Edge returned to the squared circle this weekend, defeating long-time friend and long-time foe Randy Orton at WrestleMania 36 in a Last Man Standing match that went the distance.
The pair, who once formed the tag team 'Rated RKO' in 2006 and 2007, went 40 minutes inside an empty arena at WWE’s Performance Center.
Aside from a brief run in the 2020 men’s Royal Rumble match in January, Edge hadn’t stepped foot into the ring to wrestle since WrestleMania 27 in 2011.
Edge had always been in great shape since his then-WWF debut in 1998, but upon his in-ring return, something felt different.
He was leaner, meaner and a lot more ripped.
Adam Copeland took to Instagram to upload a rare selfie in which he detailed why and what he did to get to the shape he’s currently in.
He took the chance to pay tribute to his family and long-time friend and tag team partner Rey Mysterio in the post, citing them as reasons for his return.
“I said if detailing the slump I’d been in could help one person, it was worth putting it out there. So here goes again.
“I’ve been asked since I came back to the WWE after 9 years how I did it. Well it started with choosing to change. That shift in mindset was absolutely essential.
“Then I reached out to one of my best buds @619iamlucha to ask how he whipped himself into such excellent shape at a similar age to me.
“You can’t out train a bad diet. For years I tried to do just that to no avail. So I went online, set up my meal plan, stuck to it religiously, and started to put in the work. The above picture is a day after I filmed WrestleMania.
“I feel I got into the best shape of my life for it. We dialled it in tight. I cannot stress enough this would not have happened without these meals.
“It was an investment in myself and an investment in time I gained that I could use to devote to the girls. Most importantly so I could be around in a healthy capacity to be dad and partner. To be able to come back after 9 years and compete in a 40 minute fight at WrestleMania 36 at age 46.
“So if you’re one of the many who asked what I’m doing? Hard work. Discipline.”
Edge has signed a long-term deal with WWE and looks set to be joining the main roster on a semi-regular basis.
He is expected to appear on shows such as WWE’s partnership with Saudi Arabia and, of course, the big four pay-per-views: Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.