Edge is one of the greatest performers in the history of WrestleMania. After running down his resume on the biggest stage in all of WWE last Monday, Edge demanded someone step up to challenge him for WrestleMania 38 in April. On Monday night, AJ Styles answered the call — and paid a heavy price.
After saying he’d long wanted to face Styles in the ring, Edge snapped, unleashing a brutal attack on Styles that ended with a pair of con-chair-tos that set the pair up for one of the most compelling matches at this year’s WrestleMania.
CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Edge brutally attacks AJ Styles
Edge closed the show with a follow-up on his previous week’s challenge to someone to step up and face him at WrestleMania. Edge stood in the center of the ring begging somebody to “step up” and come to the ring. No one answered initially, leaving Edge confused before AJ Styles’ music hit and Styles made his way to the ring. Styles delivered a simple message, saying simply, “I accept.” Edge said he wants “the bulldog” version of Styles, not the version who played “tag team b—h” to Omos for the past year. Edge offered a handshake but instead dropped Styles with a punch, drawing Styles to respond with some shots of his own before Edge ducked out of the way of a Phenomenal Forearm and hit Styles with a kick to the groin. Edge continued the attack before leaving the ring and grabbing a set of chairs. Edge hesitated but ultimately delivered a pair of Con-Chair-Tos to a helpless Styles as the show went off the air.
The Edge heel turn was extremely well done. He has been begging for someone to step up and face him on the biggest stage possible, and when confronted with Styles and a dream match, he snapped. Was it to truly push Styles to be at his best or because Edge has doubts about his ability to win? That’s the kind of story that isn’t over the top but demands you pay attention as WrestleMania nears. Grade: A
Finn Balor wins United States championship
United States Championship – Finn Balor def. Damian Priest (c) via pinfall to win the title. Balor and Priest went back and forth in a solid match, with Priest nearly retaining the title with a South of Heaven chokeslam. However, when Priest tried to follow up with Reckoning, Balor countered and hit a shotgun dropkick before nailing Priest with the Coup de Grace for the three count to win the title. After the match, Priest told Balor that the crowd “carried him” to win the title. Priest then completed a heel turn by saying the crowd never loved or appreciated him and hit Balor with a cheap shot after saying he’d win the title back. Priest ended his post-match attack with a Razor’s Edge on the commentary table.
The other heel turn on the show was not quite as successful as Edge. Priest fumbled his lines on the mic after the loss and it took some of the steam out of the angle. Still, he’s a far more interesting character as a heel than as a face who has never given the fans much reason to get behind him other than when teaming with Bad Bunny. As for Balor, WWE seems out on the idea of him ever being in the world title picture again, but he’s a great midcard title guy and his reign could be filled with good matches. Grade: B
What else happened on WWE Raw?
- Kevin Owens & Seth Rollins def. Alpha Academy via pinfall when Rollins stomped Chad Gable. The match came about after a show-opening edition of “The K.O. Show” with Alpha Academy as guests. As expected, the teams came to blows, leading to an impromptu match ahead of next week’s triple threat tag title match.
- Omos def. T-Bar via pinfall after a chokebomb.
- Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan & Rhea Ripley def. Becky Lynch, Doudrop & Nikki A.S.H. via pinfall when Belair hit Nikki A.S.H. with the K.O.D. Lynch left the match after Belair used her hair to whip the torso of the Raw women’s champion, leaving Nikki A.S.H. to eat the pin.
- Tommoso Ciampa def. Robert Roode via pinfall with a roll-up.
- Dana Brooke & Reggie def. Tamina & Akira Tozawa via pinfall when Reggie hit a flipping senton on Tozawa. After the match, Brooke kissed Reggie and Tamina kissed Tozawa.
- The Hurt Business def. The Mysterios via pinfall when Shelton Benjamin rolled up Dominik Mysterio. Dominik was distracted by The Miz, who ran to ringside and grabbed his foot, causing Rey Mysterio to give chase and allowing Benjamin to get the flash pin.
- The Street Profits def. RK-Bro via pinfall when Montez Ford hit Randy Orton with a frog splash. Orton tried to get his foot on the bottom rope, but Angelo Dawkins prevented it.