The rivalry between Edge and John Cena was one of the defining feuds of the “Ruthless Aggression” era, a classic babyface vs. heel story that elevated both men to the top of the industry. In a new interview, Adam “Edge” Copeland reflected on the iconic program, explaining that he and Cena were “two guys that met each other at the right time” and that their on-screen chemistry “just clicked from day one.”
As John Cena’s farewell tour continues, many have been looking back on his greatest rivalries, and his battles with the “Rated R Superstar” are always at the top of the list. From their TLC match at Unforgiven 2006 to Edge slapping Cena’s father in his own home, the feud was filled with personal moments that resonated with fans.
Speaking with Scott Campbell of The Score, Copeland discussed the recent nods that Cena has been giving to their rivalry during his final run. He then explained what he believes made their feud so special: their polar opposite characters and their shared commitment to getting each other over.
“It’s super fun. And I think, you know, John and I were two guys that met each other at the right time, you know, we needed a bad guy, and I needed a good guy, and it just clicked. You know, you never know when something is going to click. Like, you know, I remember with Eddie and I the first time we wrestled, and it was like, it was okay, but it should have been more than that. And then the next one was a little bit more. And then finally, by our third match, we were like, okay, there it is. With John and I from day one, it just clicked.”
He believes that the feud was a pivotal moment in both of their careers, solidifying Cena as the undisputed top guy in the company and establishing himself as a legitimate main event player.
“And I think our characters were polar opposites. I knew what the assignment was, and so did he. And I think you had two guys that were very willing to do what we had to do to get us both over. And John was already well on his way. But I feel like our angle is what really put the stamp on him being the top guy, and it put the stamp on me being a Main Event guy, so that, you know, I’ll always look back at that one fondly and what we’re able to do and the fun we had.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit The Score with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
