Edge talks about early gimmick ideas on Jericho podcast

[gl83]

Could you have pictured former WWE superstar Adam "Edge" Copeland and Sean "Val Venis" Morley as a new version of "The Midnight Express?"

Well, it almost happened, along with several other doomed-to-fail ideas presented to Copeland during his early days in the WWE

Copeland, appearing on a recent episode of Chris Jericho's podcast, talked about gimmicks pitched to him from the brass, including former head writer Vince Russo.

"We are thinking of making you guys the new 'Midnight Express,'" Copeland said. "I just went, 'Oh, no. Anything new, whatever it is, it's not going to work.' That (idea) was doomed for failure right away."

He added that the names for Morley and himself would have been "Adorable Adam" and "Sensual Sean." While neither seemed thrilled with the prospects, they didn't feel as if they could turn the chance down.

"What are you going to say?" he said. "That's brutal… a horrible idea, and I know Sean felt the same way. We were like, this is not good, but we'll make it work and be a kick-ass tag team no matter what they call us; we'll do good with this."

After some disagreements with Russo in terms of the direction of his character, Copeland said plans were being put in place to make him a "deaf mute." He was scheduled to work as a Jim Morrison-like character, reciting poetry and "wearing chains and stuff."

"Russo wanted to write me as a deaf mute because he didn't think I could talk," he said. "It was his idea, so obviously he didn't think I liked his idea and thought I'd screw with this kid. (The idea would have made me) dead in the water."

Instead, Copeland transformed himself into Edge, one of the more iconic wrestlers of his generation. Other names like "Rage" and "Riot" were thrown out, but he tuned in to a radio station called "Edge" and liked it – with one exception.

"Had I thought about it, I would have done something with more syllables," Copeland said. "I was throwing around names, 'Offspring,' something in the musical realm.

"I didn't put any more thought into it, but wish I had because you can't (chant) with 'Edge.'"





Credit: www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2014/0104/568917/edge-reveals-terrible-gimmick-wwe-proposed/

[Deleted]

Ehhh-ehhh-ehhh-ehhhdge CLAP CLAP CLAPCLAPCLAP

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

I'd like to think that they pitch the deaf mute gimmick to everyone, since apparently they asked Punk about it too.

[saintpat]

You can't chant "spear" either.

[Amazing Kitsune]

The New Midnight Express would have been a failure.

To be fair, random Goth guy who nearly cripples people in his opening match and later feuds/joins a Vampire Coven was not the most successful opening gimmick either. Edge and Christian, imo, didn't really arrive until their feud with the Hardy Boyz(Am I imagining that they spelled it with a z?)

Sensual Sean could have still be Val Venis, just with a different name.

[Deleted]

Jan 4, 2014 22:14:21 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

I'd like to think that they pitch the deaf mute gimmick to everyone, since apparently they asked Punk about it too.

I imagine it's part of the job interview at this point, and it'a asked in a defeatist way in passing. "oh and uh...you wouldn't wanna do a deaf mute gimmick, wouldja? oh, didn't think so, heh we just can't fill that spot."

[Deleted]

Jan 4, 2014 22:29:07 GMT -5 Amazing Kitsune said:

The New Midnight Express would have been a failure.

The New Midnight Express was a failure, as evident with Hardcore Holly and Bart Gunn. Impressive that 2 newbs got to say no to it, while 2 veterans were stuck with it and (especially in the case of Bart) killed any heat they ever had.

[bootytea]

Its funny because I have been watching WWE from the 1995 era and keep thinking about the Heavenly Bodies. Edge and Sean Morley doing that sort of gimmick would be absolutely hilarious.

Seeing guys stand up for themselves and be big names is nice to read. A part of me tells me that the writers do it to test the talent and see if they will do whatever is given to them or actually work to come to a compromise.

[A Platypus Rave]

Jan 4, 2014 22:29:07 GMT -5 Amazing Kitsune said:

The New Midnight Express would have been a failure.

To be fair, random Goth guy who nearly cripples people in his opening match and later feuds/joins a Vampire Coven was not the most successful opening gimmick either. Edge and Christian, imo, didn't really arrive until their feud with the Hardy Boyz(Am I imagining that they spelled it with a z?)

Sensual Sean could have still be Val Venis, just with a different name.

They had a Z... and that Z is a slap in the face of all things North Carolinian! -Edge and Christian.

The Dudleys spelled it that way too...

because it was the 90s and poor literacy is kewl...

[Vice honcho room temperature]

Jan 4, 2014 22:43:48 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave said:

Jan 4, 2014 22:29:07 GMT -5 Amazing Kitsune said:

The New Midnight Express would have been a failure.

To be fair, random Goth guy who nearly cripples people in his opening match and later feuds/joins a Vampire Coven was not the most successful opening gimmick either. Edge and Christian, imo, didn't really arrive until their feud with the Hardy Boyz(Am I imagining that they spelled it with a z?)

Sensual Sean could have still be Val Venis, just with a different name.

They had a Z... and that Z is a slap in the face of all things North Carolinian! -Edge and Christian.

The Dudleys spelled it that way too...

because it was the 90s and poor literacy is kewl...

Worked for Mortal Kombat

[tigermaskxxxvii]

Jan 4, 2014 22:14:21 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

I'd like to think that they pitch the deaf mute gimmick to everyone, since apparently they asked Punk about it too.

If you could somehow dovetail a deaf mute character and black and green DX colors Kane into a Vince and Stephanie incest story line, then the IWC would collapse in on itself.

[thegame415]

Edge talks about this in detail in his book.

[Hit Girl]

What I do like about this story is that Russo at least was apparently willing to collaborate with the wrestlers. If something didn't work, they'd shoot ideas back and forth to find something that did. That's a good way to operate.

[Todd Pettengill]

The Edge used to be a pretty cool radio station in Albany (where he took the name from). But, it died off after Stern switched to Sirius. I think another station in the area stole it later on.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

I thought I read somewhere Edge was supposed to get Val's gimmick, but they decided in the end it worked better for Sean?

[Lancers]

Jan 5, 2014 2:30:39 GMT -5 Todd Pettengill said:

The Edge used to be a pretty cool radio station in Albany (where he took the name from). But, it died off after Stern switched to Sirius. I think another station in the area stole it later on.

I like to think every radio market in America has a station called The Edge. It's usually somewhere in the 89s or 107s on a radio dial. They usually play classic hard rock or alternative rock. And the DJs can't tell a joke to save their mothers from a firing squad.

[Capt Lunatic]

It is crazy that in wwe 13 I had Edge and Val Venis as a tag team called "The XXXpress"?

I even gave them "Chase" as a theme song.

[Deleted]

All those alternate names are horrible, I really can't imagine multi-time world champion Offspring.

[Todd Pettengill]

Jan 5, 2014 8:20:02 GMT -5 Lancers said:

Jan 5, 2014 2:30:39 GMT -5 Todd Pettengill said:

The Edge used to be a pretty cool radio station in Albany (where he took the name from). But, it died off after Stern switched to Sirius. I think another station in the area stole it later on.

I like to think every radio market in America has a station called The Edge. It's usually somewhere in the 89s or 107s on a radio dial. They usually play classic hard rock or alternative rock. And the DJs can't tell a joke to save their mothers from a firing squad.

Oh, I think you're right. There's Edgefests & crap like that all across the country. I just know because Edge (the wrestler) has stated a few times that he came up with the name & character while he was in Albany.

[Deleted]

Jan 5, 2014 8:20:02 GMT -5 Lancers said:

Jan 5, 2014 2:30:39 GMT -5 Todd Pettengill said:

The Edge used to be a pretty cool radio station in Albany (where he took the name from). But, it died off after Stern switched to Sirius. I think another station in the area stole it later on.

I like to think every radio market in America has a station called The Edge. It's usually somewhere in the 89s or 107s on a radio dial. They usually play classic hard rock or alternative rock. And the DJs can't tell a joke to save their mothers from a firing squad.

They don't even try anymore, it's just "check out this crazy stuff on our facebook page, it's a lizard eating a cheese sandwich! imagine!"