The latest edition of NXT notably featured the debut of ‘Rated R Superstar’ Edge.
Only several days ago, fans got to witness Edge make his miraculous return for another year and this time, go the distance.
Edge outlasted 29 other wrestlers, including his arch-nemesis Randy Orton, to win the Royal Rumble and guarantee his WrestleMania 37 championship match.
However, there is still mystery circulating around Edge’s ‘Mania feud as he has a few interesting options to pursue.
We could either see a dream match between Edge and Drew McIntyre, or the highly reported Edge vs Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship could come to fruition.
On the other hand, WWE reminded everyone that Edge could easily challenge the NXT Champion Finn Balor or Pete Dunne – depending on the result of their Vengeance Day clash – at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
Edge made his first appearance on the black and gold brand, entangling himself in the confrontation between Balor and Dunne.
In another terrific promo, Edge heightened NXT by stating the passion and motivation on display on Wednesday nights inspired him to return. Plus, he didn’t let you forget that he hasn’t fought for the NXT Championship at all in his tenured career.
The former WWE Champion would be an impressive placement on the NXT roster. Additionally, it would undoubtedly lead to entertaining dream matches to come to Wednesday nights
Therefore, let’s excite ourselves with the possibility that Edge will become a more full-time thing on the “developmental” brand and discuss 10 NXT stars that Edge should face.
10. Finn Balor
If Finn Balor is victorious in his bout with Pete Dunne on Valentine’s Day, that paints a massive target on his back especially in the eyes of this year’s Rumble winner.
The most likely scenario would see Edge battle it out in a ‘Spear vs. Spear’ fight with Roman Reigns, but WWE may be thinking outside the box this year.
There are many reasons why a WrestleMania clash with Finn Balor would be far greater than Reigns or even McIntyre.
Edge was a heartfelt Royal Rumble win but there is one key error with it – Edge will be putting an end to the momentum of McIntyre or Reigns. Both stars have been doing their best wrestling work recently.
And if Edge loses – what was the point?
Whereas, a fight with Balor won’t derail him. Balor hasn’t been hyped up in the ways McIntyre and Reigns have.
He has been emphasised as a force to be reckoned with but never pictured as the face of the company. Balor should easily manage to pick himself up after a defeat from the ‘Rated R Superstar’.
Also, the match would be insane! Unfortunately, since Edge made his mind-blowing return from retirement last year, the only man he has faced one-on-one has been Randy Orton, someone he had countless matches with prior to his neck injury.
This doesn’t seem to be the long-term plan (well, we certainly hope not), as Edge being back at the age of 47 is to search for the newer competition he hasn’t had the chance to square-up with. Balor would be an incredible first pick for a dream encounter at the ‘Showcase of the Immortals’.
Finally, Edge challenging and winning the NXT Championship would add more prestige to a belt held by guys such as Seth Rollins, Shinsuke Nakamura and Keith Lee.
It would further solidify that NXT isn’t being treated as “developmental” any more and rather is WWE’s third brand.
This would be similar to Charlotte Flair beating Rhea Ripley at last year’s WrestleMania, notwithstanding that they didn’t capitalise on this, had Charlotte on all shows and just used the victory as a way to boost her accomplishments rather than the brands.
If Edge wins this underappreciated title, he must solely be on NXT and represent the brand as he did with SmackDown all those years ago.
9. Pete Dunne
Or… ‘NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day’ could see Pete Dunne win the NXT Championship for the first time in his career. If so, someone must tell him that holding the strap with his mouth is not hygiene-friendly.
Dunne as the champion against a legend such as Edge at WrestleMania 37 would not only achieve the same goals an Edge vs Balor match would gain but would also make a new star out of Pete Dunne.
Dunne has been slightly lost in the shuffle on NXT and NXT UK since the pandemic.
He got replaced by Timothy Thatcher as Riddle’s NXT Tag Team Champion partner due to travel restrictions and has only been reclimbing the ladder since joining Pat McAfee’s group with Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan.
If he does shockingly start leading the brand on the road to WrestleMania, a match with Edge would be memorable and in the process, would convey Dunne as one of the brand’s biggest stars going forward.
8. Johnny Gargano
Moving away from ‘Mania speculation and more towards Edge being a full-time member for the black & gold roster, a must-see match would be against current North American Champion Johnny Gargano.
Gargano is now considered an NXT veteran, and some may say he could be on the brand “for life”, which is just more reason why Edge vs Gargano would be engaging.
If Gargano won’t go up to face Edge, then he must chase him on Wednesday nights.
Moreover, imagine the instant classic that would be put on at a TakeOver between the two. This would definitely be one of the most tremendous matches to come from NXT in its history.
On the other hand, a match with another supposed NXT-lifer would be exciting…
7. Tommaso Ciampa
Tommaso Ciampa is a craftsman in the ring, one of the most technical brawlers of this generation, and would certainly give Edge a run for his money.
Ciampa vs Edge is a match that would surely bring new viewers to the black and gold brand. It is a fight that doesn’t need an introduction.
Edge can literally just say he sees a lot of himself in Ciampa. Both are willing to take out anyone to reach the top. Not to mention they have both had similar injury concerns.
Then, in extraordinary fashion, we get to grit our teeth into this never-before-seen match!
6. Kushida
NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day will see the NXT North American Championship contested in a battle between Johnny Gargano and Kushida (although it seems that may no longer be the case).
Kushida religiously conveys his love for the ‘Back to the Future’ trilogy via his ring gear and aspiration to keep on competing with the best. What if he travels back to the future to take on Hall of Famer, Edge?
This match would definitely be the biggest in Kushida’s wonderful career as he has been highly under-utilised since debuting for the brand in 2019.
If Kushida can earn the respect from Edge, victory or defeat, and gets endorsed by the former WWE Champion, this would do wonders for the longevity of Kushida’s NXT plans.
5. Kyle O’Reilly
Some may say that Kyle O’Reilly was the breakout star of the Undisputed Era, or even all of NXT, in 2020. He truly got over during the later portion of the year, even going as far to have an NXT Championship against Finn Balor at TakeOver 31.
Therefore, O’Reilly would bring a big fight feel to a contest with the ‘Rated R Superstar’. O’Reilly is noted to be resilient. He won’t ever stay down, so expect a massive pop when he kicks out of a Spear at the count of two!
Plus, Edge is the type of talent that would elevate O’Reilly to his level even in defeat. The momentum of this up-and-coming singles star would be extraordinary.
Furthermore, the story writes itself. O’Reilly has always conveyed a die-hard attitude. He would request for a stronger and tougher opponent to prove himself to the world.
It is easy to expect O’Reilly interrupting Edge’s promo, walking out and demanding for a match. Which Edge, being the enthusiastic believer that he is, accepts.
4. Bronson Reed
Clearly, WWE has big plans for the ‘Colossal’ Bronson Reed.
Reed is displayed as this ‘Thicc boy’ from Down Under that will bulldoze through his opponents like Godzilla to Japan. He is booked effectively and dominantly, and it is surely guaranteed he will be a future champion on the brand someday.
As a result of this booking, a feud with Edge would be intense. It would be different to the prior men mentioned in this list, as Edge would be the underdog, barely surviving the powerful Bronson Reed.
Whether Edge wins or Reed manages to topple him, respect would be earned and Reed would be sought out as one of the top stars of the division.
3. Cameron Grimes
Grimes vs Edge would definitely catapult Grimes “to the moon”.
Cameron Grimes is one of those talents that feuds with the top stars on the roster, such as Damian Priest or Dexter Lumis, but he never wins.
What if Grimes challenges this year’s Royal Rumble winner? He is cocky and arrogant. Obviously, he believes he can beat Edge. But what if he actually does?
The match can be exciting and hard-hitting. Grimes instantly tries to escape his opponents grasp but Edge is faster and remains on top. This is until Edge goes for the Apear.
However, when Edge charges like a cheetah on his prey, Grimes leaps into the sky and deliver’s a Cave-In, only to pick up the win and gloat about it for multiple NXTs to come.
Cameron Grimes could do with a big win before reaching the main roster. His future plans remain unknown, but it has been announced he will make his return to NXT tonight.
2. Karrion Kross
During Edge’s first night on NXT, he came face to face with former NXT Champion Karrion Kross in the parking lot. This insane staredown had immediately shown that a wrestling match between the two would be epic!
Kross lost his title as a result of an unexpected injury and he surely doesn’t like Edge skipping the line for a championship he didn’t lose.
This staredown teased that we could get a full-on feud between the two. Kross is vividly going to make a big impact in this company but what if this begins with making the legendary Edge pass out at the Grandest Stage of Them All?
Kross is currently in a slight feud with NXT Cruiserweight Champion Santos Escobar, but even if Kross wins the rivalry, he can’t win the title. The guy is a beast, billed at 265 pounds!
Additionally, the NXT Championship is what has his beady eyes’ entire attention. Kross is surely going to feud with Balor or Dunne heading into the TakeOver before ‘Mania, whatever that may be.
Could Kross say “time’s up” on whoever is champion and change the WrestleMania main event one night before it kicks off? This gives no time for Edge to prepare for a threat like Kross. Therefore, it could result in a major win for Kross at his first WrestleMania.
1. Adam Cole
Lastly, one of the best Edge matches NXT can deliver is one against Undisputed Era’s Adam Cole.
The Undisputed Era is currently still tied down to a feud with Pat McAfee’s clan, but when this settles down, Cole targeting Edge would be unimaginable. This could lead to many options…
A one-on-one match with Edge. This would be incredible, nobody would deny it. Edge has returned to compete against stars that weren’t around during his prime. Adam Cole is one of those guys.
Cole should be an inevitable main event star of Raw or SmackDown. A big win against Edge would cement his legacy going forward.
Additionally, the Undisputed Era has been growing tiresome on this brand. They have been dominating NXT for a good few years and a split-up story feels like the only fresh thing for them…
…Unless Edge heads to NXT and we can see one more spark of UE greatness before saying farewell to the black and gold.
Furthermore, this could also lead to a multi-man match. Undisputed Era battling it out with Edge and another three men. Perhaps it can lead to Christian also making his debut on the roster, further signalling that this brand is one of the best places to shape out your career.
No matter if you are a novice wrestler or sacrificed two decades to the business, NXT will offer unique competition and storylines.
Edge on NXT may not be WWE’s long-term plan, but it would certainly be interesting to see.
Comments.
Loading comments…