First off, just wanna say that I'm enjoying this, wrong as you are.
I still stand by that we shouldn't count how they broke in, being as the Hall of Fame doesn't. This is the "WWE Hall of Fame" we are talking about here, not "The Fair and Balanced Wrestling Hall of Fame".
Was it admirable for how Edge got to the WWE? Yup. Same with a number of other guys, doesn't make 'em Hall of Famers.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>If you change the rules to suit the individuals, then everyone gets in. If you limit it that much, then we lose guys like Harley Race, Paul Orndorff and Ted DiBiase, Sr. [/quote]
I'm not changing the rules, people are inducted into the Hall based on what they did for the business and their impact.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div> His title defences were either against the same opponent over and over and over again. Or they were against mid-carders who had not really moved into the main even picture yet.[/quote]
Same with Hogan and Austin, what's yer point? Count the number of legitimate threats to any of those three guys during their heyday, and you won't run out of fingers.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div> Edge, meanwhile had to deal with both types of contender. And his opponents included Batista, Undertaker and John Cena. While the Rock took on the big guys from his day, Edge took on the big guys from his day. [/quote]
The Rock had to fight Taker, Austin, Foley, and Brock Lesnar. Edge had to deal with the likes Cena. Batista, Orton and Undertaker.
Seems like on this point, both Rock and Edge are in the same boat. Even though I think the Rock had much more competition in his day.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Edge started in the industry around the same time the Rock did, but he stayed around, and the Rock didn't.[/quote]
And I bet Edge was very grateful to see Rock go so a spot could open up that never would have. Seriously, the Rock leaving was one of the best things to happen to guys like Edge's careers.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>And Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Triple H also won KOTR. And Rock lost out to Shamrock. So I don't see your point about Mabel winning it.[/quote]
I just couldn't resist the urge to be a smart-ass.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Correction: Edge had the same competition that the Rock, and a lot more.[/quote]
Yeah, like Matt Hardy and Jack Swagger. C'mon, the SAME competition and a lot more? Who are you trying to convince?
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div> All of the Rock's opposition were in the WWE at the same time Edge was. Edge was winning titles when the Rock was. The only difference is that when competition starting changing, Edge didn't run away. The Rock did. The Rock barely held his own at a time when competition was fierce and he was at his prime.[/quote]
The Rock did a lot more than "hold his own", he reached that level for being damn good and improving incredibly quick. Watch his match against Jericho at No Mercy. The Rock may not have been a tactician, but he was solid in his placement and psychology. Sure, Edge was winning titles when Rock was. Bret was winning titles when Hogan was, too. Didn't put him on Hogan's level when they were both at WWF.
The Rock didn't run away because the competition was changing, he left to pursue a different career, quite the difference. Like I said before, if he hadn't of left, guys like Edge would have never seen the success they did in his absence.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Correction: Edge had the same competition that the Rock, and a lot more[/quote]
Correction: Like fricken' hell he did, and you know it.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Edge beat the best there was available after he passed his prime. In fact, many of the opponents that were mid-carders when Rock beat them were solid main-eventers when Edge beat them. Chris Jericho, Triple H, Chris Benoit, The Undertaker.[/quote]
The only person on that list that could be considered a mid-card opponent in Rock's time is Benoit. C'mon, man. All those other guys had great high-profile feuds with Rock. Let's keep what you said in mind: "Edge beat the best there was available."
Also, saying Undertaker was a mid-carder at ANY time is just wrong, sir. Wrong.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>How many times has the Rock ever beaten Undertaker in a singles match?[/quote]
Once, out of the three times it actually happened. How many times did Edge actually face Undertaker?
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Did you forget that you are defending The Rock when you typed that?[/quote]
Nope, my point was, they did the same thing with Edge that they did Cena, take a guy with
some heat, and act like he had
all the heat. They HAD to push Edge, because they had very few options. Edge never quite got over like Rock or Austin, or even Cena, for that matter.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>1. The first tag team Ladder Match. Right up there with Rock vs Austin pt.1.
2. The triple threat tag team ladder match - overshadowed all of the Rock's matches in 2000, the year that the Rock spent most of his time as champion.
3. The first TLC. - Same again.]
4. Winning the KOTR as a mid-carder, beating Kurt Angle.
5. Cage match with Chris Benoit.
6. Cashing in the first ever MITB contract.
7. Live sex celebration.
8. Spearing Foley through a flaming table, landing face first in the fire.
9. Costing Cena the title at ECW One Night Stand 2006.
10. Facing the Undertaker at WrestleMania in a major title match.
11. Almost any singles match with Shawn Michaels.[/quote]
I was meaning his one on one singles matches. Those tag-team ladder matches, him and Bubba were the two laziest, in my opinion, everyone else made those. Sure, Edge won the King of the Ring.... and no one cared. I remember that year, they kept pushing the whole "Edge Head" thing to absolutely no avail.
I've yet to hear a wrestling fan say: "Man, remember when Edge won King of the Ring? Wasn't that a classic?"
I don't remember that cage match.... which just goes to show how much of a classic it was.
Live sex celebration? I didn't think anyone over the age of 14 cared.
Spearing Foley through a flaming table would be cool.... if his spear didn't suck so much. It's a running hug. That's it.
Costing Cena the title at One Night Stand doesn't really count as a classic moment, being as most people remember that night for RVD and the hellacious crowd.
Being fed to the Undertaker at Wrestlemania for a title isn't a classic moment, it wasn't when Taker fought Sid, either. Everyone knew how it would end.
Almost any singles match with Shawn Michaels? Tsk, tsk, Rag...... You damn well know that doesn't count! Shawn can make ANYONE. Just watch HIS matches with Sid. Sid never looked better.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Maybe so, but Edge still has victories over Austin, Triple H, Mick Foley, Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle and Chris Jericho. And some of them were in their prime too.[/quote]
Maybe Jericho was. Maybe. Also, the anticipation for those matches can't match the anticipation for when Rock was facing them, not by a long shot.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div> And when he wasn't in his prime, he has beaten Cena, Orton, Jeff Hardy when they were in their prime.
[/quote]
Him and Jeff were on the same level of "prime", I'd like to point out. Same with Orton and Cena. Orton, Cena and Edge all blew up around the same time.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>The Rock HELPED popularise Pro Wrestling. With Austin, DX and Mankind. [/quote]
And Edge helped guys like me not watch for six years because they were so damn vanilla and boring.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div> Edge helped carry the company during a lull, Like Michaels did in 1996-1998. Some of the highest ratings that the WWE has earned since WCW and ECW went off the air was when Edge was a title holder.[/quote]
First off, Bret freaking Hart. Edge getting some of the higher ratings after all the competition was gone doesn't really say much, and it doesn't put him in Bret's or HBK's league, it really doesn't. Though his initial heel turn after the Hardy fiasco was interesting, it couldn't hold attention long enough. Not saying he isn't a draw, but he isn't interesting enough to really break outside of the wrestling box and bring in new fans, he could only cater to those who already knew who he was. Austin and Rock didn't have that problem.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Austin: Any no disqualifications match.
Ric Flair: Cage matches.
Bret Hart: I Quit / Submission matches. An endurance match, not just Iron Man.
Hulk Hogan: Cage matches.
[/quote]
All of these examples are not considered those stars "signature match", just a match that compliments their style. Let's not split hairs, my man.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Rated RKO was a last minute decision, so surely this would speak just as loudly for Edge.[/quote]
Rated RKO sucked. It consisted of two of my least favorite and boring wrestlers ever, and they didn't have the heat Edge and Christian or the Rock and Sock connection did.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>If I agree with your point, you can be the one that tells Austin and Roddy Piper that they didn't need to stick with wrestling.[/quote]
Wait, what? I'm honestly confused on that one.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>No. It's not luck. It just means that Edge would have spent years jobbing to Rock and Orton instead of Cena and Orton.[/quote]
Yes, it IS Edge's good fortune that Rock left, otherwise he would have NEVER gotten that spot.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>You don't need to be exciting if you are standing beside this when you speak!
[/quote]
I'll agree.... so what about the rest of his main event career? I slept through it, too. No worries.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>Nope. But he will be remembered alongside Jeff Hardy, Batista, John Cena, Brock Lesnar and Randy Orton. [/quote]
I'd agree with that list besides Brock. Sorry. Same time and whatnot, but no. He will NEVER be remembered the same way as Lesnar.
<blockquote class='quote\\_blockquote'><dl><dt>Quote:</dt><dd> </dd></dl><div>. And when they get to our age, Hardy, Batista, Cena, Lesnar, Orton and Edge will be considered legends too. [/quote]
:cena
Will they be considered legends? Time will tell. Y'know, that time that should have passed before he was inducted, perhaps? Then maybe it might make sense.
Here's a quick test. Go to ten of your non-wrestling fan friends and ask them if they know who Edge is. Then ask them if they know who the Rock is.[/SPOILER]