The Steve Austin Show — SAS CLASSIC: Edge & Christian

Date: February 24, 2026
Host: Steve Austin
Guests: Adam Copeland (Edge), Jay Reso (Christian)
Location: Steve Austin in Los Angeles, CA; Edge in Dublin, Ireland; Christian in Milwaukee, WI

Episode Overview

In this highly entertaining episode of The Steve Austin Show, Steve catches up with two of his longtime friends and wrestling legends, Edge (Adam Copeland) and Christian (Jay Reso). The conversation—conducted across three time zones and continents—dives deep into their wrestling journeys, with a major focus on their legendary ladder and TLC matches, especially the iconic bouts from WrestleMania 17. The trio also touches on life after wrestling, career transitions, and the mindset behind taking risks to stand out in a golden age of WWE talent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up: Life After Wrestling

• Edge’s Acting Career:
  • Edge discusses transitioning to acting after being medically disqualified in 2011, getting roles on Haven and later Vikings (06:49).
  • He describes the challenge and fulfillment of acting: “I realized that that was still going to tap into that part of my brain that I need to tap into. If not, then who knows what I become. So I really started studying.” (07:10)
• Christian’s Post-WWE Life:
  • Christian shares his love of hockey and his current appearance in Milwaukee for an AHL team (12:31).
  • Talks about his hockey background as a kid and how the mentality of hockey influenced his wrestling work ethic (14:43).

2. Facing Retirement & Injuries

• Edge’s Retirement:
  • Edge opens up about being medically disqualified in 2011 after years of neck problems post-double fusion surgery (16:03).
  • Reflects: “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be… I’d been coming to terms with it because I knew my body was just a fraction behind what my mind was telling it.” (16:19)
• Christian’s Injury Journey:
  • Describes being injury-free until 2010, then facing a torn pec, ankle injury, and a string of concussions leading to retirement (22:11).
  • Notably, he delayed his pec surgery so that Alberto Del Rio could write him off TV, emphasizing his professionalism: “If we can maybe have him take me out, maybe that’s the reason for me to be gone...let’s get him some heat.” (24:00)
  • Receives recognition from Vince McMahon for his professionalism after surgery (29:48).
• Both discuss the challenges and mentality of working through pain, reinforced by their backgrounds and road stories.

3. The Early Years, Training, and Building Relationships

• Both Edge and Christian recall their time at Ron Hutchison & Sweet Daddy Siki’s school, and later attending Dory Funk Jr.’s Funkin’ Dojo in WWE (30:06–32:13).
• Christian’s drive and loyalty are highlighted during his developmental days—he calls Jim Cornette regularly to stay on the radar and honors commitments with indie promoters, earning respect from WWE brass (35:51–38:04).
• The value of learning from veterans (Ron & Siki, Dory, Bret Hart, Rick Martel, Bad News Brown) and grounding their style in psychology before adopting the faster, more athletic approach associated with their tag work (39:30–42:13).

4. Montreal Screwjob: Their Perspective

• Both attended the infamous Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels match at Survivor Series 1997.
  • Christian: “We had been backstage the entire day...I remember when the finish happened, we didn’t really register at the time. I just looked at Adam and said, that was kind of strange, wasn’t it?” (43:29)
• The next day, the reality set in, and Edge worried about “falling out” as a Bret Hart guy (44:03–46:06).

5. The Creation & Evolution of Ladder/TLC Matches

Origin & Pitch

• The first tag team ladder match with the Hardys was pitched by Edge & Christian as a way to stand out in a stacked WWE roster (48:11).
  • Christian: “It was strictly a thing to get noticed...We just knew that this was gonna be hopefully our springboard into becoming...WWE Superstars, you know, and that was what we were trying to do.” (49:12)
  • They suggested a “Best of Seven” ending in the first-ever tag team ladder match, leading to the “Terry Invitational Tournament”.

Philosophy & Execution

• Edge: “Our mentality was always, we don’t want anybody to be able to follow this.” (53:44)
• TLC matches developed further when the Dudleys joined, bringing their own energy and dynamic (55:20).
• Strong, mutual trust between all six participants, including Matt & Jeff Hardy and Bubba Ray & D-Von, was key:
  • “If somebody’s gonna follow us, they are gonna have to really kick ass tonight.” (55:55)
• The process of match layout involved all six, frequent disagreements, and creative collaboration:
  • “It wasn’t coming from a place of anybody being mad at each other. It was a place of passion.” (63:15)

Match Psychology

• Christian: “We realized if it was going to have any lasting power and if people were going to stay engaged...we couldn’t just let them be car crashes...we were trying to get some psychology in these matches.” (62:48)
• The challenge became balancing their “gimmick match” fame with proving they could still work classic tag bouts (65:43).

6. WrestleMania 17 Ladder Match & Iconic Moments

• Both Edge and Christian agree TLC 2 at WrestleMania 17 was the pinnacle, with lasting legacy (“that’s the best card and the best pay per view ever”—Edge, 53:22).
• Steve Austin: “That match...was just super exciting...that was just spectacular. I just don’t know any top that.” (52:41, 78:09)
• Discussion of the iconic spear from Edge to Jeff Hardy:
  • Edge breaks down the technical risks and timing required for the spot (75:23–76:33).
  • Christian reflects on not realizing at the time how iconic that moment would become: “If I did, I would have volunteered to be the one doing the spot...” (73:30)

7. Aftermath: Legacy & Personal Reflections

• Despite high dangers, all focused on pulling off memorable, safe matches and putting the team first over “who gets the win” (82:00–83:16).
• Love and mutual respect between the teams described as a “lifelong bond” (63:14).
• Christian on the group’s post-match ritual: “We’d always try to go find a little corner just to be up by ourselves...just chill and just hang out and just laugh a little bit, you know?” (86:15)
• Edge notes the thrill and pride of their lasting impact: “...now I look back, and Dudleys are going to the hall of fame this year, and, you know, Jay and the Hardee’s are gonna go in, and it’s like, okay, we did it. That’s where it all started.” (87:13)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Edge on acting: “If not, then who knows what I become. So I really started studying...just like I used to watch wrestling matches and go, okay, why did that guy do this here?” (07:10)
• Christian on his torn pec: “I just don’t want to screw him over, like, last second and hurt his show. I’m not sure what to do here. And they said, well, hold on, we’ll call you back...First of all, Vince McMahon appreciates, but, like, to keep their commitments...” (35:51)
• On the first tag ladder match: “What if we do a best of seven match and every match is a different stipulation, and then it ends with the first ever tag team ladder match?” – Christian (49:09)
• Edge on the locker room after the Screwjob: “How can that not happen the chance of that happening to everybody else?” (46:06)
• On TLC psychology: “We couldn’t just let them be car crashes...we were trying to get some psychology in these matches. Like a reason to actually do certain things...” – Christian (62:48)
• On match legacy: “WrestleMania is about making moments, right?...You see that spot where Adam spears Jeff Hardy off the ladder….that’s one of those moments.” – Christian (73:02)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 06:49 | Edge’s transition to acting and getting cast in Vikings | | 16:03 | Edge discusses retiring due to medical disqualification | | 22:11 | Christian recounts his own major injuries/history | | 30:08 | Both discuss their wrestling training roots and mentors | | 43:13 | Both recall attending the Montreal Screwjob and reacting to it | | 48:11 | Story of how the first tag team ladder match was their own pitch | | 53:22 | WrestleMania 17 regarded as the best card ever | | 62:48 | Christian & Edge talk about building psychology into TLC matches | | 75:23 | Edge breaks down the technical details of the WrestleMania 17 spear spot | | 84:59 | Post-match reactions and emotions after WrestleMania 17 | | 87:29 | Plug for Edge & Christian’s podcast: ENC’s Pod of Awesomeness |

Edge & Christian’s Podcast

ENC’s Pod of Awesomeness

• Weekly show featuring their trademark humor and in-depth wrestling discussions.
• Notable segment: “Anatomy of a Match”—deep dives into the creative and emotional process behind one signature bout, with an upcoming planned episode involving Steve Austin and Bret Hart (87:52).

Episode Tone & Energy

• Conversation is playful, nostalgic, but also deeply reflective.
• Strong sense of camaraderie and mutual respect, both for each other and the wider wrestling community.
• Balance between inside stories (“don’t look at me game”), technical insight, and old-school wrestling humility: “Our goal was to go out and go, okay, if somebody’s gonna follow us, they are gonna have to really kick ass tonight.” – Edge (55:52)

Conclusion

This episode is a masterclass in wrestling history, psychology, and legacy—as told by men who helped define an era. Essential listening for wrestling fans, nostalgic for the Attitude Era or looking to understand the behind-the-scenes passion, risk-taking, and professionalism that elevated Edge, Christian, and their peers from “WWE wrestlers” to true “WWE Superstars.”