Edge isn’t certain about how many years he has left in a WWE ring.
The “Rated-R Superstar” was recently a guest on Steven’s Wrestling Journey to discuss a wide variety of subjects. When asked about initially having to retire back in 2011, Edge explained that it was a mixed bag of emotions but the fact that it was out of his hands made it easier for him to handle at the time.
“It was such a mixed bag of emotions when they told me I had to retire. In a weird way, it made it easier,” Edge admitted. “In a weird way, because I wasn’t having to make the decision on my own and kinda go, ‘How much more do I have left?’ That was taken out of the equation, so in a weird way, it made it easier, but it was still a shock. Because at that point, I thought, ‘We’re looking at three years, at the most,’ and I’d retire by 40 years old. Well, I was forced to retire at 37. I didn’t get the last three years to try and help some new talent along, and I knew that’s where I was at in my role.
“I was champ, but I knew that by younger guys challenging the champ and hanging with the champ, then it would help them going forward, and maybe they could learn things like I learned. I look back now and think, ‘it all worked out pretty good.’ I was disappointed because I was just starting to work with Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre, and guys like that and really enjoying it and their enthusiasm and excitement. I didn’t get to see that through, and that was disappointing to me. But I was also in a lot of pain, and I didn’t fully grasp how much pain I was in until I got that second neck surgery, and I realized I was in a lot rougher shape than I realized. So there was a bit of relief in that regard too.”
Edge explained the pain he was in just doing simple activities with WWE Hall of Famer Beth Phoenix following retirement and how much better his body felt after the second neck surgery.
“As I started feeling good and attacking life again, eight years later, nine years later, I started realizing that maybe it was a possibility to come back and finally maybe get that last three years and maybe try and help young talent on the cusp, teach them a couple little things,” Edge said. “To do it against a whole new era, to get in there with Roman Reigns, and get in there with Seth Rollins, and get in there with these guys that don’t need my help, but it’s exciting to get in there with them and try to hang with them in this stage of my life and career. But again, I know that’s not going to last for long, and I only have so much in the tank to be able to do that. I want to get out before you start going, ‘ehhh…his tank is getting low.’ I want to get out while people still have fond memories.”
READ MORE: Edge Defeats AJ Styles, Aligns With Damian Priest At WrestleMania 38
What do you make of Edge’s comments? Are you disappointed to hear he doesn’t believe he has much longer left on his active WWE career? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
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