Edge Anti-hero?

[Mr. C]

I noticed something interesting on SmackDown - Edge is an anti-hero.

He’s perfect for the role. This type of evolution is the only way that Edge can survive as a face. He has to be the anti-hero that goes after everyone and does whatever it takes to win. It may be best for him if they continue this evolution of his character to lose at WrestleMania, where he gets put over as a beast who will never stop, but doesn’t win the gold in the end. Edge could run with this role and have feuds with both heels and faces, while getting pops each week. He hasn’t really changed all that much from being a heel. Spearing Undertaker and talking about not caring who he’s facing because he’s going to “hate them as his opponent” came across well. His speech when he showed up on RAW muddied the waters, and his status has continued to stay murky, so he becomes a face who feuds with both faces and heels and does his own thing.

[Heyman]

It might be the best way for the WWE to go. If Edge continues to act like the 'anti-hero', it might actually keep his face pops going strong. Face Edge kissing the fans' ass will NOT work. It didn't work in 2004, and it sure as hell won't work now.

I would even go as far as saying that the mass majority of faces would be better off if they had an 'anti-hero' type personality.

The fans are like women. If you kiss their ass, they won't respect you. Show them little to zero love however, and they'll be that much more attracted to you. It's human nature - we always want what we can't have.

[Tazz Dan]

I agree.

[KIRA]

I agree as well oddly enough I had a similar line of thought concerning Orton where hed be basically the same as he is now but not a coward but catering to fans either sort of just going after whoever has it coming.

Worked for Rock and Austin

[Heyman]

Worked for Rock and Austin

Bingo. And shockingly enough, these are the ONLY two times that the WWE went full force with the 'anti-hero' attempt.......and it created TWO of the biggest stars in the industry! :eek::eek::eek:

There are so many guys that this could have worked with.

-Orton 2004
-Lesnar 2002
-RVD 2001
-John Cena 2005
-Jericho 1999
-Triple H 2002
-Kurt Angle 2001
-Kane 1998

etc., etc., etc.

Almost EVERY SINGLE FACE FAILURE, can be attributed to the WWE getting the face to kiss the fans' ass. It's an absolute shame. Hell - Santino freakin' Marella could have been HUGE as of this writing had the WWE stuck with his personna.

One thing that the WWE have always been excellent at, even today, is creating awesome heels. Unfortunately, the WWE's biggest weakness since 2001 has been in converting these awesome heels into awesome faces.....and the main reason for this, is the WWE's utter refusal to push their faces as 'anti-heroes'.

[Favre4Ever]

I noticed something interesting on SmackDown - Edge is an anti-hero.


This.

[Favre4Ever]

I think the greatest display of a face champion kissing the fans ass failing is Shawn Michaels. When HBK won the World Title in the first Elimination Chamber match, this is exactly what he was. He played to the fans, he kissed their asses, he was stale. He held the belt for a full MONTH, and he hasn't had the belt since.

It's been about eight years I think.

[Heyman]

One thing I remember about Shawn Michaels, is the reactions he started getting after the Summer of 2005. If you recall, HBK briefly turned heel during that summer and began a feud with Hogan. After feuding Hogan, HBK came out the next night and cut a promo (which was then interrupted by Chris Masters I believe). The fans were popping for HBK *big time*, and were literally begging HBK to kick Masters' ass.

The reason? The fans grew to love HBK's heel personna during that summer.

Look at The Rock back in 03'....and how the fans absolutely LOVED The Rock during his feud with Goldberg. Compare this to a few months prior where a videotaped Rock was getting 'booed' and 'boring' chants during the 'Decade Awards' of 2003.

[KIRA]

I noticed something interesting on SmackDown - Edge is an anti-hero. I loved that Edges return is rooted in reality,he left as a heel and during his time as a heel he did morally deplorable things now that hes back hes essentially the same he hasn't played to the fans or saved anyone hes simply a man with a vendetta against a man the fans love to see get his comeuppance (Jericho)
and edge has a goal the world title so its all just natural progression.

Why can't the booking always be this good?

[Kane Knight]

Edge is a guy they want you to cheer but isn't capable of a second persona. This is very likely unsustainable and based on the rub any wrestler gets for a major return.

:y:

[KIRA]

Edge is a guy they want you to cheer but isn't capable of a second persona. This is very likely unsustainable and based on the rub any wrestler gets for a major return.

:y: Agree somewhat but a few things:I think edge can keep this going since hes probably dropping some of the more extreme facets of his persona all he has to do is just go unchecked, he has the look of a rogue (if that makes sense) and again I have to bring up Austin and the year he made himself a target in the rumble and "striking first" at faces and heels alike before the ppv.
Like I said Edge is versatile I believe he has the tools to make this work if they let him run with the ball.

[Favre4Ever]

It's not going to happen. He just doesn't that that kind of personality. It might be different if he were a mid carder and it was easy to hate the more generic heels, but Edge has been built into the Main Event scene over the last few years and it's inevitable that he will eventually feud with someone that will get him roundly boo-ed and start the downhill spiral.

[Emperor Smeat]

In a way this sounds very similar to the last period of Eddie Guerro's career as a singles wrestler. As a heel tag team with Chavo the "Lie, Cheat, Steal" character is created and carried over during his singles push as a heel. Then during the turn into a face, he kept that whole cheating aspect which helped him not be a completely good guy but someone who would be willing to do anything to win.

Best example I can think of him being a face but cheating would be his 1st title reign when he beat Lesner for the title. If Edge can do something similar by keeping his "cheating" as a face, he might end up as the next Eddie style face character. The fans would be cheering him but at the same time aware of him as a "cheater".

[el bobbo]

I agree as well oddly enough I had a similar line of thought concerning Orton where hed be basically the same as he is now but not a coward but catering to fans either sort of just going after whoever has it coming.

Worked for Rock and Austin

Man. I'm cheering Orton hardcore right now. Over the last 2 months or so he has gotten this great anti-hero streak. His real life persona really works well with it too.

[Rammsteinmad]

Sadly knowing internet fans, in a few months you'll all be bitching about how the anti-hero thing is old and been done before and that Edge is trying to be Steve Austin etc.

[Londoner]

Sadly knowing internet fans, in a few months you'll all be bitching about how the anti-hero thing is old and been done before and that Edge is trying to be Steve Austin etc.

I highly doubt that, the reason we bitch so much is cause the booking has been fucking shite, as Heyman pointed out earlier in the thread.

[KIRA]

Sadly knowing internet fans, in a few months you'll all be bitching about how the anti-hero thing is old and been done before and that Edge is trying to be Steve Austin etc.

Anti-heros never really get old because they unlike your Hogans and Cenas are played straight,they are a more realistic reaction to the world.

I hate to use comics an example but thats why so many people like things like The Watchmen, Its why people LOVE Wolverine and not Cyclops

Hell even Taker is an anti-hero I'd argue hes been so for the majority of his career.

[Hanso Amore]

Goonies Never Say Die

[Skippord]

I like Cyclops :(

[KIRA]

I like Cyclops :(


Statistically somebody has to....but thats not to say he hasnt had awesome moments in all the media hes been in.

Its just Wolverine is bad-ass

[My Final Heaven]

http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00660/Edge_660891a.jpg=http://images.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/7/7d/Mitchellhenderson.jpg

[Jeritron]

I don't expect the Edge anti-hero gig to last long.

He'll naturally be booked as a face heading into Mania, in a fued with Jericho. The crowd will accept this because they're excited to have him back and there's a built in storyline with heat against Jericho. But I think after that the "anti-hero" gig should start evolving into a more tweener attitude, and eventually a full on heel turn.

I'd like to see him turn heel a month or two after Mania, while holding the championship. I can't ever really recall someone making a heel turn during a world title reign.
They've done it shortly before one, or in the process of winning one, but never during one as far as I can remember.
Edge could pull it off.

[Lux]

personally, I've loved Edge, do miss his E&C days however :-\

[Skippord]

I don't expect the Edge anti-hero gig to last long.

He'll naturally be booked as a face heading into Mania, in a fued with Jericho. The crowd will accept this because they're excited to have him back and there's a built in storyline with heat against Jericho. But I think after that the "anti-hero" gig should start evolving into a more tweener attitude, and eventually a full on heel turn.

I'd like to see him turn heel a month or two after Mania, while holding the championship. I can't ever really recall someone making a heel turn during a world title reign.
They've done it shortly before one, or in the process of winning one, but never during one as far as I can remember.
Edge could pull it off.
CM Punk did

[ministrychick77]

One thing I remember about Shawn Michaels, is the reactions he started getting after the Summer of 2005. If you recall, HBK briefly turned heel during that summer and began a feud with Hogan.

side note, that raw on the 4th of july where hbk superkicked hogan was awesome!!! was there live. people stayed outside talking about it for a while..

[Mr. C]

I have a feeling the following will happen tonight -

Edge will been seen in a segment after the first match.

The WWE Championship Match should come down to John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Triple-H at the end. Cena and Triple-H end up having to double team Sheamus to take him out, then they have the back and forth with Cena winning with the FU.

Edge comes out tomorrow night on RAW and says that he’s taking Cena. Vince McMahon comes out and puts Batista in the match. We get Batista vs. Edge vs. Cena. Batista the heel, Edge the anti-hero, Cena the face.

[Jeritron]

And they just scrap the whole Jericho build they've been doing, not to mention the Bret Hart storyline?

[Mr. C]

They could have the other Elimination Chamber Match end with Jericho and Undertaker not able to answer a 10 count and result in a no contest, which leads to a one on one match for the title at WrestleMania. Jericho brings up his recent victory over Undertaker on SmackDown and claims to do the same at Mania and end the streak, only to see Undertaker retain the title.

Hart/McMahon can still be associated with Batista/Cena, while adding Edge to the mix, and should be a one on one match at Mania.