Full coverage of AAA TripleMania, the good, the bad, the angles and more
*Full coverage of New Japan’s U.S. tour in Washington, DC and Philadelphia
*Ted DiBiase Jr. indicted on 13 counts in welfare fraud cause, and updates on it
*Full coverage of Saturday’s UFC show
*The most detailed look at the TV ratings from the past week, including where wrestling ranks with sports an with entertainment programing, competition, segment by segment, comparisons with last year and more
*Continuation of the CMLL champion of champions tournament
*Mercedes Mone in Japan, negotiation updates, her comments on Japan and more
*Details of the biggest women’s show in Japan in decades this weekend at the Yokohama Arena
*Ticket sale update on the show
*Cinderella tournament finals
*Champion Carnival update
*Notes on major NOAH show
*Will Ospreay talks future
*John Morrison’s boxing debut and comments form that
*Lots of notes on he death of Butch Miller
*Bill Goldberg and a retirement tour
*Abdullah the Butcher and financial issues
*NCAA looking at changes to wrestling rules and scoring and why
*Concert/wrestling joint promotions
*Major European show this weekend loaded with top international stars
*Impact major show rundown
*Lots of fallout to C.M. Punk returning to AEW
*Great lesson for AEW wen getting a big sports lead-in going forward
*Lots of injury updates
*Advanced ticket sales for WWE & AEW upcoming show
*Streaming numbers for WWE & AEW
*International TV ratings
*What milestone did Raw achieve this past week
*What milestone did AEW achieve this past week
*Lots of new UFC major fights
*What were the most in-demand sports tickets so far in 2023
*Former UFC fighter arrested in a $200,000 burglary
*More details on the new WWE Twitch deal
*WWE performer goes into another major sports competition next week and attempts to make the 2024 Olympic team
*Notes on two WWE signees that a betting site already has odds that one of them will be world champion by 2027
*Notes on all the WWE live events on the road over the past week
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Tuesday Update
WWE
NXT Anonymous posted a video on Twitter Wednesday morning showing Sol Ruca being attacked by a mystery assailant at the WWE Performance Center.
Shane McMahon is back in the gym after tearing his quad at WrestleMania 39.
Joe Gacy and Cora Jade worked Monday’s WWE Main Event tapings prior to Raw.
Vikingo vs. Komander vs. Gringo Loco has been added to GCW’s Lifestyle event on May 26 in Las Vegas.
Lince Dorado shared pictures of the Black Tiger inspired mask he made for Mercedes Mone that she wore to the ring at this past weekend’s Stardom pay-per-view.
Finn Balor has shared a look at the injury that caused his WrestleMania 39 match against Edge to be momentarily paused.
Balor and Edge’s Hell in a Cell match took place in the semi-main event of WrestleMania Sunday. During a spot where Edge threw a ladder at Balor, it hit Balor in the head and busted him open. The referee checked on Balor and held Edge off from going after him. Doctors then entered the cell to tend to Balor.
— NukemTalksWrestling (@NukemWrestling) April 3, 2023
After Balor received medical attention, the match continued. It ended with Edge pinning Balor after giving him a spear and a con-chair-to. Leading into the finish, Balor went for a Coup de Grace from the wall of the cell. Edge moved out of the way and Balor went crashing through a table.
The two agreed to the match on Monday’s Raw. Edge told Balor that he had made his life a living hell in the past year, and therefore there was only one way to settle things at WrestleMania: Hell in a Cell. Balor agreed, but then had the rest of Judgment Day come to the ring to attack Edge. Dexter Lumis and Johnny Gargano then came to the ring to make the save.
Edge has been feuding with Judgment Day for most of the last year, dating back to Balor joining the group and immediately dumping Edge. In recent weeks, Balor cost Edge the United States title in a match against champion Austin Theory, while Edge cost Balor a match against Gargano. On last week’s Raw, Edge told Balor to meet him on next week’s show.
Here is the updated lineup for WrestleMania 39 on April 1 and 2:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Cody Rhodes
WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair defends against Rhea Ripley
WWE Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair defends against Asuka
WWE US Champion Austin Theory defends against John Cena
WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther defends against TBD
Hell in a Cell: Edge vs. Finn Balor
Brock Lesnar vs. Omos
Seth Rollins vs. Logan Paul
Trish Stratus, Becky Lynch & Lita vs. Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai & IYO SKY)
Edge has opened up about where Judgment Day is today and what the original plan for the faction was.
The 49-year-old was a guest on After the Bell with Corey Graves recently and spoke about aligning with Damian Priest at WrestleMania 38 and the group’s evolution since then.
Edge said:
It really started at WrestleMania the night that Priest and I first joined together and that became the initial nucleus of what this thing was but then it turned into something entirely different and better, honestly.
Edge was kicked out of the faction he created in mid-June last year. Reports at the time suggested this may have been done because he was opposed to WWE wishing to add a “supernatural element” to the act. Edge says the original idea was just to give opportunities to wrestlers he felt deserved it.
Where it’s at now was the goal that I had in mind. I really thought the concept of The Judgment Day, the idea behind it was here’s these really talented individuals who I truly felt weren’t getting the opportunity that they deserved, and if they got that opportunity that they could fly with it, they could run with it.
Edge continued to say that his leading the group as a heel proved to be a greater challenge than anticipated, however.
Thankfully, they were given the reigns to take this in a different direction, an entirely different direction than it would have with Edge at the helm. Again, with Edge at the helm, it’s swimming upstream because we are trying to get the audience to turn on a character but they know the backstory to this character, they know the real-life story behind this character, they know Adam’s story. So it’s like, we don’t really want to hate this character because he fought back for something that he wanted to get back and he’s also doing something that nobody has ever done before, he’s wrestling with a triple fusion in his neck, no one has ever done that. It can be hard to hate that.
When Edge was first approached about forming Judgment Day, the group was described to him as a “New Brood” similar to his former faction with Christian and Gangrel.
Graves would describe the addition of Dominik Mysterio to the group as “the missing ingredient nobody realized they needed.” Edge responded that “Dom has been able to grow into such a major part of making this thing work.”
Let’s face it, Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley can all go, all animals in the ring, all have a great look, talented, can do it all. [I’m] not saying Dom can’t but in a lot of people’s eyes, they go ‘Well, Dom’s there because of Rey.’ So, there’s always that floating above him too.
But this turns it on its head and it’s like, ‘Well, actually Dom’s going to be just fine on his own and you’re going to hate it because of all the layers going into it. That’s been, I think, one of the happiest surprises out of the whole thing is just to see where that has gone and what it adds to the show. It adds to the group but it also adds to the totality of the show and I’m strangely so proud that the Judgment Day has become such an important cog in the machine or Raw and SmackDown, for that matter.
Edge and Finn Balor are scheduled for a face-to-face segment on next week’s Raw from the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island.
