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[[WWE]] is a [[professional wrestling]] [[Professional wrestling promotion|promotion]] based in [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Connecticut]]. Title reigns are either determined by [[Professional wrestling match types|professional wrestling matches]] or are awarded to a wrestler, as a result of the culmination of various scripted storylines.  Currently there are four active singles championships, one active tag team championship, and a championship for the female wrestlers. Seven wrestlers currently hold the championships. The list includes the number of times the wrestler has held the title, the date and location of the win, and a description of the winning bout. The following is correct as of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}.

At the top of WWE's championship hierarchy, the [[WWE Championship]] is currently held by [[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]] who is in his eighth reign as WWE Champion, while the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] is held by [[Alberto Del Rio]]. Rock won the WWE Championship on January 27, 2013 at [[Royal Rumble (2013)|Royal Rumble]] when he defeated [[CM Punk]]. Del Rio is in his first reign as World Heavyweight Champion after defeating [[Big Show]] during the January 8, 2013 taping of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]''.

The two secondary titles in WWE are the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship]] and the [[WWE United States Championship]]. The current Intercontinental Champion is [[Wade Barrett]], who is in his second reign after defeating [[Kofi Kingston]] during the December 29, 2012 taping of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''.  [[Claudio Castagnoli|Antonio Cesaro]] is in his first reign as [[WWE United States Championship|United States Champion]], winning the title at [[SummerSlam (2012)|SummerSlam]] on August 19, 2012, defeating [[Santino Marella]].  [[Team Hell No]] ([[Daniel Bryan]] & [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]]) are the current holders of the [[WWE Tag Team Championship]], who are in their first reign as a team (second reign for Kane individually).  They defeated [[Kofi Kingston & R-Truth]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]] at [[Night of Champions (2012)|Night of Champions]] on September 16, 2012.

There is one championship that is challenged by [[WWE Diva|female wrestlers]]. [[Kaitlyn (wrestler)|Kaitlyn]] is presently in her first reign as [[WWE Divas Championship|WWE Divas Champion]] as a result of defeating [[Eve Torres|Eve]] on the ''Raw'' 20th Anniversary special on January 14, 2013.

==Champions==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" 
! Championship 
! colspan=2|Current champion(s) 
! Reign 
! Date won 
! Days<br>held 
! Location 
! Notes 
|-style="background: #CCFFCC;"
|-
|[[WWE Championship]]
|align=center |[[File:WWE Champion The Rock 2013.jpg|75px]]
|[[Dwayne Johnson|Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson]] 
|align=center | [[List of WWE Champions|8]]
|align=center | January 27, 2013
|align=center | {{age in days|month1=1|day1=27|year1=2013}}
|align=center | [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]], [[Arizona]]
|Defeated [[CM Punk]] at [[Royal Rumble (2013)|Royal Rumble]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wwechampionship/20130127-the-rock|title=Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's eighth reign|publisher=[[WWE]]|accessdate=2013-01-27}}</ref>
|-
|[[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]
|align=center |[[File:World Heavyweight Champion Alberto Del Rio.jpg|75px]]
|[[Alberto Del Rio]]
|align=center | [[List of World Heavyweight Champions (WWE)|1]]
|align=center | January 8, 2013
|align=center |{{age in days|month1=1|day1=8|year1=2013}}
|align=center | [[Miami]], [[Florida]]
|Defeated [[Big Show]] on ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown]]''<br>Aired January 11.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/worldheavyweight/20130118-alberto-del-rio|title=Alberto Del Rio's first reign|publisher=[[WWE]]|accessdate=2013-01-08}}</ref>
|-
|[[WWE Intercontinental Championship]]
|align=center |[[File:Wade Barrett IC Champion Feb 13.jpg|75px]]
|[[Wade Barrett]]
|align=center | [[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|2]]
|align=center | December 29, 2012
|align=center | {{age in days|month1=12|day1=29|year1=2012}}
|align=center | [[Washington, DC]]
|Defeated [[Kofi Kingston]] on ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''.<br>Aired December 31, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/intercontinental/20121229-wade-barrett|title=Wade Barrett's second reign|publisher=[[WWE]]|accessdate=2012-12-29}}</ref>
|-
|[[WWE United States Championship]]
|align=center |[[File:Antonio Cesaro 2013 A.jpg|75px]]
|[[Claudio Castagnoli|Antonio Cesaro]]
|align=center | [[List of WWE United States Champions|1]]
|align=center | August 19, 2012
|align=center | {{age in days|month1=08|day1=19|year1=2012}}
|align=center | [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]
|Defeated [[Santino Marella]] at the [[SummerSlam (2012)|SummerSlam pre-show]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/unitedstates/20120819-antonio-cesaro|title=Antonio Cesaro's first reign|publisher=[[WWE]]|accessdate=2012-08-19}}</ref>
|-
|[[WWE Tag Team Championship]]
|align=center |[[File:HellNo.jpg|75px]]
|[[Team Hell No]] <br><small>([[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] & [[Daniel Bryan]])</small>
|align=center | [[List of WWE Tag Team Champions|1 <br>(2, 1)]]
|align=center | September 16, 2012
|align=center | {{age in days|month1=09|day1=16|year1=2012}}
|align=center | [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]
|Defeated [[Kofi Kingston & R-Truth]] at [[Night of Champions (2012)|Night of Champions]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/wwetag/09162012-daniel-bryan-kane|title=Dainel Bryan's first and Kane's second reign|publisher=[[WWE]]|accessdate=2012-09-16}}</ref>
|-
|[[WWE Divas Championship]]
|align=center |[[File:Kaitlyn Divas Champion Feb 13.jpg|75px]]
|[[Kaitlyn (wrestler)|Kaitlyn]]
|align=center | [[List of WWE Divas Champions|1]]
|align=center | January 14, 2013
|align=center | {{age in days|month1=01|day1=14|year1=2013}}
|align=center | [[Houston]], [[Texas]]
|Defeated [[Eve Torres|Eve]] on the ''Raw'' 20th Anniversary special.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/divas/01142013-kaitlyn|title=Kaitlyn's first reign|accessdate=2013-01-14|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref>
|}

[[:Category:WWE Bragging Rights]]

{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name  = Adam Copeland
|names = '''Adam Copeland'''<ref name=Body/><br />[[Los Conquistadores|Conquistador Uno]]<ref name="WWF">{{cite web|url=http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_05_06.jsp|title=World Wrestling Federation Entertainment Drops The "F" To Emphasize the "E" for Entertainment|date=2002-05-06|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2008-07-13}}</ref><br />Damon Striker<ref name=OWOWprofile/><br />'"Edge'"<ref name=wwebio/><br />Sexton Hardcastle<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam tittyboy on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=74|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref>
|image = Adam Copeland, 2012.jpg 
|caption= Adam Copeland in 2012
|height={{height|ft=6|in=5}}<ref name=wwebio/>
|weight={{convert|241|lb|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name=wwebio/>
|birth_place =[[Orangeville, Ontario|Orangeville]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]<ref name=SLAMbio/>
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1973|10|30}}<ref name=SLAMbio/>
|resides = [[Asheville, North Carolina|Asheville]], [[North Carolina]]<ref name="citizen">{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Mooneyham|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2010/jun/06/jim-ross-staying-wwe/|title=Jim Ross staying in WWE|accessdate=2010-08-02|date=2010-06-06|work=[[The Post and Courier]]|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5rgUAl8r6|archivedate=2010-08-02}}</ref>
|billed  = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]<ref name=wwebio/>
|trainer = Ron Hutchison<ref name=wwebio/><br />[[Sweet Daddy Siki]]<ref name=wwebio/><br />[[Dory Funk Jr.]]<ref name=SLAMbio/><br />[[Tom Prichard]]<ref name=SLAMbio/><br />[[Leo Burke]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBios/martin_andrew.html|accessdate=2009-02-01|title=Test bio|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref><br />[[Stu Hart]]<ref name="OWOWprofile" />
|debut  = July 1, 1992<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=51|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref>
|retired = April 11, 2011
}}
'''Adam Joseph Copeland'''<ref>{{cite journal|first=Caroline|last=Brodi|title=Grappling with the world-beaters|date=2009-04-16|work=[[Press and Journal (Scotland)|Aberdeen Press & Journal]]|quote=One showdown guaranteed to have the crowds on their feet is the billed world heavyweight championship bout between Edge, real name Adam Joseph Copeland, and titleholder John Cena}}</ref> (born October 30, 1973)<ref name="copeland 16">{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=16|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> is a retired Canadian<ref name="wwe-retirement">{{cite web|title=Injury forces Edge to retire|date=2011-04-11|accessdate=2011-04-12|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/edge-announcement|work=WWE Inside|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and [[actor]], best known for his time with [[WWE]] under the ring name '''Edge'''.

Copeland was trained by former professional wrestlers [[Sweet Daddy Siki]] and [[Ron Hutchinson]]. Throughout the 1990s, he wrestled in North American [[independent circuit|independent promotions]] early in his career. During his time in these promotions, he competed in singles and tag team competition, the latter with [[Christian (wrestler)|Christian]], his [[Kayfabe|storyline]] brother. In 1997, Copeland signed a developmental deal with the WWF and began competing for the company later that year; he made his televised debut the following June under the ring name Edge. In July 1999, he won the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] at a house show in [[Toronto]], making it his first title reign with the company. [[Edge and Christian|He and Christian]] went on to win the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] on seven different occasions. During this time, they gained notoriety in the tag team division, partly due to their participation in [[Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match]]es.

Overall, Edge won 31 championships in WWE, including eleven [[World Heavyweight Championship (professional wrestling)|world championships]] (the [[WWE Championship]] [[List of WWE Champions|four times]] and the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]  [[List of World Heavyweight Champions (WWE)|a record seven times]]), five Intercontinental Championships, one [[WWE United States Championship|United States Championship]], 14 tag team championships (a record 12 [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|World Tag Team Championship]]s and two [[WWE Tag Team Championship]]s), and is one of only three wrestlers ([[Kurt Angle]] and [[Big Show]] being the others) who has held every currently active male Championship in WWE. In addition to his championship accolades, Copeland won the 2001 [[King of the Ring]] tournament, the inaugural [[Money in the Bank ladder match]] in 2005, and the [[Royal Rumble#Match|Royal Rumble match]] in [[Royal Rumble (2010)|2010]] making him the only wrestler in history to achieve all three of those accomplishments.<ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy |first=Ryan |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/edge-career-history |title=WWE "Living on the Edge: The Career of Adam Copeland"|publisher=Wwe.com |date=2011-04-14 |accessdate=2011-10-30}}</ref>

Aside from professional wrestling, Copeland has appeared in the 2000 fantasy film ''[[Highlander: Endgame]]'' and made guest appearances on television shows, including ''[[The Weakest Link]]'', ''[[Mind of Mencia]]'', ''[[Deal or No Deal (U.S. game show)|Deal or No Deal]]'', ''[[Haven (TV series)|Haven]]'', ''[[MADtv]]'' and made his movie debut as a leading actor in [[WWE Studios]]' [[Bending the Rules]].

Edge was inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] by his long-time friend and tag team partner [[Christian (wrestler)|Christian]] on March 31, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Ryan |url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/edge |title=WWE "Edge": |publisher=Wwe.com |date=2012-01-09 |accessdate=2012-01-09}}</ref>

==Early life==
Copeland was born on October 30, 1973 in [[Orangeville, Ontario]], Canada,<ref name="copeland 16"/> to Judy Copeland, a single parent, who worked two jobs to support her son.<ref name="jordan press" /> To this day, he has never met his father, or seen a picture of him.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nemeth|first=Jason D.|title=Edge|publisher=Capston Press|year=2010|page=8|isbn=978-1-4296-3346-8}}</ref> At a young age, he became interested in [[professional wrestling]]. His favorite wrestlers included [[Curt Hennig|Mr. Perfect]], [[Randy Savage]], [[Hulk Hogan]], [[Ricky Steamboat]], [[Shawn Michaels]] and [[Bret Hart]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=129|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> When he was eighteen, Copeland won an essay contest, with Sully's Gym offering free wrestling training to whoever could write a good essay, explaining why they would want to become a professional wrestler. As the result of his win, he was trained by [[Sweet Daddy Siki]] and [[Ron Hutchinson]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=47|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> in Toronto.<ref name="jordan press">{{cite journal|first=Jordan|last=Press|title=Wrestle-maniac&nbsp;— Adam Copeland turns a childhood dream into a WWF career|work=[[Toronto Star]]|page=D04}}</ref> Copeland put his wrestling aspirations aside, to help pay the bills.<ref>{{cite book|last=Nemeth|first=Jason D.|title=Edge|publisher=Capston Press|year=2010|page=12|isbn=978-1-4296-3346-8}}</ref> He held numerous jobs and decided to go to [[Humber College]], where he graduated with a diploma in [[radio broadcasting]].<ref name="anstett">{{cite news|first=Patricia|last=Anstett|title=Pro wrestler lends muscle to fight against angina|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-8817767_ITM|date=2002-06-13|accessdate=2009-09-28|work=[[Detroit Free Press]]}} {{Dead link|date=April 2012|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==Professional wrestling career==
===Early career===
Throughout the 1990s, Copeland wrestled on the [[independent circuit]] in Ontario and the [[Great Lakes]] region of the United States under the name Sexton Hardcastle.<ref name="lamont"/> He became a part of the tag team Sex and Violence with [[Joe Hitchen|Joe Legend]]. Also in the mid-1990s he wrestled for promoter Tony Condello in Winnipeg, Manitoba under the name Adam Impact.  During 1997, Sex and Violence became part of a larger [[glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable|stable]] known as Thug Life, made up of Legend, Hardcastle, Christian Cage (Copeland's childhood friend [[Christian (wrestler)|Jason Reso]]), Zakk Wyld, Bill Skullion, and [[Rhino (wrestler)|Rhino Richards]].<ref name=SLAMbio>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/edge.html|accessdate=2009-02-01|title=Edge bio|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> During his independent career, he won the ICW/MWCW Midwest Unified Tag Title holder alongside Joe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/indy/mwcw-icw/mwcwtitles.html#mwcwtag|title=Midwest / Insane Championship Wrestling|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|accessdate=2009-10-23}}</ref>

The duo of Hardcastle and Cage were known as Hard Impact before changing their name to The Suicide Blondes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingEdge/copeland_interview.html|title=Edge speaks|last=Powell|first=John|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|accessdate=2009-09-25}}</ref> They also worked in Japan under the name the Canadian Rockers.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Alex|last=Marvez|title=Tag-Team Champ Is Happy To Live His Life On The Edge|date=2000-09-15|work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|page=38}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=107643765&blogID=190578859&Mytoken=FA78C117-EF5E-4970-BFC004117D4AE1473040398|author=Adam Copeland|title=Blog from the last Japan trip|accessdate=2007-03-21|date=2006-11-08|publisher=MySpace}}</ref> Copeland also wrestled briefly as Damon Striker against [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] and [[Tonga Fifita|Meng]] on separate episodes of ''[[WCW Pro]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prorasslin.com/2011/04/15/full-match-friday-meng-vs-damon-striker/|title=Full Match Friday: Meng vs Damon Striker|date=2011-04-15|work= |publisher=prorasslin.com|accessdate=13 July 2011}}</ref>

===World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment===
====The Brood; Edge and Christian (1997–2001)====
[[File:EDGE 1999.jpg|left|thumb|180px|Edge in 1999.]]
[[File:WWE - Newcastle Arena 030499 (2).jpg|thumb|Christian with Edge (right) in their Brood attire, which they used along with gothic symbols.]]
{{See also|The Brood (professional wrestling)|Ministry of Darkness|Edge and Christian|l1=The Brood}}
Copeland was asked to wrestle in a [[WWE#World Wrestling Federation|World Wrestling Federation]] (WWF) match in 1996.<ref name="nemeth 14">{{cite book|last=Nemeth|first=Jason D.|title=Edge|publisher=Capston Press|year=2010|page=14|isbn=978-1-4296-3346-8}}</ref> Canadian wrestler [[Bret Hart]], who saw Copeland wrestle, put in a good word for Copeland, which ultimately resulted in Copeland receiving a developmental contract with the WWF in 1997.<ref name="nemeth 14"/> Coincidentally, Copeland made his WWF wrestling debut as Sexton Hardcastle on November 10, 1997, the night after Hart [[Montreal Screwjob|left the company]].<ref name="raw1197">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/nov8_wrestling1.html|title=Parting shot for Hitman Escape clause will allow Hart to bolt WWF for WCW|date=1997-11-08|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|accessdate=11 April 2010}}</ref> The following night, he faced Christian (then billed as Christian Cage) at a ''[[WWF Shotgun Saturday Night|Shotgun]]'' taping, in a match that would be included on Copeland's 2008 [[WWE Home Video]] release, ''Edge: A Decade of Decadence''.

Upon completing training, Copeland made his WWF television debut on the June 22, 1998 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw is War]]'' as Edge, a loner character who entered the arena through the crowd for his matches.<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=109|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> This had been preceded by weeks of vignettes for the character, which included him aimlessly walking around the city streets and assaulting innocent pedestrians.<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=106|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> His first televised match was against [[Jose Estrada Jr.]], which ended prematurely by [[countout]] when Edge performed a [[Senton bomb|somersault senton]] from the ring to the outside, [[Legit (professional wrestling)|legitimately]] injuring Estrada's neck.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slashwrestling.com/raw/980622.html|title=WWF Raw is WAR recap|accessdate=2007-03-21|date=1998-06-22|publisher=Slash Wrestling.com}}</ref> In his first pay-per-view match at [[SummerSlam (1998)|SummerSlam]] in August, he served as [[Sable (wrestler)|Sable]]'s mystery tag team partner against [[Jacqueline Moore|Jacqueline]] and [[Marc Mero]], and bodyslammed Sable onto Mero in a [[pin (professional wrestling)|pinning]] position to pick up the win.<ref>{{cite web|first=John|last=Powell|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/aug31_summerslam.html|title=Ladder match dominates SummerSlam|accessdate=2008-05-25|date=1998-08-31|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref>

Edge was then placed in a [[feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] against the vampire wrestler [[David Heath (wrestler)|Gangrel]]. During the feud, Gangrel introduced Christian Cage (now going by just "Christian"), Edge's [[kayfabe|storyline]] brother, as his ally.<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=WWE Books|year=2004|page=119|isbn=978-1-4165-1130-4}}</ref> Eventually, Gangrel and Christian convinced Edge to join them, and the three of them formed an [[Professional wrestling stable|alliance]] known as [[The Brood (professional wrestling)|The Brood]].<ref name="page120">{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=WWE Books|year=2004|page=120|isbn=978-1-4165-1130-4}}</ref> The Brood as a whole was later abducted by and converted into [[The Undertaker]]'s [[Ministry of Darkness]]. In May 1999, the Brood broke away from The Ministry after Christian was attacked by [[Ken Shamrock]] and forced to reveal the location of the captive [[Stephanie McMahon]].<ref name="page120" /> The Undertaker chose to have Christian punished for his trespass, but Edge and Gangrel stood by him and [[glossary of professional wrestling terms#Turn|betrayed]] The Undertaker leading to a brief feud with the Ministry.

Edge captured his first singles championship, the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]], on July 24, 1999, defeating [[Jeff Jarrett]] at a [[house show]] in Toronto, Ontario.<ref name="IC - 1999">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322584|title=History of the Intercontinental Championship&nbsp;— Edge (1)|date=1999-07-24|accessdate=2009-02-26|publisher=[[WWE]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=130|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> He lost the title the next night to Jarrett at [[WWF Fully Loaded#1999|Fully Loaded]].<ref name="IC - 1999"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=131|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref>

Later in the year, he was placed in a storyline angle with The [[Hardy Boyz]] ([[Matt Hardy|Matt]] and [[Jeff Hardy|Jeff]]). Soon, however, Gangrel betrayed both Edge and Christian and formed [[The Brood (professional wrestling)|The New Brood]] with their enemies, The Hardy Boyz. They feuded with the Hardy Boyz, as they went onto compete in a [[ladder match]] at [[No Mercy (1999)|No Mercy]] in October for the "[[manager (professional wrestling)|managerial services]]" of [[Terri Runnels]] and {{Currency|100,000|USD}}, which the Hardy Boyz won.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingArchive/oct18_nomercy.html|title=Tag match highlights No Mercy|date=1999-10-18|last=Powell|first=John|accessdate=2008-01-20|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> At [[WrestleMania 2000]] on April 2, Edge and Christian defeated the Hardy Boyz and the [[Dudley Boyz]] ([[Mark LoMonaco|Bubba Ray]] and [[Devon Hughes|D-Von]]) to win the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] in a [[professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triangle]] [[Ladder match]], which ultimately led to the creation of the [[Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match]] (TLC).<ref>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts|work=Wrestling’s historical cards|publisher=Kappa Publishing|year=2007|page=105}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|first=Ric|last=Russo|coauthors=Brian Fritz|title=WrestleMania Fallout&nbsp;— Solofa 'Rikishi' Fatu Is Riding High After 10 Years In Ring|date=2000-04-07|work=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|page=21}}</ref>
[[File:Edge and Christian WWF - King of the Ring 2000.jpg|thumb|right|225px|Edge (left) and [[Christian (wrestler)|Christian]] at [[King of the Ring (2000)|King of the Ring 2000]] performing their five second pose.]]
Following this victory, Edge and Christian found success as a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villainous]] duo, winning the WWF Tag Team Title six more times (for a total of seven).<ref name=titlehistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/edge/titlehistory|title=Edge's Title History|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2010-10-05}}</ref> During this time, their trademark became the "five second pose" where they performed a pose in the ring for five seconds "for the benefit of those with flash photography" to mock, insult, or otherwise amuse the fans.<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=WWE Books|year=2004|page=155|isbn=978-1-4165-1130-4}}</ref> They also competed as a team in the first three TLC matches, winning the first two over The Dudley Boyz and The Hardy Boyz, at [[SummerSlam (2000)|SummerSlam]] in 2000 and then again at [[WrestleMania X-Seven]].<ref>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts|work=Wrestling’s historical cards|publisher=Kappa Publishing|year=2007|page= 106}}</ref><ref name=pwi107>{{cite news|title=2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts|work=Wrestling’s historical cards|publisher=Kappa Publishing|year=2007|page=107}}</ref> At the 2001 [[Royal Rumble (2001)|Royal Rumble]], Edge and Christian were defeated by the Dudley Boyz and lost the World Tag Team title.<ref name=pwi107/> They unsuccessfully attempted to regain the tag team title at [[No Way Out (2001)|No Way Out]] against the Dudley Boyz and the [[Brothers of Destruction]] (The Undertaker and [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]]),<ref name=pwi107/> but they succeeded at WrestleMania X-Seven against the Dudley Boyz and The Hardyz in the second TLC match.<ref name=pwi107/>

====Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion  (2001–2003)====
Edge went on to solidify himself as an emerging singles competitor by winning the [[King of the Ring (2001)|King of the Ring]] tournament in 2001 and becoming a fan favorite again by siding with the WWF during the Invasion storyline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/jun25_kotr-can.html|title=Angle and Edge rule KOTR|date=2001-06-25|last=Powell|first=Jason|accessdate=2009-02-13|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> Christian betrayed Edge shortly afterward,<ref>{{cite journal|first=Eric|last=Quijones|title='Smackdown!' to be aired live|date=2001-09-13|work=[[The Star-Ledger]]|page=80}}</ref> and the two feuded over Edge's [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]] that Edge won at [[SummerSlam (2001)|SummerSlam]] and later lost to Christian at [[Unforgiven 2001|Unforgiven]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=188|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> though, Edge captured the title later.<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=189|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> Following this, Edge lost the Intercontinental title to [[Andrew Martin|Test]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=191|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> and shortly afterwards won the [[WWE United States Championship|WCW United States Championship]] from [[Kurt Angle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/3044541114 |title=Edge's first reign |accessdate=2009-09-23|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> Edge defeated Test at [[Survivor Series (2001)|Survivor Series]] to unify the Intercontinental Championship with the U.S. Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingPPV/nov19_survivor-can.html|title=WWF pulls out Survivor Series win|date=2001-11-19|last=Powell|first=John|accessdate=2009-02-13|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref>

The following year, Edge was placed in a feud with [[William Regal]] for the Intercontinental Championship. Edge, however, came up short in the feud.<ref>{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=195|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> At [[WrestleMania X8]], Edge found himself in a match with [[Booker T (wrestler)|Booker T]] that was the result of Edge beating out Booker for a fictitious Japanese shampoo endorsement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingWM18/mar18_wmgramlich-can.html|title=Hogan passes torch at WrestleMania|date=2002-03-18|last=Grmalich|first=Chris|accessdate=2009-02-13|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> Shortly after defeating Booker T at WrestleMania, Edge was drafted to the [[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]] brand in the first [[WWE Brand Extension#March 2002 (Brand Extension: RAW and SmackDown!)|WWE Draft Lottery]]. Upon arriving there, he began a feud with Kurt Angle, which culminated in Edge shaving Angle's head following a [[Luchas de Apuestas|hair vs. hair match]] at [[Judgment Day (2002)|Judgment Day]] in May.<ref name="Adam Copeland on Edge">{{cite book|last=Copeland|first=Adam|title=Adam Copeland on Edge|publisher=[[WWE Books]]|month=November|year=2004|page=204|isbn=0-7434-8347-2}}</ref> Two months later, he would end up winning the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWE Tag Team Championship]] (later renamed the World Tag Team Championship) alongside [[Hulk Hogan]] on July 4, 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/30445413211222|title=Edge & Hogan's first reign|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2009-09-23}}</ref> He then formed a tag team with [[Rey Mysterio]]; the two participated in a tournament for the newly created and SmackDown!-exclusive [[WWE Tag Team Championship]]. They lost to Kurt Angle and [[Chris Benoit]] in the finals of the tournament at [[No Mercy (2002)|No Mercy]], the match was voted match of the year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nomercy/history/2002/results/|title=No Mercy 2002 official results|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref> After they failed in winning the title, Mysterio and Edge defeated [[Los Guerreros]] in a number one contender's match on the October 24 episode of ''SmackDown!'' to earn a title shot.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/021024.html|title=SmackDown! results – October 24, 2002|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref> On the November 7 episode of ''SmackDown!'', they defeated Angle and Benoit in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Series variations|two out of three falls match]] to win their first Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/330018|title=Rey Mysterio and Edge's first Tag Team Championship reign|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref> They soon lost the tag titles to Los Guerreros in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic elimination matches|Triple Threat Elimination match]] that also involved former champions Angle and Benoit at [[Survivor Series (2002)|Survivor Series]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2002/results/|title=Survivor Series 2002 official results|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2008-05-18}}</ref> After losing the title, Edge and Mysterio went their separate ways to focus on their singles careers. At [[No Way Out (2003)|No Way Out]], he teamed up with Chris Benoit and [[Brock Lesnar]] against [[The World's Greatest Tag Team|Team Angle]] (Kurt Angle, [[Charlie Haas]] and [[Shelton Benjamin]]), however Edge was attacked and he would not participate in the match, thus the match became Two-on-Three [[Professional wrestling match types#Handicap match|Handicap]] tag team match. After No Way Out, Edge suffered a [[Legit (professional wrestling)|legitimate]] neck injury and had to undergo surgery with Dr. [[Lloyd Youngblood]].<ref>{{cite journal|first=Alex|last=Marvez|title='Edge' Latest With Neck Problem As Injuries Come To A Head|date=2003-02-28|work=[[South Florida Sun-Sentinel]]|page=42}}</ref>

====Pursuit of the World Heavyweight Championship (2004–2005)====
Recovery kept him sidelined for almost a year. He was placed on the Raw brand in the [[2004 WWE Draft Lottery|WWE Draft]] after [[WrestleMania XX]] and returned to in ring action shortly after that event. On the April 19, 2004 episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]'' he and Chris Benoit won the World Tag Team Championship.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Second high for Benoit|date=2004-04-22|work=[[The Malay Mail]]|quote=To Raw's newest tag team&nbsp;... [Chris] Benoit &  captured the World Tag Team Championship in front of their native Canadian fans by defeating Ric Flair & Batista}}</ref> They continued a close partnership even after losing the title, but it was disbanded when Edge won the Intercontinental championship at [[Vengeance (2004)|Vengeance]] from [[Randy Orton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/07/12/537080.html|title=Canadians have Edge at Vengeance|date=2004-07-12|last=Sokol|first=Chris|accessdate=2009-02-13|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> Following a legitimate groin injury in a non-televised match, Raw [[Professional wrestling authority figures#General Managers|General Manager]] [[Eric Bischoff]] stripped Edge of the Intercontinental title.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Orton's great escape|date=2004-09-09|work=[[The Malay Mail]]}}</ref>

Upon his return, Edge began to show some [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villainous]] characteristics centering around his obsession for the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]]. Edge, Chris Benoit, and [[Shawn Michaels]] received a title shot for [[Triple H]]'s World Heavyweight Championship at [[Taboo Tuesday (2004)|Taboo Tuesday]] in October 2004. Michaels won the audience vote to receive the title shot, giving Edge and Benoit a tag team title shot. During the match, Edge abandoned his partner (although Benoit managed to win the title on his own)<ref name="Taboo Tuesday">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2004/10/20/788799.html|title=Nothing Taboo at Tuesday PPV|date=2004-10-20|last=Sokol|first=Chris|accessdate=2009-02-13|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> and instead interfered in the main event, costing Michaels the championship.<ref name="Taboo Tuesday"/> On the November 1 episode of ''Raw'', Edge and Benoit lost the World Tag Team Championship with Edge once again abandoning Benoit and sitting in a chair and watching the match. After the conclusion of the match, Edge attacked Benoit, officially turning [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Ryan Allen and Mike Greenslade|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2004/1099369001.shtml|title=WWE Raw Results – 11/01/04 – Peoria, IL (6 Man Tag + Tag Title Change)|accessdate=2009-10-23|date=2004-11-01|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> In a November episode of ''Raw'', both Edge and Benoit competed in a number one contender's [[battle royal (professional wrestling)|battle royal]], but they eliminated each other simultaneously at the conclusion of the match, resulting in a draw.<ref name="November 29, 2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2004/1101788171.shtml|title=Raw Results – 11/29/04 – Baltimore, MD (World Title up for grabs...)|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2004-11-29|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2009-10-23}}</ref> As a result, Triple H was forced to defend the title in a [[Triple Threat match|triple threat match]]. In the match, Benoit locked on the [[Crippler Crossface]] on Edge, who shifted his weight putting Benoit's shoulders on the mat for a [[pin (professional wrestling)|pin]]. This match also ended in a draw for Benoit and Edge, as Benoit made Edge [[Submission (combat sport)|submit]] at the same time the referee counted a pinfall for Edge.<ref name="November 29, 2004" /> As a result, the World Heavyweight title was vacated the following week on ''Raw''.

In January 2005, Edge competed in his first [[Elimination Chamber]] match at [[New Year's Revolution (2005)|New Year's Revolution]] for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship. Shawn Michaels (acting as [[Referee (professional wrestling)#Special guest referees|special guest referee]]) performed a [[superkick]] on Edge, in retaliation for an accidental [[Spear (wrestling)|spear]] by Edge, causing Edge to be the first eliminated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/10/901074.html|title=No Revolution: Triple H prevails|date=2005-01-10|last=Tylwalk|first=Nick|accessdate=2009-02-13|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> This led to a match at the [[Royal Rumble (2005)|Royal Rumble]] later in the month, in which Edge defeated Michaels.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/01/31/915606.html|title=Batista claims the Rumble|date=2005-01-31|last=Plummer|first=Dale|coauthors=Tylwalk, Nick|accessdate=2009-02-13|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref>

====Mr. Money in the Bank and feuds with Kane and Matt Hardy (2005–2006)====
[[File:AdamCopeland Edge2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Edge holding the [[Money in the Bank ladder match|Money in the Bank]] briefcase.]]
Subsequently, at [[WrestleMania 21]], Edge won his first ever [[Money in the Bank ladder match]], gaining himself a contract that gave him a shot at the World Heavyweight championship within one year.<ref name="WM21">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/04/03/981377.html|title=Main events weak at WrestleMania 21 – Batista, Cena go over but undercard steals the show|date=2005-04-03|last=Plummer|first=Dale|coauthors=Tylwalk, Nick|accessdate=2009-01-21|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref>
Even though he was already a villain, Edge faced even more scorn from the fans due to Copeland's adulterous affair with [[WWE Diva]] [[Amy Dumas]], known on-screen as Lita.<ref name=stomp>{{cite web|url=http://www.stompandstammer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=986&Itemid=51|title=The Luchagors Drop a Powerbomb|first=Jeff|last=Clark|publisher=Stomp and Stammer|accessdate=2007-10-02|date=2007-09-07}}</ref> Dumas had been the girlfriend of Copeland's close real life friend, [[Matt Hardy]]. When Hardy suffered a torn [[anterior cruciate ligament]], he was put out of action,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/02/27/944653.html|title=Lita on road to recovery|first=Jason|last=Clevett|work=Slam! Sports|accessdate=2007-10-18|date=2005-03-02|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> and it was during this time that Copeland began an affair with her while she was still in a relationship with Hardy. Shortly after the incident became public knowledge, WWE released Hardy resulting in even more backlash towards Copeland and Dumas .<ref>{{cite journal|author=Blackjack Brown|title=WWE cuts Hardy, Rhyno, Holly|date=2005-04-17|work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|page=87}}</ref> After Hardy returned, however, the real-life situation was translated into a storyline.<ref name=stomp/>

Edge was then paired with Lita in an [[Angle (professional wrestling)|angle]] where she betrayed her storyline husband [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]], which ended with a [[Professional wrestling match types#Stretcher match|stretcher match]] that Edge won, but shortly before, Kane performed a [[tombstone piledriver]] on Lita.<ref name="PS132">{{cite news|first=Ant|last=Evans|title=Power Slam|work=What’s going down...|publisher=SW Publishing LTD|id=132|page=4}}</ref> On the July 11 episode of ''Raw'', Edge's match with Kane was interrupted when Matt Hardy made a surprising appearance. The situation was a [[Shoot (professional wrestling)|real-life occurrence]], with Hardy referring to Edge as "Adam" and issuing a threat to Lita as well.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Ron|last=Jordan|title=Loose Cannon: Matt Hardy's Return Is Retirement Of Pillman's|date=2005-07-16|work=[[Winston-Salem Journal]]|page=9}}</ref> When Hardy was officially brought back to Raw, he and Edge continued their feud, including a match at [[SummerSlam (2005)|SummerSlam]] where Edge defeated Hardy, causing Hardy to have excessive blood loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/302480|title=All-Time SummerSlam Results|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2009-12-09}}</ref> They also competed in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Hardcore-based variations|Street Fight]], which resulted in a [[Professional wrestling#No contest|no contest]] when Hardy performed a [[Side Slam|side effect]] on Edge off the entrance ramp into the sound speakers and other electrical equipment.<ref>{{cite web|first=Hunter|last=Golden|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2005/1125374206.shtml|title=Raw Results – 8/29/05 – Tampa, Florida (Hardy & Edge Street Fight)|accessdate=2009-09-23|date=2005-08-29|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> They also fought in a [[Steel cage match]] at [[Unforgiven (2005)|Unforgiven]] in September in which Hardy defeated Edge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2005/09/19/1223557.html|title=Unforgiven marred by unfortunate ending|date=2005-09-19|last=Sokol|first=Chris|accessdate=2009-01-21|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> The feud culminated in a "Loser Leaves Raw Ladder Match" at ''WWE Homecoming'' on October 3, which Edge won, after the match, Hardy left the Raw brand to go to the SmackDown! brand.<ref>{{cite web|first=Hunter|last=Golden|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2005/1128399622.shtml |title=Raw Results-10/3/05-Dallas, TX -(Homecoming to USA Network)|accessdate=2009-09-23|date=2005-10-03|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref>
Shortly after the ''Homecoming'' victory, Edge suffered a legitimate torn [[pectoralis major muscle]] that kept him shelved for several weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2005/11/05/1293935.html|title=WWE starts to implode|first=TJ|last=Madigan|accessdate=2007-03-22|date=2005-11-05|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> During his time off, he starred in his own talk show segment on Raw entitled ''[[WWE Raw#Recurring segments|The Cutting Edge]]'',<ref name="December 5, 2005" /> dubbing himself the "[[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system|Rated-R]] Superstar". Edge used his talk show to start a feud with [[Ric Flair]] following Flair's well-publicized arrest in connection with a [[road rage]] incident.<ref name="December 5, 2005">{{cite web|first=Hunter|last=Golden|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1133844305.shtml|title=Raw Results – 12/5/05 – North Charleston, SC (Eric Bischoff Fired...)|accessdate=2010-01-12|date=2005-12-05|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Martin|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1134459395.shtml|title=Raw Results – 12/12/05 – Boston, MA (Elimination Chamber & more)|accessdate=2010-01-12|date=2005-12-12|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> Edge eventually began using ''The Cutting Edge'' as a soapbox to run down Flair until, after weeks of public mockery, Flair eventually showed up and attacked Edge.<ref>{{cite web|first=Hunter|last=Golden|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2005/1135659373.shtml|title=Raw Results – 12/26/05 – Bridgeport, CT (McMahon/Beat the Clock)|accessdate=2010-01-12|date=2005-12-26|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> Edge and Ric Flair formally met at the [[New Year's Revolution (2006)|New Year's Revolution]] event in 2006 in a match for Flair's [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|Intercontinental Championship]], which resulted in Flair retaining, after Edge was [[Professional wrestling#Disqualification|disqualified]].<ref name="NYR 2006">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2006/01/09/1385492.html|title=Edge surprise champ after Revolution|date=2006-01-09|last=Sokol|first=Chris|accessdate=2009-02-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer}}</ref>

====Feud with John Cena and WWE Champion (2006)====
[[Image:Edge vs. Cena.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Edge facing off against [[John Cena]] during a [[WWE]] [[house show]].]]
Although Edge had lost his scheduled match at New Year's Revolution, that would not be his only match that evening. The main event of the pay-per-view saw [[John Cena]], the reigning WWE Champion, defend his title in an [[Elimination Chamber|Elimination Chamber match]]. After a bloody Cena won the match, WWE Chairman [[Vince McMahon]] announced there would be one final match to close out the evening because Edge was going to cash in his Money in the Bank contract to face Cena for the championship. After spearing Cena twice, Edge covered him for the pin and won his first world championship.<ref name="NYR 2006"/> 

In an interview conducted after the event, on WWE.com, Edge announced that he and Lita would have "hot, unbrideled, sex" in the middle of the ring on ''Raw'' the following night to celebrate his victory. On ''Raw'', Edge held up to that promise by engaging in [[foreplay]] with Lita until they were interrupted by Flair, who called Edge a disgrace and "that he was horrible in the sack."<ref name="hershey">{{cite web|first=Hunter|last=Golden|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2005/1136868615.shtml|title=Raw Results – 1/9/06 – Hershey, PA (Live sex celebration and more)|accessdate=2009-12-09|date=2006-01-09|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> Flair, however, ended up on the receiving end of a [[Professional wrestling attacks#One-man con-chair-to|con-chair-to]] on the announcers' table until Cena came out to Flair's aid and performed an [[Fireman's carry takeover|FU]] on Lita.<ref name="hershey" /> The "Live Sex Celebration" segment earned ''Raw'' a 5.2 rating,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/archive/rawratingsrise|title=Raw ratings rise|accessdate=2007-03-21|date=2006-01-10|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> the highest ''Raw'' rating in over a year,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/listthis/greatrawmoments/rawmoments7|title=Raw's Sex Edge-ucation|last=McAvennie|first=Mike|accessdate=2007-03-21|date=2006-12-24|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> leading Edge to call himself the "most watched champion ever".<ref>{{cite web|first=Dale|last=Plummer|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/01/17/1398586.html|title=Raw: A little TLC goes a long way|accessdate=2009-12-09|date=2006-01-17|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> Three weeks later, at the [[Royal Rumble (2006)|Royal Rumble]], Edge lost the WWE Championship back to Cena.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Bob|last=Emanuel Jr.|title=Wrestling Fans Get Their Show|date=2006-01-30|work=[[The Miami Herald]]|page=3D}}</ref>

He then lost a return match on a special Thursday episode of ''Raw'' held in February. Edge blamed [[Professional wrestling match types#Special referee|special guest referee]] [[Mick Foley]] for his loss, claiming biased officiating and attacked him.<ref>{{cite web|first=Wade|last=Keller|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/TV_Reports_9/article_16158.shtml|title=Keller's Raw Report 2/20: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show|accessdate=2010-01-12|date=2006-02-20|publisher=PW Torch}}</ref> At ''[[Saturday Night's Main Event results#Saturday Night's Main Event XXXII|Saturday Night's Main Event]]'', Foley got revenge on Edge by assaulting him with a con-chair-to.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Saturday Night's Main Event XXXII|series=[[Saturday Night's Main Event]]|network=[[NBC]] |airdate=2006-03-18|minutes=90 }}</ref> They feuded until [[WrestleMania 22]] in April, where Edge defeated Foley in a [[Hardcore wrestling|Hardcore match]] by spearing him through a flaming table<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2006/04/03/1517785.html|title=WrestleMania delivers big time on PPV|date=2006-04-03|last=Plummer|first=Dale|coauthors=Tylwalk, Nick|accessdate=2009-02-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer}}</ref> but suffered [[second degree burn]]s.<ref name="lamont">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/mar/29/adam-copeland-wrestling|title=How I got my body&nbsp;— Adam 'Edge' Copeland|date=2009-03-29|last=Lamont|first=Tom|accessdate=2009-03-30|publisher=[[guardian.co.uk]]|work=[[The Observer]]}}</ref>

Following his feud with Foley, Edge once again challenged John Cena for the WWE Championship. [[Triple H]] was involved in a feud with Cena at the time, resulting in a [[Triple Threat match|triple threat match]] at [[Backlash (2006)|Backlash]], where Cena pinned Triple H to retain the title.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Brown|first=Jeremy|title=Unholy Alliance|journal=WWE Raw|volume=12|year=2006|month=July|pages=44–51}}</ref> After Backlash, Edge continued his feud with Mick Foley as they entered a [[Triple Threat match|triple threat]] [[hardcore wrestling|hardcore match]]. Foley, however, betrayed his friend [[Tommy Dreamer]] with Edge's assistance.<ref>{{cite web|first=Hunter|last=Golden|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2006/1147145975.shtml|title=Raw Results – 5/8/06 Anaheim, CA (Hardcore Rematch, ECW, more)|accessdate=2010-01-12|date=2006-05-08|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> Edge and Foley then proclaimed that, because of their brutal match at WrestleMania, they were the true [[WWE Hardcore Championship|Hardcore Champions]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Adam|last=Martin|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2006/1147761046.shtml|title=Raw Results – 5/15/06 – Lubbock, TX – (New IC Champion and more)|accessdate=2010-01-12|date=2006-05-15|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> At June's pay-per-view event [[ECW One Night Stand (2006)|One Night Stand]], Edge, Foley, and Lita defeated Dreamer, [[Terry Funk]], and [[Trisa Hayes|Beulah McGillicutty]] in an Extreme rules tag team match.<ref name="One Night Stand 2006">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2006/06/12/1628639.html|title=ECW resurrected at PPV|date=2006-06-12|last=Elliott|first=Brian|accessdate=2009-02-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer}}</ref>

Later in the event, Edge interfered in the WWE Championship match between John Cena and challenger [[Rob Van Dam]], helping Van Dam win the title after he speared Cena through a table.<ref name="One Night Stand 2006"/> Edge, who won a number one contender's match for the WWE title to face Van Dam, but was unable to win the title at [[Vengeance (2006)|Vengeance]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2006/1151289839.shtml|title=Vengeance (Raw) PPV Results – 6/25/06 – Charlotte, NC (DX, more)|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2006-06-25|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2009-09-23}}</ref>

[[File:Edge R.jpg|thumb|right|195px|Edge, pictured with his custom 'Rated-R' Spinner belt, during his second WWE Championship reign.]]
Two weeks later on ''Raw'', Edge pinned Van Dam in a triple threat match, after blindsiding Cena with the title belt, to become WWE Champion for the second time.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ed|last=William III|title=Stolen Championship|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/07032006/mainarticle|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2006-07-03|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> This angle re-ignited Edge's feud with Cena, and he lost by disqualification at ''Saturday Night's Main Event'' in order to retain the title.<ref>{{cite web|first=Zack|last=Zeigler|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/july152006/matches/2581598/|title=Cena snaps on Edge|accessdate=2010-01-12|date=2006-07-15|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment}}</ref> Subsequently, a match was made for the August event [[SummerSlam (2006)|SummerSlam]] with the stipulation that if Edge disqualified himself, he would lose the title.  At the event, Edge retained the title by pinning Cena after he hit him in the back of the head with a pair of [[brass knuckles]], this occurred when the referee was not looking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2006/08/21/1767711.html|title=Flair & Hogan top average SummerSlam|date=2006-08-21|last=Plummer|first=Dale|coauthors=Tylwalk, Nick|accessdate=2009-02-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> The night after SummerSlam, Lita disposed of Cena's customized "spinner" belt into the [[Long Island Sound]] at Edge's command, who declared it the end of the "Cena era" in his life. Edge later unveiled the new "Rated-R" version of the belt.<ref name="August 21, 2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2006/1156217017.shtml|title=Raw Results – 8/21/06 – Bridgeport, CT (Foley fired, & New title belt)|last=Golden|first=Hunter|date=2006-08-21|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2009-09-23}}</ref> Cena, however, interfered in Edge's match with a returning [[Jeff Hardy]] later that night, chasing him down to the outside of the building, assaulting him down, and tossing Edge into the Long Island Sound.<ref name="August 21, 2006" /> The following week, Cena made a deal with Edge: if Edge could defeat him in a match for the WWE Championship, he would sign a contract to move to ''SmackDown!''.<ref name="TLC-unforgiven06">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2006/08/29/1783883.html|title=Raw: A hellish night for DX|date=2006-08-29|last=Plummer|first=Dale|accessdate=2009-02-26|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> Edge accepted, on the condition the match be a TLC match held at September's [[Unforgiven (2006)|Unforgiven]] event in Edge's home town of Toronto.<ref name="TLC-unforgiven06"/> At the event, he lost the championship after Cena performed the FU on him, sending Edge crashing through two stacked tables from a ladder.<ref name="Unforgiven '06">{{cite web|first=Louie|last=Dee|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/unforgiven/history/2006/matches/288175811/|title=The Champ is back|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2006-09-17|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> At one point during the match, Cena locked in the [[Professional wrestling holds#STF|STFU]] on Edge,<ref name="Unforgiven '06"/> who later said he was legitimately choked unconscious, the first time he had been knocked out in a match during his career.<ref>{{cite video|date=2007|title=John Cena: My Life|medium=DVD|publisher=[[WWE Home Video]]}}</ref>

====Rated-RKO and feud with DX (2006–2007)====
{{Main|Rated-RKO}}
[[File:RatedRKO.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Edge tagging with [[Randy Orton]] as [[Rated-RKO]].]]
On the October 2, 2006 episode of ''Raw'', interference from the newly reformed [[D-Generation X]] (DX) (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) cost Edge his "[[professional wrestling match types#Last Chance match|final chance]]" at John Cena's WWE Championship in a [[Steel cage match]], though their interference was a response to the interference of [[Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Zack|last=Zeigler|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/09252006/mainarticle|title=SmackDown beatdown|accessdate=2007-12-26|date=2006-09-25|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> led to Edge approaching [[Randy Orton]] and asking him to join forces to defeat DX, which Orton accepted and joined an alliance with Edge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2006/1160450871.shtml|title=Raw Results – 10/9/06 – Columbia, SC ('Raw Family Reunion' Results)|last=Golden|first=Hunter|date=2006-10-09|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2009-09-24}}</ref> The two formed the tag team [[Rated-RKO]].<ref name="cyber sunday block">{{cite web|first=Zack|last=Zeigler|url=http://www.thewrestlingtimes.com/2012/04/edges-contract-with-wwe-is-set-to.html|title=Edge's contract with WWE is set to expire on 5/1 - Edge wrestling on TNA soon !|accessdate=2007-12-28|date=2006-10-09|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> Rated-RKO became the first to defeat DX since their reunion,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2006/11/06/2253314.html|title=K-Fed costs Cena at Cyber Sunday|date=2006-11-06|last=Elliott|first=Brian|accessdate=2009-02-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> and quickly dominated the Raw brand's tag team division to become tag team champions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11132006/mainarticle|title=Rated-RKO Champions|date=2006-11-13|first=Zack|last=Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-06|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref><ref name="rkoedgeteam">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/244843211|title=History of the World Tag Team Championship&nbsp;— Edge & Randy Orton|date=2006-11-13|accessdate=2008-01-06|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> making Edge a record holder of 11 World Tag Team Championship title reigns in his WWE career.<ref name="rkoedgeteam"/>

As part of the storyline angle, Rated-RKO attacked Ric Flair with steel chairs to enrage DX on November 27.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/raw/raw2006/1164688191.shtml|title=Raw Results – 11/27/06 – Pittsburgh, PA (The Hardy Boyz Reunite...)|last=Golden|first=Hunter|date=2006-11-27|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2009-09-24}}</ref> At [[New Year's Revolution (2007)|New Year's Revolution]] in January 2007, Rated-RKO faced DX in a title defense, but the match was declared a no-contest when Triple H suffered a legitimate injury during the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/01/08/3235732.html|title=Cena retains, Triple H injured at Revolution|date=2007-01-08|last=Plummer|first=Dale|coauthors=Tylwalk, Nick|accessdate=2009-02-13|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> With Triple H out of action, the team continued their on-screen rivalry with remaining DX member Shawn Michaels. Michaels teamed with John Cena to defeat Rated-RKO for the tag team championship on January 29, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/01/30/3481310.html|title=Raw: HBK & Cena Trump Edge & Orton|last=Plummer|first=Dale|date=2007-01-30|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|accessdate=2009-09-24}}</ref> Edge and Orton suffered a series of losses to Cena and Michaels in the following months, building hatred towards one another. Edge and Orton also became rivals in their goals of achieving the WWE Championship. Neither Edge nor Orton won the championship, and they lost their claims as number one contenders after a failed match with Cena at [[Backlash (2007)|Backlash]] in April.<ref>{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Elliott|date=2007-04-29|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/04/29/4140920.html|title=No filler makes for a consistent Backlash|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=Slam! Sports|accessdate=2009-09-24}}</ref>

====La Familia and World Heavyweight Champion (2007–2009)====
{{Main|La Familia (professional wrestling)}}
On the May 7, 2007 episode of ''Raw'', Edge interrupted an in-ring promo by the winner of the 2007 Money in the Bank contract, [[Mr. Kennedy]]. Kennedy had said for weeks that he would not cash in the contract until the following WrestleMania, but Edge decided to goad him into a match for his briefcase. Edge attacked Kennedy before the match even started, severely injuring his shoulder, and took advantage of the injury to beat Kennedy and take the briefcase.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2007/dec/02/mr_kennedy_endures_pitfalls23762/|title='Mr. Kennedy' endures pitfalls|last=Mooneyham|first=Mike|work=[[The Post and Courier]]|date=2007-12-02|accessdate=2009-09-24}}</ref> Edge thus became the first person to gain the Money in the Bank contract twice and the first not to do so in the ladder match.<ref name=EdgeMitB2>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/05072007/mainarticle|accessdate=2008-07-09|last=DiFino| first=Lennie|title=Gold digging|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> (This was done to give Kennedy time to recuperate from what was originally thought to be a completely torn triceps tendon, but later turned out to be a much less severe injury.)

It did not take Edge long to take advantage of his newly won opportunity. On the May 11 episode of ''[[WWE SmackDown|SmackDown!]]'', the main event was to feature [[Dave Batista|Batista]] facing the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Champion]] [[The Undertaker]] in a steel cage match for the title. The match ended in a draw when both Undertaker and Batista were ruled to have hit the floor simultaneously. Afterward, a returning [[Mark Henry]] came to ringside and attacked the champion, leaving him a bloody, broken mess in the ring. Edge chose that time to strike, entering the scene as Henry was leaving. He strode to the ring, handed the briefcase to referee [[Jim Korderas]], and demanded that he be given a match as per his contract. As soon as the bell rang, Edge went to cover the champion, but Undertaker kicked out at two. Edge again covered, but only got two. Edge then waited for the spent Undertaker to struggle to his feet, then speared him and covered him for the pin and the World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite journal|title=WWE hits the buffers|first=Patrick|last=Lennon|date=2007-05-11|work=[[Daily Star (United Kingdom)|Daily Star]]}}</ref> As a result of this victory, Edge became a part of the SmackDown! brand. Edge then began a feud with Batista and successfully defended his championship title against him at [[Judgment Day (2007)|Judgment Day]],<ref>{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Elliott|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/05/21/4197038.html|title=WWE just passes on Judgment Day|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2007-05-20|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> in a Steel Cage match at [[One Night Stand (2007)|One Night Stand]],<ref>{{cite journal|first=Brett|last=Kaplan|title=Cena wins again; Hardys retain tag belts|date=2007-06-04|work=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref> and a third and final time in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Last Chance match|last chance match]] at [[Vengeance: Night of Champions|Vengeance]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=McAvennie|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nightofchampions/history/2007/matches/40811641/|title=Batista's last stand falls|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2007-06-24|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> Edge then began a feud with [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]] after SmackDown! General Manager [[Theodore Long]] announced Kane as the new number one contender for the World Heavyweight title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/results/smackdown/smackdown2006/1183778546.shtml|title=Smackdown Results – 7/6/07 – Dallas, TX (Edge & Kane&nbsp;— much more)|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2007-07-06|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2009-09-24}}</ref> Edge was forced to relinquish the World title due to a legitimately torn left [[pectoralis major muscle|pectoral muscle]] injury on the July 20 episode of ''SmackDown!'' following an attack by Kane.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/07/21/4356566.html|title=Smackdown: A champion is crowned|date=2007-07-21|last=Waldman|first=Jon|accessdate=2009-02-26|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>

[[Image:Edge Hawkins Ryder Milwaukee WI 031008.jpg|left|thumb|Edge alongside [[Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder]], three principal members of [[La Familia (professional wrestling)|La Familia]].]]
At November's pay-per-view event, [[Survivor Series]], Edge made his return, interfering in a World Heavyweight Championship [[Hell in a Cell]] match between Batista and The Undertaker.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tylwalk|first=Nick|coauthors=Plummer, Dale|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/11/18/4666920.html|title=Survivor Series ends with an Edge|accessdate=2008-05-02|date=2007-11-18|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> The following ''SmackDown!'' show saw Edge and General Manager [[Vickie Guerrero]] make their relationship public,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/11232007/articles/ratedtfortombstone|title=Rated "T" for Tombstone|date=2007-11-24|last=Dee|first=Louie|accessdate=2008-01-17|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> making his official in-ring return in a World title match against Batista on November 30, a match that ended after The Undertaker interfered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/11302007/articles/threedoggednight|title=Three-dogged night|date=2008-12-01|last=McAvennie|first=Mike|accessdate=2008-01-24|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> At [[Armageddon (2007)|Armageddon]], Edge won the World Heavyweight Championship, after giving The Undertaker two [[chair shot]]s and pinning the defending champion Batista (who had been [[Tombstone piledriver|Tombstoned]] by Undertaker prior) in a Triple Threat match. During the match, Edge used two look-a-likes to distract Batista and The Undertaker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2007/12/17/4728475.html|title=Edge brings in the clones to win at Armageddon|date=2007-12-17|last=Kapur|first=Bob|accessdate=2008-05-02|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> It was later revealed that these look-a-likes were [[Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder|the Major Brothers]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/armageddon/history/2007/exclusives/majorrevelation|title=A Major revelation|date=2007-12-17|last=Dee|first=Louie|accessdate=2007-12-17|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> who were then repackaged as [[Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder]]. Edge also formed an alliance with [[Chavo Guerrero Jr.]], nephew of Vickie Guerrero, and on the January 22, 2008 broadcast of ''[[ECW (WWE)|ECW]]'', he assisted Chavo in winning the [[ECW World Heavyweight Championship|ECW Championship]] from [[CM Punk]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/01222008/articles/chavosnight|title=Chavo's night|date=2008-01-22|last=Tello|first=Craig|accessdate=2008-01-23| publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> even though Chavo previously rebuffed Edge<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/01152008/articles/edgespoils|title=Edge spoils CM Punk's run|date=2008-01-15|last=Rote|first=Andrew|accessdate= 2008-01-24|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> and allied himself with [[Rey Mysterio]], Edge's scheduled opponent at the [[Royal Rumble (2008)|Royal Rumble]] pay-per-view.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/01182008/articles/tagteamcarnage|title=Champions, contenders and carnage|date=2008-01-18|last=Dee|first=Louie|accessdate= 2008-01-24|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> The group eventually came under the name of [[La Familia (professional wrestling)|La Familia]]. On the Valentine's Day episode of ''SmackDown'', Edge proposed to Vickie, to which she accepted.<ref>{{cite web|first=Andy|last=McNamara|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2008/02/16/4852328.html|title=Smackdown: Edge pops the question|accessdate=2009-12-10|date=2008-02-16|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref>

[[File:Edge before his title defense at WrestleMania XXIV.jpg|thumb|upright|Edge before facing [[The Undertaker|Undertaker]] at Wrestlemania in 2008.]]
At [[WrestleMania XXIV]], Edge lost the World Heavyweight championship to The Undertaker when he tapped out to the [[gogoplata]].<ref>{{cite journal|first=Scott|last=Fishman|title=A final bow for Flair|date=2008-03-31|work=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref> In a WrestleMania rematch, The Undertaker defeated Edge once again at [[Backlash (2008)|Backlash]] to retain the World Heavyweight championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/history/2008/matches/6347966/|accessdate=2008-05-02|title=Second verse, same as the first|last=Dee|first=Louie|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=2008-04-27}}</ref> Following Backlash, The Undertaker was stripped of the World title by Vickie Guerrero<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05022008/articles/titleturmoil|title=Title turmoil|date=2008-05-02|last=Dee|first=Louis|accessdate=2008-05-03|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> and faced Edge for the title at [[Judgment Day (2008)|Judgment Day]] in May and then again at [[One Night Stand (2008)|One Night Stand]] in a TLC match in June.<ref name="JD08">{{cite web|first=Bob|last=Kapur|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2008/05/18/5609326.html|title=Judgment Day spoils streak of good shows|accessdate=2008-06-16|date=2008-05-18|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref><ref name="ONS08">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2008/05/30/5721341.html|title=One Night Stand WWE's best this year|date=2008-05-30|last=Mackinder|first=Matt|accessdate=2009-03-28|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref> The first match ended with a countout victory for The Undertaker but no champion was crowned due to the circumstances.<ref name="JD08"/> The second match at One Night Stand saw Edge walk away champion, which also meant Undertaker was forced to [[Professional wrestling match types#Loser Leaves Town match|leave]] the company.<ref name="ONS08"/>

On June 29, 2008, Edge faced Batista in a match for his title at [[Night of Champions (2008)|Night of Champions]]. Due to interference from La Familia and a belt shot from Edge, he was able to defeat Batista. The next night on ''Raw'', which happened a week after that year's [[WWE Draft|draft lottery]], Edge came out to gloat about his victory as well as the fact that, thanks to the draft, both the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship were both ''SmackDown'' property ([[Triple H]], who was the reigning WWE Champion at the time, was drafted to ''SmackDown'' and had retained his title at Night of Champions as well). As Edge was leaving the ring, an angry Batista (who had been drafted back to ''Raw'' after three years as a ''SmackDown'' wrestler) came out and chased Edge back to the ring. He proceeded to assault Edge, finishing with a [[Powerbomb#Sitout powerbomb|Batista Bomb]] in the ring. Just as Batista was leaving, [[CM Punk]] ran to the ring carrying the Money in the Bank briefcase he had won at [[WrestleMania XXIV]], with referee [[Mike Chioda]] tagging along with him. Since Edge was still out of it from the attack, he did not see Punk come into the ring and therefore was unaware that Punk was cashing in his contract. Once the bell rang, Punk simply hit Edge with a Go To Sleep and pinned him to win the World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/results/|title=A Draft Disaster|date=2008-07-01|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2008-07-01}}</ref> 

On the July 4, 2008 episode of ''SmackDown'', Edge took his frustrations out on Vickie because he lost the title and told her the wedding was off.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/07042008/mainarticle|accessdate=2008-07-12|last=Passero|first=Mitch|title=A champion scorned|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> The following week, however, after Guerrero saved Edge from a con-chair-to by [[Big Show (wrestler)|The Big Show]], Edge re-proposed, and the wedding was back on.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/results/|accessdate=2008-07 12|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|title=SmackDown&nbsp;— Eternal Love?| publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> On July 18, 2008 at the wedding reception, Triple H came out and showed a video of Edge cheating on Guerrero the day before with the wedding planner, [[Alicia Fox]]. The [[Angle (professional wrestling)|angle]] continued at [[The Great American Bash (2008)|The Great American Bash]] in July, when Fox attempted to hand Edge the WWE Championship belt to use as weapon against Triple H, but was stopped by Guerrero. Edge attempted to spear Triple H but hit Guerrero instead, with the distraction, Triple H performed a [[Pepsi Plunge|Pedigree]] on Edge to retain the WWE title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2008/1216608570.shtml|title=Great American Bash PPV Results – 7/20 – Long Island (HHH & Edge)|last=Martin|first=Adam|date=2008-07-20|publisher=WrestleView|accessdate=2009-09-28}}</ref> Edge attempted to apologize to Guerrero, even though he was seen talking to Fox, but she revealed to him that she had rehired The Undertaker and that Edge would face him in a  Hell  in a Cell match at [[SummerSlam (2008)|SummerSlam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/07252008/mainarticle|accessdate=2008-08-08|date=2008-08-25|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|title=SmackDown: A woman's scorn, a Deadman reborn|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> Edge then turned on La Familia during the August 8 episode of ''SmackDown'', performing a one-man con-chair-to on Chavo in the ring, and tossed Guerrero out of her wheelchair, effectively disbanding the faction. The following week, Edge verbally assaulted Guerrero, before he forced her to apologize to The Undertaker for what she did to him. He also mentioned to Guerrero, that it was because of her that La Familia suffered.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/results/|accessdate=2008-08-12|date=2008-08-08|last=Passero|first=Mitch|title=Edge’s descent into darkness|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> At SummerSlam,

The Undertaker defeated Edge, and after the match, Undertaker [[chokeslam]]med Edge off the top of a ladder and through the ring canvas, with flames rising from the hole.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/history/2008/matches/6541940/|accessdate=2009-02-05|title=Unleashed in  Hell |last=DiFino|first=Lennie|date=2008-08-17|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>

[[File:Edge Raises WWE Title.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Edge celebrating after winning his fourth and final WWE Championship.]]
On November 23, 2008 at [[Survivor Series (2008)|Survivor Series]], Edge returned to WWE after an introduction by SmackDown General Manager and his on-screen wife Vickie Guerrero, replacing Jeff Hardy in the Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship involving champion Triple H and [[Oleg Prudius|Vladimir Kozlov]]. He pinned Triple H to become the WWE Champion for the [[List of WWE Champions|third time]] in his career.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2008/11/24/7514611.html|title=Two new world champs at dull Survivor Series|last=Plummer|first=Dale|coauthors=Nick Tylwalk|date=2008-11-24|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|accessdate=2009-10-23}}</ref> The following month, Edge lost the title to Hardy at [[Armageddon (2008)|Armageddon]] in a Triple Threat match, which also featured Triple H.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Dustin|last=Watson|title=The Wrestling Genius: Brotherly history|work=[[Observer-Dispatch]]}}</ref> At the [[Royal Rumble (2009)|Royal Rumble]], however, Edge regained the title in a no disqualification match, following Matt Hardy's interference.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/2009/matches/9055494/|title=Hardy's twisted fate brings gold to Edge|date=2009-01-25|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|accessdate=2009-01-26|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> At the February event [[No Way Out (2009)|No Way Out]], Edge lost the WWE title in an Elimination Chamber after being pinned by Jeff Hardy, being the first to be eliminated, with the title eventually being won by Triple H.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/matches/9253224/results/|accessdate=2009-02-28|date=2009-02-15|title=Regaining the throne|last=Passero|first=Mitch|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> Later that night, Edge inserted himself into the World Championship Elimination Chamber match after attacking [[Kofi Kingston]] and barricading himself inside one of the Chamber's pods, proceeding to win his eighth World Championship, last eliminating [[Rey Mysterio]] and taking the title over to SmackDown.<ref name=nicks>{{cite web|url=http://www2.wwe.com/shows/nowayout/matches/9229100/results/|accessdate=2009-02-28|last=Tello|first=Craig|title=Shameless in Seattle|date=2009-02-15|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> At [[WrestleMania XXV]] in April, Edge lost the championship to [[John Cena]] in a Triple Threat match, which also included The Big Show.<ref>{{cite journal|first=Scott|last=Fishman|title=HBK, Taker strike gold at WWE WrestleMania's silver anniversary|date=2009-04-06|work=[[The Miami Herald]]}}</ref> Three weeks later he regained the championship at [[Backlash (2009)|Backlash]], when he defeated Cena in a [[Last Man Standing match]], after interference by The Big Show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/9808960/results/|accessdate=2009-04-26|date=2009-04-26|last=Passero|first=Mitch|title=Fueled by hatred and desperation|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> After a successful defense against Jeff Hardy at [[Judgment Day (2009)|Judgment Day]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/matches/9587726/results/|accessdate=2009-08-10|date=2009-05-17|last=Passero|first=Mitch|title=Game changer|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> he lost the title to Hardy at [[Extreme Rules (2009)|Extreme Rules]] in a ladder match, and afterwards said some disparaging things to his on-screen wife, Vickie Guerrero.
While Hardy was celebrating, [[CM Punk]] cashed in his money in the bank and defeated Hardy to win the World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Mackinder|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2009/06/07/9711341.html|title=Extreme Rules sees many title changes, but fails to live up to its name|accessdate=2010-04-04|date=2009-06-07|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> The following night, Guerrero resigned as the Raw General Manager due to being humiliated, and Edge came out to apologize. Instead, however, he claimed he married Guerrero because she had authoritative powers as the General Manager, and sought a [[divorce]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06082009/mainarticle|accessdate=2009-08-10|date=2009-06-07|last=Sitterson|first=Aubrey|title=Game changer|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>

====Record-breaking World Heavyweight Champion and retirement (2009–2011)====
In June, Edge won the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship (the unified version of the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|World Tag Team Championship]] from the Raw brand and the [[WWE Tag Team Championship]] from the SmackDown brand) with [[Chris Jericho]] at [[WWE The Bash|The Bash]] after he and Jericho were inserted into the match as late entries just prior.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/thebash/matches/10535742/results/|accessdate=2009-08-10|date=2009-07-28|last=Adkins|first=Greg|title=Uninvited guests|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> On July 3, Edge suffered a torn [[Achilles tendon]] while competing at a live event in San Diego in a match against Jeff Hardy, and later underwent surgery. It was reported that he could be out of action for up to a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/wrestling/2517597/WWE-superstar-Edge-hit-by-injury-blow.html|title=Edge in serious injury blow|date=2009-06-04|last=Aldren|first=Mike|accessdate=2009-07-06|work=[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/10773900|title=Edge to face surgery|last=Styles|first=Joey|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2009-07-07}}</ref> During Edge's absence, Jericho replaced him with Big Show (forming Jeri-Show) and Jericho began to speak badly of Edge, mocking him for his injury.
[[File:Edge after wins the royal rumble.jpg|right|thumb|Edge after winning the [[Royal Rumble (2010)|WWE Royal Rumble]].]]
At the [[Royal Rumble (2010)|Royal Rumble]] event on January 31, 2010, Edge returned from injury by entering the [[Royal Rumble#Match|Royal Rumble match]] as the twenty ninth surprise entrant. He quickly eliminated Jericho who had been the 28th. Ultimately, he won the match for the first time in his career after last eliminating John Cena. After Jericho won the Heavyweight Championship from the Undertaker during [[Elimination Chamber (2010)|Elimination Chamber]], Edge turned face for the first time since November 2004 by challenging Chris Jericho for the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] at [[WrestleMania XXVI]] after a surprise attack on Jericho.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02222010/mainarticle|title=Taking the bull by the horns| first=Greg|last=Adkins|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|date=2010-02-22|accessdate=2010-03-29}}</ref> However, Edge lost to Jericho in the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania26/2010/03/29/13391706.html|author=Plummer, Dale and Tylwalk, Nick|title=Undertaker ends Shawn Michaels' career in thrilling rematch to cap off Wrestlemania XXVI|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports|accessdate=2010-04-04|date=2010-03-29}}</ref> The following month, Edge beat Jericho in a Steel cage match at [[Extreme Rules (2010)|Extreme Rules]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/history/2010/matches/14169130/|title=Results: No escape for Chris Jericho|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2010-04-26|date=2010-04-25}}</ref>

The following night at the [[2010 WWE Draft]], Edge was drafted back to the Raw brand, also costing Randy Orton a title shot against John Cena by spearing him in a Triple Threat match against [[Dave Batista|Batista]] and [[Sheamus]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Dale|last=Plummer|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/04/26/13731411.html|title= Raw: Feeling a draft|accessdate=2010-05-03|date=2010-04-26|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> On the April 30 episode of ''SmackDown'', Edge had said goodbye to SmackDown fans. However, Edge turned on the fans by calling them "puppets" for saying 'spear! spear! spear!' and later tried a sneak attack on his former tag team partner Christian, thus becoming a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villain]] once again.<ref>{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Hillhouse|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2010/05/01/13790226.html|title= Smackdown!: Comings and goings|accessdate=2010-05-03|date=2010-05-01|publisher=Canadian Online Explorer|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref> After being drafted to the Raw brand and heel turn, Edge began a feud with his former Rated-RKO tag team partner Randy Orton, with both Edge and Orton gaining the upper hand over one another. Much of the antagonism stemmed of Randy's refusal to re-form Rated-RKO with Edge, as Edge wanted to pursue the tag team titles he had been stripped of. Edge beat Christian in a match on the May 17 episode of ''Raw'' held in Toronto.<ref>{{cite web|first=James|last=Caldwell|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_41382.shtml|title=Caldwell's WWE Raw results 5/17: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of commercial-free Raw - Buzz Aldrin, Bret Hart vs. The Miz|accessdate=2011-06-09|date=2010-05-17|publisher=PWTorch}}</ref> Edge and Orton met in a match at May's [[Over the Limit (2010)|Over the Limit]] pay-per-view, with the match resulting in a double countout.<ref>{{cite news|first=Kevin|last=Eck|url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/2010/05/over_the_limit_thoughts.html|title=Ring Posts: Over the Limit thoughts|accessdate=2010-06-09|date=2010-05-24|work=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> At [[WWE Fatal 4-Way|Fatal 4-Way]], Edge participated in a fatal four-way match that included Orton, Sheamus, and John Cena for the WWE Championship, though Edge failed to win the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/wrestling/blog/2010/06/fatal_fourway_thoughts.html#more|title=Fatal Fourway thoughts|date=2010-06-21|last=Eck|first=Kevin|accessdate=2010-07-21|work=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref>

The following month Edge participated in the Raw Money in the Bank ladder match at the [[Money in the Bank (2010)|Money in the Bank]] pay-per-view but failed to win the briefcase. Edge then went on to participate in the main event of [[SummerSlam (2010)|SummerSlam]] in which he and six teammates were victorious in a seven-on-seven elimination tag team match against [[Nexus (professional wrestling)|The Nexus]]. On the 900th episode of ''Raw'', he disqualified himself, in the main event in a five-on-five elimination match against The Nexus. This saw him enter into a feud with the anonymous GM of Raw, during which the GM cost him several matches. At [[Night of Champions (2010)|Night of Champions]], Edge participated in a six pack elimination challenge for Sheamus' WWE Championship but once again failed to win the title.

[[File:*Adam Copeland Tribute to the Troops 2010 (1).jpg|thumb|left|180px|Edge at WWE's Tribute to the Troops in 2010.]]
At WWE's [[Hell in a Cell (2010)|Hell in a Cell]] PPV event, Edge defeated [[Jack Swagger]]. The next night on ''Raw'', it was announced that he had been traded to the Smackdown brand for SmackDown's CM Punk due to him destroying the Raw GM computer turning him [[face (professional wrestling)|face]] and ending the [[feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] between the two. On his SmackDown return, he defeated Jack Swagger in his first match. On the October 15, 2010 episode of ''SmackDown'', he defeated [[Dolph Ziggler]] to become part of Team SmackDown at WWE's [[Bragging Rights (2010)|Bragging Rights]] PPV event. At the event, Edge won the cup for Team SmackDown alongside [[Rey Mysterio]] eliminating R-Truth, John Morrison and Team Raw's captain Miz.

Soon after that, he entered a feud with World Heavyweight Champion Kane. He defeated Mysterio and [[Dos Caras Jr.|Alberto Del Rio]] to become the number one contender for Kane's World Championship at WWE's [[Survivor Series (2010)|Survivor Series]] PPV event, which ended in a draw. On December 19, 2010 Edge defeated [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]], [[Rey Mysterio]], and [[Dos Caras Jr.|Alberto Del Rio]] in a [[Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match]] at the [[TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs (2010)|TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs]] PPV event to win the World Heavyweight Championship for a record sixth time and making him a ten time World Champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/PPVReports/2010/12/20/16615521.html|title=TLC delivers highs, lows and a new champ|date=2010-12-20|last=Sokol|first=Bryan|accessdate=2010-12-20|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>  Edge then defended the World Championship against Kane in a winning effort in a Last Man Standing match, thus ending their feud.

Edge would then feud with [[Dolph Ziggler]] and [[Vickie Guerrero]] up through the [[Royal Rumble (2011)|Royal Rumble]] and after. After the Royal Rumble, Rumble winner Alberto Del Rio announced that he would challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship, which was held by Edge at that time. On the 600th episode of ''Smackdown'' on February 18, acting GM Guerrero fired Edge, and awarded the World Title to her ([[kayfabe]]) boyfriend Ziggler. ''Smackdown'' GM [[Theodore Long|Teddy Long]] returned later that night, and rehired Edge. Edge would then defeat Ziggler to become the World Heavyweight Champion for the seventh time, and win his 11th World Championship overall. After the match, Teddy Long's firing of Dolph and Vickie would follow the next week after losing a tag team match with [[Drew McIntyre]] facing Edge and [[Kelly Kelly]].
[[File:Edge y christian destrozando el coche de Del Rio.jpg|200px|thumb|Edge destroying Alberto Del Rio's car after what would become his final televised match, at [[WrestleMania XXVII]].]]
At the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, Edge successfully defended his World Heavyweight Championship in an Elimination Chamber match by finally pinning Rey Mysterio. After he defended his championship, he was attacked by Alberto Del Rio, but was saved by the returning Christian. [[Edge and Christian]] briefly reunited to defeat Alberto and his NXT bodyguard [[Brodus Clay]]. At [[WrestleMania XXVII]], in his last WWE in-ring match, Edge successfully defended the World Title against Alberto Del Rio in the opening match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/WrestleMania27/2011/04/03/17863646.html|title=The Rock costs Cena as The Miz retains at WrestleMania XXVII|date=2011-04-03|last=Bishop|first=Matt|accessdate=2011-04-04|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref>

On the April 11, 2011 episode of ''Raw'', Edge gave a speech about his career and the realities of wrestling. He also mentioned he took more tests after passing his basic strength tests at the behest of WWE, and the MRI forced him to retire.<ref name="wwe-retirement" /><ref name=RawApril112011>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2011/04/11/17958501.html|title=RAW: Edge calls it a career|date=2011-04-11|last=Plummer|first=Dale|accessdate=2011-04-12|work=Slam! Sports|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/20220/|title=Major star announces retirement; Extreme Rules main event|date=2011-04-11|last=Meltzer|first=Dave|authorlink=Dave Meltzer|accessdate=2011-04-12|work=[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> Leading up to this announcement, he had reflected upon his previous neck injury where his cervical vertebrae had been fused, and mentioned feeling numbness in his arms and losing feeling in them. This was diagnosed as [[cervical spinal stenosis]], and because of such, the doctors cannot medically clear him to compete without him risking neck-down paralysis, or even death.<ref name="wwe-retirement"/> Later that same week on the April 15 episode of ''SmackDown'', Edge officially relinquished the World Heavyweight Championship, retiring as the World Champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwesmackdownreport/article_49335.shtml|title=CUPACH'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 4/15: Look-back to last week's Smackdown - Edge's farewell, battle royal}}</ref>

====Sporadic appearances and Hall of Fame (2011–2012)====
[[File:WWE Hall of Fame 2012 Edge.jpg|170px|right|thumb|Edge at the WWE Hall of Fame 2012]]
On the April 22, 2011 episode of ''SmackDown'', Edge made an appearance, interrupting Alberto Del Rio's mock retirement party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwesmackdownreport/article_49523.shtml|title=PARKS' WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 4/22: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of the show, including Alberto Del Rio's retirement party for Edge}}</ref>
At [[Extreme Rules (2011)|Extreme Rules]], Edge made an appearance watching his friend Christian winning the vacant World Heavyweight Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wweppvs/article_49726.shtml|title=CALDWELL'S WWE EXTREME RULES PPV RESULTS 5/1: Complete "virtual time" coverage of live PPV - three title changes and a host of gimmick matches}}</ref> At [[SummerSlam (2011)|SummerSlam]], Christian had Edge return to be in his corner for his [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Championship]] defense against [[Randy Orton]]. However, Edge, disappointed by the cowardly tactics  Christian used to win his second World Heavyweight Championship, berated him and walked out on him. Christian would later lose the belt to Orton for a second time.<ref>{{cite web|last=Passero|first=Mitch|title=Randy Orton def. Christian in a No Holds Barred Match (New World Heavyweight Champion)|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam/2011/randy-orton-christian|publisher=WWE|accessdate=16 August 2011}}</ref> On the September 16, 2011 episode of ''SmackDown'', in his hometown of Toronto, Edge hosted ''The Cutting Edge'' between [[Mark Henry]] and the [[World Heavyweight Championship (WWE)|World Heavyweight Champion]], [[Randy Orton]]. After the event went off the air they had Edge appreciation night celebrating the career of Edge. 

On the January 9, 2012 episode of ''Raw'', it was announced that Edge would be inducted into the [[WWE Hall of Fame]] at [[WrestleMania XXVIII]] weekend.<ref name="Edge">{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/edge|title=Edge|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2012-01-09}}</ref> He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on March 31 by Christian and he also cut his hair short, as a departure from his famous long locks he had before. This made him the youngest person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the age of 38, slightly younger than [[Eddie Guerrero]], who had previously been the youngest inductee (although his induction was posthumous).

Edge made a surprise appearance on the April 23, 2012 episode of ''Raw'', confronting his long-time rival [[John Cena]] about [[Brock Lesnar]]. He mentioned that despite sharing the biggest rivalry of their careers, they always shared mutual admiration for professional wrestling. In an act of motivation, he asked Cena to 'wake up' and beat [[Brock Lesnar]]. He also mentioned beforehand that he was not supposed to be on the show that night, also declaring that he would no longer be under contract with [[WWE]] in a couple of days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2012-04-23/wwe-raw-supershow-results|title=Raw Results |author=Tom Herrera |date=2012-04-23 |work= |publisher=WWE |accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref> On the September 21, 2012 episode of ''SmackDown'', Edge made an appearance addressing the team of [[Daniel Bryan]] [[Team Hell No|and]] [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Cupach|first=Michael|title=CUPACH'S WWE SMACKDOWN REPORT 9/21: Alt. perspective review of Edge returning, Tag Champs dominating, Mike's Reax|url=http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwesmackdownreport/article_65405.shtml|work=Pro Wrestling Torch|accessdate=30 September 2012}}</ref>

==Other media==
In 2000, he had a cameo appearance as a road bandit in the fantasy movie ''[[Highlander: Endgame]]''. [[Adrian Paul]]'s character remarks, "Looks like you've lost your ''edge'', lad" after defeating him in a sword fight.<ref name=endgame>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Movies/actors.html|accessdate=2009-06-01|title=The Wrestler Actor Database: Movies about wrestling ... wrestlers in movies|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer]]|work=Slam! Sports}}</ref>

In March 2002, Copeland alongside other WWF Superstars appeared on the quiz show, the ''[[Weakest Link (U.S. game show)|Weakest Link]]''. He was voted out in the first round, and the eventual winner was [[Kane (wrestler)|Kane]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=WWF Superstars Edition 2|series=[[Weakest Link (U.S. game show)|Weakest Link]]|network=[[NBC Universal]]|station=[[NBC]]|airdate=2002-03-10}}</ref> On the August 6, 2006 episode of ''[[Mind of Mencia]]'', Copeland appeared as Edge as a commentator for "The Royal Religious Rumble". He punched out an actor playing [[L. Ron Hubbard]] to stop [[Scientology]] from ruling the world and then [[Spear (wrestling)|speared]] another actor playing [[Tom Cruise]].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Episode #213 |episodelink= |series=Mind of Mencia |serieslink=Mind of Mencia |credits= |network=[[Comedy Central]] |station= |airdate=2006-08-06 |season=2 |seriesno= |number= |minutes=22 }}</ref> In March 2007 he alongside [[Randy Orton]], [[John Cena]], and [[Bobby Lashley]] appeared on ''[[Deal or No Deal (U.S. game show)|Deal or No Deal]]''.<ref name=tvcite>{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestleview.com/news2006/1172700828.shtml|accessdate=2009-06-01|last=Martin|first=Adam|title=WWE stars on NBC's 'Deal or No Deal', Howie Mandel + Edge and MadTV|publisher=WrestleView}}</ref> Weeks later he appeared on the sketch comedy show ''[[MADtv]]''.<ref name=tvcite/> Copeland appeared in a [[Slim Jim (snack food)|Slim Jim]] commercial where his spicy side causes chaos in a [[Department of Motor Vehicles|DMV]], a restaurant and a [[hotel]].<ref name=slimjim>{{cite web|url=http://www.spicyside.com/index.aspx|accessdate=2009-05-01|title=Spicy Side Video Library|publisher=[[Slim Jim (snack food)|SpicySide]]|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20090409235107/http://www.spicyside.com/index.aspx <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archivedate=2009-04-09}}</ref>

''Edge: a Decade of Decadence'', a DVD documentary of Copeland's life, was released in December 2008. The DVD illustrates his wrestling career dating back to 1998 when he entered the WWF.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ifight365.com/2009/03/dvd-review-wwe-edge-a-decade-of-decadence-part-1|title=DVD Review: WWE&nbsp;— Edge: A Decade of Decadence|publisher=ifight365.com |date=2009-03-11|first=Mark |last=Bright|accessdate=2009-09-28}}</ref>

In June 2011, Copeland appeared on the [[Syfy]] series ''[[Sanctuary (TV series)|Sanctuary]]'', in the [[Sanctuary (season 3)|season 3]] finale episode, "Into the Black" as Thelo, an Abnormal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/11/02/wwe-superstar-edge-guest-stars-as-an-abnormal-in-season-finale-of-syfys-popular-series-sanctuary-986304/20101102syfy01/ |title=WWE Superstar Edge Guest Stars as an "Abnormal" in Season Finale of Syfy's Popular Series "Sanctuary" |date=November 2, 2010 |accessdate=2 November 2010 |publisher=The Futon Critic}}</ref>

In September 2011, Copeland held a “Edgucational” Essay Scholarship Contest, as an echo back to how he himself got a start in the wrestling business. The scholarship ended up going to one of the students at Squared Circle Wrestling in Toronto. Alysha Verhoven, who has since gone on to work as Leah von Dutch.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article10020838.shtml |title=WWE Video: Edge hands out a pro wrestling school scholarship |work=prowrestling.net |date= 2011-09-19|accessdate=3 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.squaredcircletraining.net/content/?p=180 |title=Squared Circle Training Inc. » 2011 Year in Review |work=squaredcircletraining.net |date= 2011-12-25|accessdate=3 November 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.twnpnews.com/2012/09/edge-backstage-at-tuesdays-wwe-tapings/ |title=(WWE) Edge Backstage at Tuesday’s WWE Tapings &#124|first= Steve|last= Carrier|work=twnpnews.com |date= 2012-09-12|accessdate=3 November 2012}}</ref>

Copeland will also appear regularly in the second season of the Syfy series ''[[Haven (TV series)|Haven]]'', which started in July 2011, as Dwight Hendrickson.<ref>[http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/edge/edge-on-money Ultimate Opportunist pursues new challenges] By: Mitch Passero July 14, 2011</ref> He will also appear in the show's third season starting September 2012.

[[WWE Studios]] released ''Bending The Rules'' in cinemas on March 9, 2012, where Edge starred alongside [[Jamie Kennedy]]. WWE released the official trailer of the movie on the 28th February 2012 edition of ''Monday Night Raw''. A Documentary movie ''You Think You Know Me - The Story of Edge'' includes a look at Edge's life and career in pro wrestling was released on April 10, 2012.