Edge Defeats Finn Balor In Epic Cell Match

WWE Hall of Famer Edge indicated that retirement was near in August 2022, but after he defeated Finn Balor at WrestleMania 39, it’s clear that “The Rated R Superstar” has plenty of gas left in the tank.

While it was less than a year ago that Edge suggested his time was running out, he has backtracked on that statement, implying that he really doesn’t know when he’ll call it quits. Truth be told, another strong performance against Balor demonstrated precisely why this shouldn’t be his last WrestleMania.

Edge and Balor, two longtime rivals who’ve feuded for much of the past year, were able to right the ship with The Judgment Day, which got off to a rocky start when it first formed with Edge as its leader. Even Edge himself has been outspoken about The Judgment Day not really working out with the way it was initially presented as a more macabre, almost supernatural faction.

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This feud had gone on way too long, with the Hell in a Cell match originally planned for Royal Rumble before it was moved due to Edge’s filming schedule for a non-WWE project. But in actually, that may have been a good thing as their rivalry has been much better over the past few months than it was prior to it, with Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio in particular benefiting from their spotlight on TV.

But now that Edge won the HIAC blowoff match on the grand stage of WrestleMania, Edge vs. Balor is likely over for good, which begs the question: What is next for both stars?

Despite Edge hinting at retirement more than once, he’s also named some stars he wants to work with, like Montez Ford, and has shown that he can still wrestle at an incredibly high level as he remains one of WWE’s best talkers. There is a reason, after all, why WWE signed Edge to a lucrative three-year deal worth $3 million annually. Though he may rarely be mentioned in pro wrestling’s GOAT conversation, he has a resume and a skill set that certainly warrants him being in that discussion.

There is real value in having Edge around to feud with stars who he can elevate. He’s done that already with Balor and The Judgment, and as a beloved legend, he’s now in that same category as stars like John Cena and Randy Orton who are so well-respected by wrestling fans that they’ll be cheered wildly and can be utilized to elevate babyfaces they’re paired with or heels they’re feuding with.

See: What Cena has done for Austin Theory, what Orton did with Riddle and what Rey Mysterio is doing with his son Dominik. That’s the same spot Edge should be in moving forward, settling in as an upper midcarder and borderline main eventer who helps rising stars ascend even higher.

That’s the perfect role for Edge, who can help midcards—like, say, Gunther, for example—elevate their game and gain more credibility in the eyes of WWE fans. Although questions remain about his WWE contract and whether a potential jump to AEW is possible, Edge’s victory over Balor suggests he isn’t going anywhere. Not yet.

As for Balor, he’s shockingly been very good as a heel despite being such a naturally likable babyface. Much of his heel run has come against Edge, however, so his next true test will be to see how he fares in a feud with a less high-profile star.

Or will it?

WWE has reportedly created a new world title belt and could soon have two world titles once again. That’s great news for an upper midcarder like Balor, who is a future world champion, one of the top heels on Raw and a main event caliber performer who simply hasn’t always been pushed as such.

Fresh off an epic WrestleMania match against Edge, Balor should be in line to take on step up WWE’s main event ladder, with potential world title feuds or blockbuster rivalries in his future.

Balor’s talent certainly warrants it, and with The Bloodline potentially coming to an end soon, The Judgment Day—and Balor himself—is now positioned to be closer to the top of the card during a post-WrestleMania season that will be relying more heavily on full-time stars once again.