When I think about him, I don't think at all about the career he's had, I think
about the guy and I don't know how many people you could really say that about.
>> [APPLAUSE] >> The first
time I met Edge was actually in high school.
I went to a book signing at a local bookstore when he was doing his book
tour and I have a picture of that.
I have picture of a very young Johnny Gargano meeting Edge.
And now I have his number in my phone as an adult, and I can text him and
ask him for advice and things like that.
>> Edge was the first guy from WWE that I had ever really met as an independent
wrestler and he was so nice.
And he had known my work, which was shocking cuz I very much felt like
an island and that the people in WWE didn't know who you were, let
alone a major star, a top star like Edge, who was world champion many times over.
You assumed he had no idea who you were, but he was just so down to earth.
>> The things that Edge has done for the industry over the last 25 years,
his contributions are immense.
He's won over 30 championships in WWE, but
he's also somebody that really believes in giving back.
>> I can't stress to you the hours that this man has spent on the phone with me.
This guy that's a hall-of-famer, he's a husband, he's a father, he's busy,
he's an active WWE performer, but
he's still taking the time to help out this up and coming act.
And it's just like, I wish there was more of that but
at the same time I realized why it's so special, because it's him.
>> He had reached out to me when he's out with his triceps injury and
wanted to help me with some of the promo work.
And he helped me a lot to find that comfort and
just being comfortable on camera, being comfortable on the microphones.
>> We're kinda like ships sailing, I came on the road a little while before Edge had
to retire, obviously cuz of his neck injury.
So that was pretty tough.
The locker room lost a really, really experienced locker room leader.
>> Knowing him and how much he loves and how much passion he has for this business,
to be told that you cannot do this anymore,
I could only imagine what he was going through at that time.
>> Even in the face of losing something like that, something that would wreck
a lot of people, he handled it with unbelievable grace, and
obviously it was something that was always in him, that itch to return.
Because nine years went by, and if that passion was gone,
it would have just been gone, it would have stayed gone.
But the fact that he was healthy enough to do it, so he did it,
I don't know, that obviously says something as well, doesn't it?
>> I mean, he came back by proclaiming he
was going to have the best wrestling match of all time.
>> You see someone who their whole career and everything was taken away from them.
And then to be able to come back and still put the same
amount of passion and energy into it and not just show up,
I mean, you'd have to be inspired as a young talent.
And if you were gonna model yourself on how you should
conduct yourself, I think Edge is that guy.
>> When you have a leader setting that kind of example from the top,
that trickles down to everybody on that card saying, this 48-year old
guy coming back from a broken neck that he was told he would never come back from,
he's putting out on this level, we need to up our game as well.
>> It's so special to be able to share that special moment with Edge when he
returned and in the same year that he won the Royal Rumble, I won the Royal Rumble.
So I feel like we get to share that together and
it was just really cool to be a part of that moment.
And he was just as amazing [LAUGH] when he returned as when he left.
And it was just special to share that moment with him and
I'm gonna carry that with me for the rest of my life.
>> It's funny, when he came back to WWE, he's better now than he's ever been.
And that is a testament to his drive, his passion, his work ethic, his perseverance,
and the fact that he got into the best shape of his life after breaking his neck.
Just, again, a testament to how much he loves this business, he's amazing.
>> He was the perfect combination of athlete and showman.
He was the best all around superstar in the world, in my opinion,
because he sunk his teeth into everything he did,
including the matches and he was so good in that ring.
>> Edge was very brave in the sense of what he was willing to do, and
I think he's one of the all time greats.
>> Awesome fella, sound as a pound, down to earth and just very passionate and
very knowledgeable about how the wrestling world works.
>> It's like Hotel California, you can check out anytime you want, but
you can never leave and he embodies that.
He'll always have a place here in WWE.
>> Congratulations to Edge for an amazing 25 years, 25 [LAUGH] years.
>> Thank you for all the help, for taking your time to sit down and
help me become a better WWE superstar.
Congratulations, again and wish you nothing but the best.