On a recent edition of the “Talk is Jericho” podcast, Adam Copeland (Edge) recalled Vince McMahon pitching the ‘Greatest Wrestling Match Ever’ which involved him and Randy Orton.
The match took place at WWE Backlash 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, hence, there wasn’t an audience.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On being in the position to deliver a match with that much hype: “It’s the toughest. I might be biased, but I think that’s the toughest position. There is also no such thing. It’s totally subjective. You probably think of a match when you think of your favorite match, and I think of a match, and then it’s going to change. This month, it might be Austin [Steve Austin] and Bret [Bret Hart] submission match [WrestleMania 13]. Then it might be Nick Bockwinkel and Terry Funk from All Japan.”
On how Vince McMahon pitched the match: “It was pitched to us like that. ‘I have you two guys. You’re gonna have the greatest wrestling match ever.’ ‘Yeah.’ ‘That’s what we should call it.’ ‘Oh.’ He’s a promoter. That’s the way the promoter brain works. Me, as the performer, I’m going, there is no audience and there is no such thing. I really had to wrap my mind around it and go, ‘what angle do I come at this from?’ Just make a love letter to wrestling. That was the idea. ‘Charles [Charles Robinson], I need you in a long-sleeved button up and bow tie.’ I want Howard Finkle to announce us. I want the old MSG thing to come down. Now, hopefully, people understand, ‘this is really just a tip of the hat to what we do.’ Hence, using other people’s finishers.”
On performing in the match: “What else are we going to do? Seriously, what else are we going to do? We had like 50 students from NXT. We did what we could with it. I also had a blast. I’ve often heard, ‘it was edited.’ We did it once, all the way through, 48 minutes. We didn’t have a time limit. We got to the back, ‘you guys went 48 minutes.’ ‘Really? Wow, it felt like 10.’ My stupid idea was, if we wanted to try different things, now we can. What if we picked up some iso shots. Might be kind of cool to cut in. I’m just trying to think of something different. I’m wearing a Go Pro on my head and I was going to take an RKO so it feels like a first-person player taking an RKO. Maybe it will work, maybe it won’t. I take the RKO, and I’m really trying to cover Randy here because we’ve gotten cold. It’s after the match, we did the 48 (minutes), we’re just doing four pick up shots. I take the RKO with a camera on my head, tear my tricep. It was an hour 20 in between. I took it too far. Then, I saw it with the edits in and I hated it. Vince loved it. I saw the unedited 48 minutes straight through and I loved it, even with no audience. Randy and I have great chemistry. I’m proud of that one, especially considering the scenario and circumstances, to walk in and still try and pull it off. I’m proud of that.”
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The “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” is a phrase that carries a lot of weight in the world of professional wrestling. It signifies a match that is expected to be of the highest quality, with exceptional storytelling, technical prowess, and a level of excitement that surpasses all others. In 2020, WWE Backlash featured a match between Adam Copeland, better known as Edge, and Randy Orton, which was promoted as the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever.” However, what made this match unique was the fact that it took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, with no live audience in attendance.
During a recent episode of the “Talk is Jericho” podcast, Edge discussed the experience of being in the position to deliver a match with such high expectations. He acknowledged that it was a challenging task, as the concept of the “greatest wrestling match ever” is entirely subjective. Each individual has their own favorite matches, and opinions can change over time. Edge mentioned iconic matches like Steve Austin vs. Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 and Nick Bockwinkel vs. Terry Funk from All Japan as examples of matches that have left a lasting impact on fans.
Edge also revealed how Vince McMahon, the chairman and CEO of WWE, pitched the idea for the match. McMahon’s promoter mindset led him to believe that Edge and Orton could deliver the greatest wrestling match ever. However, Edge had to wrap his mind around the concept and find an angle to approach it from. The idea was to create a love letter to wrestling, paying homage to the history and tradition of the sport. This included incorporating elements like Howard Finkle announcing their entrance and using other wrestlers’ finishers.
Despite the challenges of performing without a live audience, Edge and Orton made the most of the situation. With only around 50 students from WWE’s developmental brand NXT in attendance, they delivered a 48-minute match that felt like 10 minutes to them. Edge mentioned that they did the match in one take, without any time limits. He also revealed that he had some unique ideas, such as wearing a GoPro camera on his head to capture a first-person perspective of taking an RKO from Orton. Unfortunately, during one of the pick-up shots after the match, Edge tore his tricep, but he still felt proud of the match and the chemistry he had with Orton.
In conclusion, the “Greatest Wrestling Match Ever” between Edge and Randy Orton at WWE Backlash 2020 was a unique and challenging endeavor. Despite the absence of a live audience, Edge and Orton delivered a match that they were proud of, given the circumstances. It showcased their love for wrestling and their ability to adapt to different situations. While the concept of the greatest wrestling match ever may be subjective, this match will be remembered as a testament to their skills and dedication to their craft.