Adam Copeland On Edge

by Adam “Edge” Copeland

Adam Copeland on Edge is what the author describes as “a mental picture.” It's also a dream—“one of many”—that he decided to realize while at home convalescing from potential career-ending neck surgery. And it's a journey that explores not only his life but also his innermost thoughts.In the small town of Orangeville, Ontario, Copeland was raised by a loving mother who, while working multiple jobs just to pay the rent, nurtured her son's passion for Spider-Man comics and KISS albums. When a family tragedy created a void in Copeland's life, that void was soon filled by the wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, who “made me feel like I could accomplish anything.”For Copeland, “anything” meant becoming a wrestler, an ambition shared by his friend Jason Reso, who would eventually form the indie tag team Suicide Blondes with Copeland, then join him in WWE as Edge's “brother,” Christian. Winning a newspaper essay contest earned Copeland free wrestling training from independent veterans Sweet Daddy Siki and Ron Hutchinson. The author shares his vivid, often outrageous memories of wrestling throughout Canada and the midwestern United States and befriending future WWE Superstars like Terry Richards (Rhyno), Sean Morley (Val Venis), and Chris Jericho. Hard work and persistence brought Copeland to World Wrestling Entertainment. But his “inauspicious” Raw debut—during which he accidentally knocked out his opponent—supports his claim that “I had no idea” how to make the transformation to Edge.Copeland retraces the steps he took to “Edgeucate” himself, from his goth days with the Brood's Christian and Gangrel to ushering in the “E&C Dynasty,” which in turn revitalized WWE's Tag Team division (with the aid of the Hardy Boyz, the Dudley Boyz, and countless tables, ladders, and chairs).With vivid detail and sincerity, Copeland offers his thoughts about not only fulfilling his goals but also building upon them. He shares his actual surprise over winning the Intercontinental title for the first time; the anxiety he felt while splitting up with Christian; his eventual determination “to grab the damn ball out of someone's hands and take off”; the distress of almost losing his long blond hair to Kurt Angle; his wonder over enjoying a brief Tag Team title reign with the icon who first inspired him; the simultaneous pain of a broken marriage and two ruptured discs in his neck; and the nervous energy of returning to Raw in March 2004 and setting his sights on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.You think you know Edge? Then read on....

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Sports, Autobiography, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Ebooks

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 2, 2004

Reviews

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adam Copeland on Edge is the story of WWE wrestler Edge.

I was never that into Edge when I was a wrestling fan but I needed something to read at my desk during slow times. Yeah, I'm a sucker for $3.99 wrestling biographies.

Adam Copeland on Edge was a little slow in the early goings. Call me heartless but I don't really care enough about a wrestler's life pre-wrestling to spend 20% of a biography reading about it. Anyway, young Adam won an essay contest and got his wrestling training for free.

From there, things picked up. Edge had some great road stories from his early days, like driving across frozen lakes to get to the next town in remote parts of the Canadian wilderness, and waking up with Rhyno spooning him on one occasion. After some ill-advised bookings, he finally got noticed by the WWE.

His WWE career up to that point was given the bulk of the attention. His many injuries were talked about, as well as his many ladder matches with the Hardy Boys and/or the Dudleys. It was interesting but not fantastic. I actually thought his indy career stories were more interesting. The book ended kind of abruptly, right around the time of his comeback in 2004.

The writing was notches above the usual fare for a wrestling book, especially one written by an actual wrestler. I think my main gripe with it is that he wrote it so early in his career. There just wasn't enough interesting material to fill a whole book. Ten, or even five, years later and the book would have been that much richer.

All things considered, it's a slightly above average wrestling book. Three out of five stars. I think I'm done with cheap wrestling books for a while.

[Rossanne Pendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is totally biased: We are in love.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snippet; I had a great time with this book! Adam Copeland is not the man I had previously expected him to be. On WWE, Edge is depicted as a womanising, arrogant, self-centred goose, but what I came to learn is that he isn't at all arrogant or self-centred.
When I started reading this book I was a little worried as to how well the writing would be, considering he is a sportsman and not a writer, but Copeland has done a really good job. What surprised me the most about this book was Copeland's sense of humour. I got to laugh at least once at every page. However, while the book is full of laughs, Copeland has also opened a welcoming door into the more difficult times of his life and when I wasn't laughing I was able to cry with him.
Full Review; http://bookywooks.blogspot.com/2009/1...

[ReadinRasslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much like Mick Foley before him, Edge's first (and so far, surprisingly, only) book is self-written, and it shows with the level of realism and passion in his writing style. The book flows well, and events are recounted in extensive detail. This was written in early 2004, about two years before his first WWE Championship win, so it is still extremely early into Edge's career, a theme that I've found in a lot of these early 2000's WWE labelled books. Edge's book was an injury-based passion project and it's definitely written with Edge's trademark fiery spirit. The 2000's WWE autobiographies can be hit or miss but this one is probably one of the best released during that period.

[Mirranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such an easy read and you could really hear Adam / Edge's voice throughout, which you don't really get from wrestling biographies.

Also it's wild reading it in 2021 with hindsight and being able to see how far he's come in his career since 2004. He wrote about his dreams for the future at the end of the book (becoming WWE champion, getting married, and having kids) and now he's managed to do all of that so that just makes my heart warm 🥺

[Optimus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A surprisingly awesome read..
Has a lot of road stories and ribs which i always appriciate.

Its a satisfying look at a career of one of my all time favorites.

[Samuel Steffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Copeland gives us a great biography about his upbringing, his friendship with Jay Reso, and his wrestling career in WWE. This was released in 2004 right before his career really took off.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I know everyone may not understand it because its a wrestling book in away but the life of Adam Copeland formally known as Edge. I have watched Edge and Christian from the time I was in eighth grade when a friend of mine introduced me to wrestling and I still watch it sometimes. Granted, I felt like I was watching a movie when I was reading the book. I guess its because that best friend gave me tons of knowledge on wrestling. I loved this book as much as I loved Edge. I have always loved Edge and Christian growing up and have his dvd's and movie. I'm an Edgehead. I actually wish Adam would write another book following from where he left off in the book. I was hoping to read about him and lita but that came after. Oh well, its still one of the best books I've read in along time even though there were some grammer errors need to be refixed. Other wise one book I would recommand to any male or female who loves wrestling.

[Samantha Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT EDGE. HE IS VERY AWESOME HUMAN BEAN . AND I EVER MET HIM I WOULD SAY YOU ARE THE REASON THE REASON WHY I LOVE WRESTLING. IN THIS BOOK HE TALK HIS CHILDHOOD AND HOW HIS MOM HAD A HARD MAKING ENDS MEET. THIS BOOK IS NOT ONLY AWESOME ITS INSIRING TOO.
AFTER EVERY THING HE WENT THOUGH AS A KID DID NOT STOP HIM FROM CHASING HIS DREAM AND MAKING IT COME TRUE. EDGE IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE ONE OF GREATEST WRESTLER IN WWE HISTORY. SO EDGE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERY THING THAT YOU DID IN THAT RING EVERY SINGLE NIGHT BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT YOU WORK FOR EVERYTHING YOU EARN THAT YOU ACOMMISH IN WWE AND I WILL ALWAYS RESPECT YOU FOR THAT AS A LIFE TIME FAN YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN HEART FOREVER. THANK YOU ADAM COPELAND

[Clairabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam Copeland was the reason i started watching WWF (now WWE) again. I was a huge fan as a toddler but lost interest as a child. I was in my teens when i fell in love with Edge's wrestling style. I loved the indirect jokey attitude of this book. Not a lot of detail when it comes to the inside of the WWE and how they work, but the knowledge of what he said in the book has given me a whole new insight to the company. A funny, insightful book. PS Adam, 10 years later, we're waiting for the next installment :p

[Tim Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I love pro wrestling. I actually bought this book the day it came out and actually read it that night. I am a dork. But, this book is really good. He has a great story. Raised by a single parent and working matches for 25 bucks. I can't believe anyone would stay in the business.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

LoveLoveLove Edge! This was the 1st wrestling book I've read. Edge is awesome and I was glad he wrote this book.

[Brad Kinsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam Copeland, better known by his ring name "Edge," is one of the most successful professional wrestlers of all time. His career spanned over two decades, and during that time, he won numerous championships, headlined countless pay-per-views, and became one of the most beloved and respected performers in the industry. In 2020, Copeland released his autobiography, "Adam Copeland On Edge," which chronicles his journey from a small town in Canada to the top of the wrestling world. In this review, we will take a closer look at this book, examining its strengths, weaknesses, and overall impact.

The book is divided into three parts, each of which covers a distinct phase of Copeland's career. The first part, titled "Before the Blade," details Copeland's childhood and early years in the wrestling business. Copeland grew up in Orangeville, Ontario, where he discovered his love for wrestling at a young age. His mother, who was a huge fan of the sport, would take him to local shows, and he became enamored with the larger-than-life characters and intense athleticism on display. Copeland eventually began training to become a wrestler himself, and he chronicles his early struggles in the business, including getting fired from his first job and struggling to make ends meet.

The second part of the book, titled "The Blade Years," covers Copeland's rise to fame in the WWE. This section of the book is arguably the most interesting, as it offers a behind-the-scenes look at the world of professional wrestling during the late 90s and early 2000s. Copeland writes candidly about his relationships with other wrestlers, his battles with injuries, and the highs and lows of his in-ring career. He also discusses some of the most memorable moments of his career, including his epic matches with The Undertaker and his shocking betrayal of his longtime friend and tag team partner, Christian.

The final section of the book, titled "The Second Act," covers Copeland's transition from wrestling to acting. After suffering a serious neck injury in 2011, Copeland was forced to retire from the ring. He subsequently turned to acting, and he has since landed roles in numerous TV shows and movies, including "Haven," "Vikings," and "The Flash." In this section of the book, Copeland offers insights into the differences between the wrestling and acting worlds, and he discusses some of the challenges he faced as he tried to establish himself as an actor.

One of the strengths of "Adam Copeland On Edge" is its honesty. Copeland is refreshingly candid throughout the book, and he doesn't shy away from discussing some of the more difficult moments of his career. He talks openly about his struggles with addiction, his failed marriages, and the intense physical toll that wrestling took on his body. This honesty makes the book a compelling read, as readers feel like they are getting an unvarnished look at one of their favorite performers.

Another strength of the book is its insight into the wrestling industry. As someone who spent over two decades in the business, Copeland is uniquely qualified to offer insights into the inner workings of the WWE and the wrestling world as a whole. He discusses the politics, the backstage drama, and the creative process behind some of the most iconic moments in wrestling history. This makes the book a must-read for any wrestling fan who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the industry.

[Ali Ansari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edge is my favorite pro wrestler of all time. I grew up watching him. When he retired I was devastated. It was the only time in my life where I took 6 month off from watching the WWE. So obviously, my review for this book is going to be biased.

I still vividly remember when he came back from his neck surgery. He came back a heel (a bad guy) after his neck surgery... this is early 2000's. Not the 2021 return

He came back on a Monday night RAW, in the midst of a match between 2 superstars, one of them was Christian (his old partner) and I don't remember who the other guy was...But what I do remember, is in the middle of a match, Edges Entrance music hits "You think you know me..." He comes out but not to the ring. He is hopping around near the Titan Tron, in one hand he has a microphone and in the other his autobiography...

He promotes it... talks about it and oints to Christian saying that there's a lot in there about him too. Then he makes sure we all know that has written it all by himself in its entirety "No ghost writers for this bad boy" he said. All in All, its a very warm and engaging life story of one of the greatest of all time.

If you are reading this you are a wrestling fan, and more so, you are an Adam Copeland fan.. you have watched Vikings after he retired wethere you cared for history or not, and you shed some tears with him in the Roya Rumble 2021 when you saw him return to what he was forced to leave.

And let me tell you something brother....If you have made it this far....Yes, yes you should read the autobiography of the man who Mick Foley called the Shawn Michaels of our generation and it will not disappoint. Read about his struggles and triumph.

You think you know him? well after this you most def will!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

To put it simply, Adam Copeland is obsessed with wrestling. His tale from rags to riches epitomises the definition of hard work and dedication.

Born in Canada, without a penny to his name, Edge pursued his passion with in crippling belief and eventually came up trumps.

With a plethora of wisecracks, including digs at the Big Show’s antics at an all you can eat buffet, ‘The Rated R Superstar’ documents his journey from wild child all the way to PPV headliner.

Edge tells several interesting tales from his time on the independent circuit. My personal favourite was when Christian collapsed through the ice, when a group of wrestlers attempted to navigate a van over a frozen lake in Baltic conditions.

I also enjoyed an anecdote, in which several prominent names dived out of a hotel window for a massive brawl in the snow.

Admittedly, some could argue that this book was written far too early, given how much he’s achieved since. However, I actually found it made for an interesting dynamic. Edge didn’t scribe this autobiography as an 11-time world champion, but a hungry Intercontinental title holder with so much left to achieve.

To offer one critique, it felt like he could’ve opened up a little more. I’d have loved to have learned about the details of his divorce and how he coped with the idea that he may never wrestle again after his injury struggles.

However, it made for a great read and I’d highly recommend it to WWE fans.

[Katharina Kanzan · Rating 2 out of 5]

„Adam Copeland on Edge“ ist wirklich ein ungefilterter Blick auf Edges Werdegang als Wrestler. Das ist Vor- und Nachteil des Buches. Vorteil, weil es spannend ist, einem Wrestler in den Kopf schauen zu können und Nachteil, weil es das Buch schwieriger zu lesen und zu verstehen macht. Vor allem, dass er an vielen Stellen zwischen Adam und Edge nicht unterscheidet bzw. auch hin- und herspringt, ist schwierig.

Das andere, was es schwer macht, dieses Buch zu empfehlen, ist, dass er zum Zeitpunkt des Schreibens gerade mal Ende 20 war und noch vor seinem „Money in the Bank“-Gewinn bei Wrestlemania 21 und vor seinem WWE Championship-Reign 2006 stand, d.h. Vieles aus seiner spannenden Karriere ist noch gar nicht passiert.
Das soll kein „Lest es auf keinen Fall“ werden. Ich würde dennoch eher Edgeheads empfehlen, das Buch zu lesen. Solche, die einfach hinter die Kulissen des Wrestlings schauen sollen, empfehle ich unter anderem Chris Jerichos und Mick Foleys Bücher. „On Edge“ ist für mich eine Vorgeschichte und ich hoffe sehr, dass Edge irgendwann den Elan findet, eine Fortsetzung zu schreiben. Ich traue ihm zu, die Fehler dieses Buches zu vermeiden und vor allem glaube ich, dass er noch weitaus interessantere Geschichten zu erzählen hat, als die, die sich in diesem Buch finden.

[Elmer Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid entry in the biographical wrestler genre.

Interesting to watch Adam/Sexton/Edge develop through the Canadian wrestling territories from very humble beginnings. I found the personal connections to many folks I know of, within the business, making it a small world indeed. Nothing too heavy handed or mind blowing, just a down to earth story of what it really takes to make it in the wrestling industry from a fan favorite perspective.

He touches on many match highlights and brief anecdotes on how they came to be. Surprising how many titles he has won during his tenure. This book only goes up to his first return after major surgery and doesn't cover his eventual medical retirement, although I can see how it developed over time.

Surely there will be a volume 2, as he recently, and miraculously, returned to action after a long hiatus, which included his acting career. To read his story knowing there is definitely more to follow, was definitely only an appetizer.

Thanks for reading.

[Eleanorsbookishthings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago when I really got into profession wrestling. Edge has always been a favorite for me and still is. I read this book so fast. I love reading books about peoples lives written by themselves, because I find there is a freshness to their writing.

Adam's writing was very raw and authentic when he describes his life and journey to getting his dream come true. He opens up a lot about his life, from his time being young just him and is mom, to being in college and travel doing small wrestling events then to be a headliner for the WWE.

I loved reading about his life an journey. I also loved the little moments his details in the book, like there is a scene where they are road tripping for a event (before WWE) and they get stuck on ice and it was absolutely hilarious.

I truly loved this book. I give it a 5 stars but I also biased because he is my favorite.

[Luke Koran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to yet another WWE autobiography produced in the early 2000s, this time from the blonde haired daredevil and future Rated-R Superstar, Edge. Almost immediately, the man behind the professional wrestling character, Adam Copeland, captures the reader’s admiration with his sense of humor - a la fellow authors Mick Foley and Chris Jericho - and attention to detail. Specifically, Edge’s road stories from his indie career are what instantly made this book one of my favorite wrestling biographies, bar none! Even though this work amounts to approximately 180 full pages and ends before Edge’s world championship run, you will cherish this book as much as Foley’s “Have a Nice Day!” and Jericho’s “A Lion’s Tale.”

[S.L. Barrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining autobiography.
I really enjoyed A.Copeland's relaxed style of writing, as though he was im conversation with an old friend, it was very engaging.
This is a must read for fellow Edgeheads and wrestling fans.
Sometimes the recounting of matches could be a little clunky and repetative, however his natural humour cut through.
My only negative is that as this was written during his rehabilitation from neck surgery this autobiography only covers a certain portion of his career - anything including and past the Matt Hardy and Lita saga isn't included, so it's only half his story, and I eagerly await volume 2 - if ever he decides to pen one.

[JJ Broenner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this a little late being that Edge is back in wrestling now after much more living and wrestling after this book ended. I enjoyed reading the story of the journey up to the early 2000’s and feeling the emotion and humor throughout that journey as told by Edge himself. Many side stories about matches that I just did not know; and the younger years, I really had no idea of his roots. An inspirational history of a superstar and proof of how you have to work to get a chance at being a sports entertainment superstar.

[Lucy Simons · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not the best wrestling autobiography I’ve ever read but he gets points for writing it himself (although I think it needed better editing at some parts). It’s short, covering a very small portion of his career in not much detail, and 23 years out of date by now. I’d love it if he could write an updated version, having since achieved the goal he sets out in this book to win the WWE championship (many times), retired and returned to the ring.
Would have loved some more personal insight rather than recalling of match results; it did become boring and repetitive.

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[James Rawly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been waiting a long time to read this book. I'm a big borrow from the library type of guy and mine unfortunately didn't carry, I just recently was able to get my hands on a copy.

I'm a big wrestling fan and I found it amusing where this book ends seeing as Edge has had an incredible career, hell he is even main eventing WrestleMania this year(2021) for the title!

Overall a good easy fast read.

[Haley Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a wrestling fan from a young age, I grew up watching Edge's career. Due to this, I knew about title runs and injuries in his WWF/WWE career, but it was fascinating reading about his early life. There seems to be a commonality in the world of wrestling, especially in previous years, where many of the wrestlers came from a poverty striken background and Edge was no different.

Informative, witty, laugh out loud hilarious at times, I'd highly recommend this to all wrestling fans.

[Brian Kinsella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This won't win awards for stunning prose, but knowing Adam/Edge how I do, through his podcast and general on screen character, his voice REALLY shone through in this book.

I would love for him to write a follow up, as I truly fell in love with his character just as his story in this book finishes. An excellent read.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny & witty account of Adam Copeland's early life and wrestling career until 2004. (Ooh, boy, we know what happened in 2005...) I felt like parts were very "surface level" and left me with more questions than answers, but all in all, a fun read.

(Disclaimer: I've always thought Christian >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Edge. Did that affect me while reading this book? Maybe a little.)

[Stephen Kearns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always liked "Edge" as a wrestler and was excited to read this book!was great reminiscing about all the great tables,ladders and chairs matches with the Dudley boys and the hardy boys!He had a great career and it's a shame it was cut so short!decent book and worth a read 👍🏻

[Barrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written too soon! Some good stories though in an interesting career up to the end of the book. Shame it wasn't saved until his career was over as there are many more fascinating stories Adam could tell I am sure, particularly as the book is quite a short read.

[Monteiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, and what a journey, all of Edge best traits and funny goofy likeability comes off very well through the book. After reading this I really hope some day he will put out another book telling it all about the rest of his career and his eventually spin-chilling return.