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In a surprising turn of events on Friday night's "WWE SmackDown," fans witnessed a captivating showdown between the legendary WWE Hall of Famer Edge and the emerging talent Grayson Waller. The exhilarating encounter took place following Edge's appearance on "The Grayson Waller Effect," where he issued a challenge for a high-stakes singles match, eager to gauge Waller's mettle.
Edge Triumphs in Epic Showdown
Clocking in at nearly 15 minutes, the Edge vs. Waller bout stood as the longest contest of the night, surpassing the extensive segments devoted to advancing the ongoing "Civil War" narrative involving The Bloodline.
Ultimately, it was Edge who emerged victorious, sealing the deal with his signature Spear maneuver, while Waller tasted defeat in his highly anticipated debut on the main roster. Shedding light on the backstage decision, esteemed wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer shared his insights during a recent episode of "Wrestling Observer Radio." Meltzer explained, "There's still this belief that if you're defeated by a seasoned star, it enhances your own star power since you shared the ring with them.
Of course, it all depends on how the match unfolds... Personally, I was taken aback by Waller's participation, as I didn't anticipate his return this soon." After being drafted from "NXT" to "SmackDown" in late April, Waller had been absent from in-ring competition since his unsuccessful bid for the "NXT" title against Carmelo Hayes on April 25.
Waller cited a broken leg sustained during that contest as the reason for his extended hiatus, during which he focused on his recovery and rehabilitation. Nevertheless, the Australian-born talent made his presence felt on "SmackDown" by hosting his own in-ring talk show, engaging various WWE superstars in captivating conversations.
As for Edge, his previous in-ring appearance took place on the May 12 edition of "SmackDown" in a thrilling first-round triple threat match as part of the World Heavyweight Championship tournament. While AJ Styles emerged victorious on that occasion, Edge's resilience and tenacity remain unquestionable.
With six matches already under his belt in 2023, the future holds tantalizing possibilities for the "Rated-R Superstar," and fans eagerly await his next move in the ever-evolving landscape of WWE.