Edge is retiring...

The WWE released this statement yesterday:
Less than a week after his successful title defense against Alberto Del Rio at WrestleMania XXVII, World Heavyweight Champion Edge has been forced to retire from in-ring competition due to injury. The unexpected news brings to an end a storied WWE career spanning 13 years and consisting of 11 World Title reigns.
The Rated-R Superstar had been suffering numbness and uncontrollable trembling in his arms and hands. This is not the first time Edge has experienced these symptoms of nueropraxia. An MRI in Atlanta last Monday was sent to Dr. Joseph Maroon, a renowned neurosurgeon and professor of neurosurgery at The Pittsburgh School of Medicine. After careful examination of the MRI, it was determined that Edge would never be cleared to compete again, and thus, he is forced to retire.
In 2003, Edge underwent a two level spinal fusion of the discs between his C5, C6 and C7 vertebrae. After being cleared to compete, The Rated-R Superstar returned to the ring, resulting in stenosis of the spine, or a narrowing of the spinal column, above and below the fused discs. This narrowing resulted in less and less of the vital fluid needed to protect the spinal cord. Medical professionals cannot clear Edge to compete ever again in WWE since doing so could result in paralysis or even death.

And obviously, everyone who watched this week's episode of Monday Night Raw saw his emotional farewell address to the WWE audience:

As Edge himself says, he knew he was wrestling on borrowed time when he returned after having broken his neck eight years ago. We all knew this day would come, but somehow I never anticipated that it would be so soon. Edge is easily one of my favorite wrestlers of all time, and it still has not really sunken in that we've seen him wrestle his final match.
At least he is going out as World Champion, at the absolute pinnacle of the industry. He's a lock for the Hall of Fame, as well. Edge has one of the best minds for wrestling, and can still be invaluable to the business. Hopefully, although his in-ring days are over, he is still far from done with the wrestling business.
But in the end, no matter what kind of positive spin I try to put on it, I love the guy, and I'll miss him.