How Randy Orton & Edge's Match Had The Weirdest Marketing Ever
James Stevens
Published Mar 28, 2026
Highlights
- Edge questioned the logic of branding a match as the "Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" since it is highly subjective and impossible to determine.
- Despite their commendable effort and intensity, Edge and Randy Orton's match did not live up to the hyped billing of being the greatest, leaving fans with mixed reviews.
- Randy Orton saw the match as a test, acknowledging the pressure associated with the grandiose title and hoping to deliver a performance that would stand out in wrestling history.
In the unpredictable world of professional wrestling, the tagline "Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" sparks curiosity and skepticism alike. WWE Backlash 2020 witnessed a clash between Edge and Randy Orton, a feud charged with history and anticipation. However, the peculiar twist lay in WWE's audacious pre-promotion – anointing the bout as the unparalleled zenith of wrestling encounters. As the marketing machine revved up, with predictions pouring in from wrestling luminaries, fans were left to ponder: Did this match truly live up to the grandiose title bestowed upon it? We delve into the strange dynamics that surrounded this matchup, where two of the greatest, Randy Orton and Edge, tried to meet an impossible standard.
Edge Vs Randy Orton Was Billed As The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever
Edge Vs Randy Orton Happened At Backlash 2020
Match | Event | Duration | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
Greatest Wrestling Match Ever: Randy Orton vs Edge | WWE Backlash 2020 | 44:45 | Randy Orton |
The clash between Edge and Randy Orton at WWE Backlash 2020 was more than just a regular rematch; it was billed as "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" right from the promotional phase. This audacious declaration raised eyebrows among fans and critics alike, questioning the logic behind such marketing. Edge had previously emerged victorious in a last-man-standing match against Orton at WrestleMania 36, intensifying their rivalry.
The promotional campaign took an interesting turn as WWE sought predictions from a plethora of stars and legends within the wrestling world. From Alexa Bliss to Ric Flair, Roman Reigns to Kurt Angle, and many others, the wrestling community was engaged in predicting the winner. This approach, however, set an almost impossible standard for the match itself, as the notion of the "greatest" in wrestling is highly subjective.
The actual showdown unfolded as a 45-minute slow-burn war, featuring a diverse array of wrestling moves, and even moments of bloodshed. The absence of a live audience due to the ongoing pandemic didn't deter the performers, with NXT stars present in the audience attempting to maintain the energy. Despite the commendable effort and intensity displayed by Edge and Randy Orton, the match did not live up to the hyped billing of being the greatest. Fans, left with mixed reviews, recognized the inherent challenges of meeting the lofty expectations set by WWE's marketing strategy. While the match was undeniably great, dubbing it as the pinnacle of wrestling excellence seemed, at best, an exaggeration and, at worst, a delusion.
5 Reasons Edge vs. Randy Orton Was The Greatest Match Ever (& 5 Reasons It Wasn't)
Edge Vs. Randy Orton at Backlash labeled itself as the greatest wrestling match ever, but was it the best? Here's the argument for and against it.Edge Didn't Like The Marketing Of His Match With Randy Orton
Edge Wasn't A Fan Of Vince McMahon's Idea
Edge articulated his reservations about the promotion of the match, which he got word about from Paul Heyman. In an interview with ESPN, he expressed that the idea of branding a match as the greatest ever made little sense to him. He said:
"I'll preface all of this with saying there's no such thing as the greatest match ever. It's impossible, because there's no general consensus - you can have great matches, but what is the greatest is going to be different to almost everybody. Vince [McMahon] is a promoter, and he's promoting, but it's like hyperbole. I mean, to me [the greatest match is] not possible. So that takes that pressure out of my mind immediately. I just laughed because I didn't think it was serious. Then I realized fairly quickly it was. Then my reaction was, is this wise, because anytime you say something the greatest ever beforehand, you're setting yourself up for failure. This shouldn't even be happening. Let alone for the company, and let's call it straight, Vince, to think that he can bill this the 'Greatest Match Ever'. Would I have preferred they not billed it as that? Absolutely. But I also know there are times where heels get dug in the sand and there's no changing it.”
CM Punk Reckons WWE Put Too Much Pressure On Randy Orton & Edge With "Greatest Match Ever" Tagline
CM Punk didn't think the tagline was warranted as it put unnecessary pressure on the WWE superstars.Randy Orton Saw The Match With Edge As A Test
NXT Talent Watched Randy Orton And Edge At Backlash 2020
In a candid revelation on the Broken Skull Sessions, Randy Orton provided insights into the dynamics surrounding the marketing of the "Greatest Wrestling Match Ever." Acknowledging the enormity of the tagline, Orton admitted that the pressure associated with such a grandiose title was palpable. WWE's intention, as per Orton, was to push both him and Edge to deliver a performance that would stand out in wrestling history and maybe inspire future stars. He said:
“What a stressful position to be in, but this is one of my favorite matches I've ever had. I'm very happy with this match. Not only because of the pandemic and it was a weird situation to be in, but I feel like you can never have 'the greatest wrestling match ever,' but given the shackles that we were put under -- it was an uphill battle -- we did everything we could to do our best, and we had the NXT crowd too. To be able to feel that. Here's these guys, much younger than me, they're watching like, 'this is how it's done.' There was a sense of pride in that too. Not only were we out there wrestling and working with no crowd and with the piped-in noise and the little bells and whistles, but we had that NXT crowd. It was like class. Let's show them how it's supposed to be done. We took our time, and we got everything out of it. It's one of my favorite matches.”
The marketing of Edge vs. Randy Orton's "Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" was marred by unrealistic expectations and subjective assessments of wrestling excellence. The flawed marketing and the pressure it imposed on the performers reflected in Edge and Orton's comments, highlighting the pitfalls of labeling any match as the ultimate.
