Edge's latest run in WWE was a success, but it didn't quite live up to his or fan expectations. The Rated R Superstar never held championship gold and was used so sporadically that his impact on storytelling felt surprisingly minimal.
When his WWE contract came to an end, Edge, whose real name is Adam Copeland, made the decision to sign with AEW. There, he'll be a full-time member of the roster and will now share the ring with his former tag team partner and real-life best friend, Christian Cage.
Talking at this weekend's WWE Fastlane press conference, WWE COO Paul "Triple H" Levesque shared his reaction to Edge leaving WWE to sign with AEW.
"Time was right for him, time was right for us," The Game said. "I think he had an amazing career and an amazing send-off here. I think he felt like he had done what there was to do. We sort of felt, 'Yeah, think you're right.' I wish him the best. I think he said the other day, 'there is no animosity here, there are no hard feelings.'"
"He's doing what's right for him and his family. I'm happy for him, very happy for him. I sent him that in a message, 'I'm happy for you.' I'm proud of him and happy for him. This has to be right for you," he continues. "This is a grind, a lot of hard work, it has to be right for you. If somebody feels like a different opportunity is better for them, great, that's wonderful, but the machine doesn't stop for anyone."
"We're going to continue to grow and continue to do what we do."
It's interesting to hear Triple H acknowledge that WWE didn't really have anything for Edge and a surprise considering his in-ring return was a huge deal. For whatever reason, the company just couldn't find a place for him on the roster, hence why AEW appears to be a better option.
"I kind of got the sense there wasn't really a plan [for me in WWE]," Edge recently revealed. "I get it because what else do we do? And after 25 years I've literally done everything there. So what do we do? It wasn't anybody's fault. I was coming up against creative walls too. I was having a hard time coming up with ideas and that's not usually the case. I think they were too."
"There was also the conundrum that I was contracted for 10 matches a year. I offered to do more, but to their point, it wouldn't feel quite as special, which I understood too. It just felt like neither one of us really had any ideas and that's never been the case before."
Do you think Edge made the right decision by signing with AEW?