Adam Copeland - On Edge

This book, one of my dreams, is dedicated to my Ma.

Words cannot express or truly convey what you mean to me, but Ill give it a shot. Without you and your support, my dream would not have been possible. With you and your strength, you helped me believe that any dream can come true.

You are my true hero. I love you.

Adam Copeland on Edge is what the author describes as a mental picture. It's also a dream one of many that he decided to realize while at home convalescing from potential career-ending neck surgery. And it's a journey that explores not only his life but also his innermost thoughts.

In the small town of Orangeville, Ontario, Copeland was raised by a loving mother who, while working multiple jobs just to pay the rent, nurtured her son's passion for Spider-Man comics and KISS albums. When a family tragedy created a void in Copeland's life, that void was soon filled by the wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who made me feel like I could accomplish anything.

For Copeland, anything meant becoming a wrestler, an ambition shared by his friend Jason Reso, who would eventually form the indie tag team Suicide Blondes with Copeland, then join him in WWE as Edge's brother, Christian. Winning a newspaper essay contest earned Copeland free wrestling training from independent veterans Sweet Daddy Siki and Ron Hutchinson. The author shares his vivid, often outrageous memories of wrestling throughout Canada and the midwestern United States and befriending future WWE Superstars like Terry Richards (Rhyno), Sean Morley (Val Venis), and Chris Jericho. Hard work and persistence brought Copeland to World Wrestling Entertainment. But his inauspicious Raw debut during which he accidentally knocked out his opponent supports his claim that I had no idea how to make the transformation to Edge.

Copeland retraces the steps he took to Edgeucate himself, from his goth days with the Brood's Christian and Gangrel to ushering in the E&C Dynasty, which in turn revitalized WWE's Tag Team division (with the aid of the Hardy Boyz, the Dudley Boyz, and countless tables, ladders, and chairs).

With vivid detail and sincerity, Copeland offers his thoughts about not only fulfilling his goals but also building upon them. He shares his actual surprise over winning the Intercontinental title for the first time; the anxiety he felt while splitting up with Christian; his eventual determination to grab the damn ball out of someone's hands and take off; the distress of almost losing his long blond hair to Kurt Angle; his wonder over enjoying a brief Tag Team title reign with the icon who first inspired him; the simultaneous pain of a broken marriage and two ruptured discs in his neck; and the nervous energy of returning to Raw in March 2004 and setting his sights on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

You think you know Edge? Then read on

Adam Copeland

ePub r1.0

Banshee28.12.13

Original title: On Edge

Adam Copeland, 2004

Digital editor: Banshee

ePub base r1.0

A few years ago, I was asked to comment on my legacy in the wrestling business. As I thought about it, I realized that my peers opinions of my in-ring skills have relatively little to do with how I want to be remembered. Finally, I said I wanted to be remembered as a guy who made fans smile, and who was always good to the younger guys in the business. With that in mind, I believe that Adam Copeland, Edge, is a major part of that legacy.

By the summer of 2000, WWE had been under attack for some time from critics who felt the show was too risqu and was inappropriate for children. I largely disagreed, and made it my mission to put a happy, goofy, innocent face on professional wrestling. Adam and Jay Reso (better known as his tag team partner, Christian) were my partners in this ridiculous endeavor. Together, our skits came to be known as Credgeley (for Christian, Edge, and Foley) and set the standard for hokey comedy and downright nincompoopery that should endure for ages.

Interestingly, in the midst of all the fun, E&C found time to tear the house down on many a WWE show, including that years SummerSlam match, a downright brilliant contest that should endure for ages as well.

Alas, the good times had to end, as I departed the wrestling scene for a more hands-on role in fatherhood, and Adam and Jay received the crushing news (crushing for me, at least) that they needed to act more like real people. Real people, they were told, dont play kazoos.

Ironically, as far as people go, they dont get much more real than Adam Copeland. He is an intelligent, thoughtful young man, and an athletic, charismatic performer. He has sacrificed his body for the entertainment of WWE fans, and while paying for those sacrifices, found the time to share his story with us. The fact that he wrote it himself didnt surprise meI always assumed he would.

His is not the story of an aged wrestler looking back on his long years. Not that theres anything wrong with that. I wrote one myself. Neither is it a story of a young Superstar reflecting on his rapid climb up wrestlings ladder.

Rather it is the story of a young man at our industrys crossroads. A story of an athlete poised at the threshold of greatness, who is counting down the seconds until a career-threatening injury is finally overcome by the formidable tag team of Mother Nature and Father Time, and then can team with a mystery partner known as Potential Not Yet Fulfilled.

As a wrestling fan, I cant wait to watch. As a friend, I will be nervous, but confident. As a mentor of sorts, I will be a proud couch potato and will always consider being asked to write the foreword to Adams unique story as a major part of my own legacy.

MICK FOLEY

My fellow author, Mick Foley.

PROLOGUE

S o here it is, my book. The life and ramblings of Adam Copeland. Now, if you have picked up this handsome little number, then you probably also know me as Edge. If you dont know either name, read on. Hopefully, wrestling and nonwrestling fans alike will be fascinated.

What you are holding in your hands has been a dream of mine. Ive had many dreams come true, and I still have many more to fulfill. Thats what this book is about: my life and working toward fulfilling those dreams.

You may be asking yourself, Why do I want to read about this? The guy is only thirty years old, how much of a story can he possibly have? Oh ye of little faith. These eyes have seen many things. This body has experienced things a body should not endure.

So now its time to step through the looking glass and come out on the other side. Okay, so now you are standing beside me. Not good enough. This is a story. Its supposed to take you, the reader, on a journey. My journey. Its my job to paint a mental picture for you. Theater of the mind. So here it goes, and bear with me.

Right now, faithful Edgehead, you are a worm. Dont worry, this is the first, and last, time you will pretend to be a worm while reading this book (unless your name is Scotty 2 Hotty). You are now sliding your way into my ear (dont get stuck in the wax). Pop! You are in. Lot a room in there, huh?