Drop Toehold

footnotesofwrestling:

I’m glad they found something for Edge to do. With all his grabs for the world title, proclamations to be a great opportunist, and ability to fuck with John Cena, we’ve all somehow forgotten that underneath all of the polish, Edge is fucking crazy. This story—where Edge fights with a computer voiced by Michael Cole—is worthy of Edge’s insane character.

It’s important to remember that there is someone behind the computer. WWE knows eventually they must play that card, but I’m glad they feel no real need to rush it. They can have fun with the concept of a disembodied GM: god knows they’ve had enough with a disembodied personality. The problem with every GM Vince appointed: they weren’t Vince, so we knew their power was just for show. For the first time ever, we don’t know who’s in charge in the WWE. All we know is that a) there is someone in charge, b) this person has no interest in appearances, c) there is a pretty funny Tumblr about it, and d) Edge doesn’t like any of this one bit.

Edge’s history with authority is a fun one. I’m not going to review his odd history with Vickie Guerrero, but I will say it was one of the more surreal plots wrestling has birthed. But Edge is pretty well used to getting what he wants from authority figures, so it explains why he’s the only one willing to actually destroy the laptop. It absolutely helps that the laptop talked back like the robot from Portal.

What did we think of Edge taking his frustrations out on the plastic and steel? Was it as cathartic as it would have been if the GM was a real person? I personally found this to be so much more satisfying. If Edge were to beat up, say, Mike Adamle, he’d just be a thug. But when he beats up a computer, he’s crazy. Crazy is always more valuable.

If you had to follow kayfabe or footnotesofwrestling, I know what I would choose.*

*I wouldn’t choose me!