Edge’s return to WWE at this year’s Royal Rumble was one of the best comebacks to ever happen, especially because of the story associated with it. When Edge retired in 2011, no-one thought he would compete again, certainly not him. A life-threatening neck injury meant he had to step away from the squared circle forever, but after operations to get it fixed, a lot of hard work and training, and plenty of grit, Edge stepped back into the ring and returned to WWE, nine years after saying goodbye to a career thought to be over.

The R-Rated Superstar has had myriad of sensational matches in his career. Whether it’s his match with John Cena at Unforgiven, his epic TLC match alongside Christian against the Hardy Boyz and the Dudley Boyz at Wrestlemania XVII, or his attempt to end the Undertaker’s streak at Wrestlemania XXIV, there’re no shortage of classics. Many will have a particular favourite, and for me, it was his war with Mick Foley at Wrestlemania XXII that stands out as one of his finest.

Wrestlemania XXII was a stacked card that included Rey Mysterio becoming the World Heavyweight Champion, Undertaker continuing the streak to 14-0 after defeating Mark Henry, and John Cena retaining his WWE Championship against HHH. Over 17,000 fans were having a blast at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, and when Edge and Mick Foley finally stepped into the ring to settle a feud that had had an excellent build up, the entire arena loved every second of it.

The feud began after Edge believed Foley cost him the WWE Championship. Mick Foley was taunted by Edge, told he was past his prime and couldn’t cut it anymore. The mockery and abuse stirred something in Foley, bringing out the sadistic side in him once again, and at Wrestlemania XXII, that violence became the focal point of their match. It was filled with some truly gory moments, pushing the boundaries of WWE programming that ended with an almighty crescendo that is still talked about today.

Edge has always had the ability to be adored or abhorred. There was never any middle ground with the Hall of Famer, but at Wrestlemania XXII, he was definitely the villain. Coming to the ring with a baseball bat and accompanied by Lita, Edge was ready for a fight. The match told a brilliant story of an old timer reminding the world of his past, proving exactly why he’s regarded as a hardcore legend, and that he never really lost his edge (no pun intended).

The two went at it, and after taking advantage of the momentum, Edge connected with a spear. This may have been game over if it was anyone else, but Foley had outwitted his opponent, although at the time it was unclear why. After hitting the spear, Edge was holding his arm. The commentary team thought he may have dislocated his shoulder, but in actual fact, he’d ripped his skin open. Mick Foley had wrapped barbed wire around his waist before the match had started. He’d expected the spear and had come prepared. From there, the blood flowed and the violence got worse.

It was a war that saw both men plunge to the depths of depravity. At one point, Edge grabbed a bag of thumb tacks and emptied them all over the ring, with the intention to drop Foley into them. However, it was Edge who landed back first into the hundreds of tacks, piercing his skin. A bat wrapped with barbed wire ended up being used in a multitude of ways by both men, busting open both of their heads. There was a moment that was captured beautifully by the cameraman, as Mick Foley expressed a subtle pleasure with a smile as the blood gushed out of his wound and over his face.

#WWE VIDEO: Edge spears Mick Foley through a flaming table: WrestleMania 22 http://t.co/74R7gI1BZp

— WWE (@WWE) July 11, 2013

It was a match that saw both Edge and Mick Foley beat each other senseless with whatever they could find. It became clear that Edge may had made a mistake by goading Mick Foley in the weeks building up to the match, but after pushing each other to the limit, it was Edge who got the last laugh. Lita had tried to get involved throughout, doing whatever she could to stop Foley from hurting Edge. This even led to her getting her mouth cut when Foley got Mr Socko out and wrapped him in barbed wire, forcing it straight into her mouth.

She finally managed to aid her man as she emptied a bottle of lighter fluid onto a table that had been set up at ringside earlier in the match. As she lit the table and it went up in flames, Foley was on the apron, in a perfect position for some serious damage to be done. Capitalising on the situation, Edge dived through the ropes, spearing Foley off the apron and through the flaming table. The crowd erupted, the commentary team went nuts, and the entire world held its breath as both Superstars lay on the floor in the aftermath.

With Edge crawling uncomfortably over to Foley, he managed to get the three count and win the match. On a night that had plenty to offer, this battle stood out as the best. Edge and Mick Foley brought everything to the table, and never failed to tell a fantastic story whilst putting their bodies on the line. I’ll never forget watching it live and being blown away by the dedication they both gave at a risk to their health to put on one of the finest matches of that decade. It’s one of my favourite memories of Edge, and it’s a perfect reminder of just how fantastic the R-Rated Superstar is.

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