How Sting SHOULD be booked in WWE....

[HeymanHustler]

There is a lot of speculation as to how Sting will be booked if he does end up signing a WWE deal. If it's a Legends contract, he most likely won't be doing many matches. It's speculated whether he'd be booked as a new Raw GM, which isn't as bad of an idea as it sounds. Whether he has a lot of matches or not, Sting has to be familiar enough with the fans to pose a legitimate threat against Sting before Mania 31. People wonder if he'd be booked with The Crow gimmick or the gimmick we're more familiar with seeing him in from TNA. However, this is how I think he should be booked with WWE.

(without Crow gimmick)
First, immediately following Undertaker's match at WM XXX, the lights go out and when they come back on, Sting is in the rafters. The next night at the start of Raw, Sting introduces himself. He talks about how he beat the best of the best in his career. He name drops Hogan, Big Show, Goldberg, Nash, Flair, etc. The only name that eluded his career and the only man he never had a chance to see which of them was the better man was Undertaker. He challenges Taker to a match at WM 31. He tells Taker if he accepts, he'd come out right now and accept. After a minute of waiting for The Undertaker to come out, Triple H's music hits. He confronts Sting face to face and tells him that match isn't happening. HHH says the reason Sting never was let into WWE because everyone, including Vince, knew he couldn't handle the big leagues. "Guys like Orton, guys like The Rock, guys like Austin...guys like me would chew you up and spit you back out. The fans don't want to see a tired old, broken down man like you get demolished by a guy like Taker. You're not welcome here. Now get the hell out of my ring before I have security escort you out myself." HHH threatens. Sting obliges...for now. Fast forward to Extreme Rules. Lets say Authority tries to sabotage the WWE title match because they don't like the champion *cough* Bryan *cough* Sting sabotages those plans somehow. Maybe he puts his hands on the COO himself. The next night, Sting cuts a promo about how he's gonna get his match with Taker one way or another. HHH comes out and gets face to face with Sting saying he made a big mistake and he'll make his life a living hell and make sure no wrestling promotion hires him yadayada...then Vince McMahon's music hits. As he struts to the ring, he mentions how he sat back and watch this crap go down long enough. "You tell him, Vince!" HHH quips. "I was talking to you, Hunter." Vince says. He says the behavior he's exhibited has been a poor reflection on the WWE and a poor reflection of the McMahon family name. He says all HHH has done is hire his best friends (Batista, New Age Outlaws), make one of the best talents in the business walk away from the company (CM Punk), and held down a superstar that the fans love because he wasn't big enough (Daniel Bryan). Vince tells him that he has half a mind to fire him, but as his son in law, HHH will always have a spot somewhere in the company no matter what. However, he will name a new Raw GM and give the Raw GM the ability to overturn any major decision of the COO. He then points at Sting and names him the new Raw GM.
For months, COO HHH and Raw GM Sting have dispute over dispute and power struggle after power struggle. It all culminates at Summerslam in a winner gets full control match between Sting and HHH. Sting wins, keeping the feud ongoing. Maybe even some sort of Survivor Series match of Team Sting vs Team HHH.
Then, as Raw GM, Sting makes the match against Undertaker for WrestleMania 31. But Sting wants to up the ante a bit. Make it a retirement match. Storyline wise, Sting could say something like the best match of their careers should be the last match of their careers for one of them but mostly it would be to add suspense to the match. Everyone knows both guys don't have many matches left in them and some people think Sting should be the only guy to end the streak (I don't) so putting both their careers on the line could add suspense to the whole thing once it comes around.


(as Crow Sting)
This approach would have to be less elaborate and more simple. Same beginning set up, only instead of being confronted by HHH the following night, he remains this mysterious entity. No one knows his game or intentions but when he has them, he speaks with actions rather than words. This would lead to brief feuds with guys like HHH or Bray Wyatt or maybe even Kane at big PPVs like Summerslam and Survivor Series and Royal Rumble It all leads to Sting vs Undertaker.

I know that's a long read, but what do you think?

 

[lil steroid meat]

Too much.

The decision to make Sting a Raw GM is terrible. Nobody knows who Sting is in 2014. TNA's lack of marketing can allow you to go ahead and assume the majority of casual wrestling fans doesn't know it exists.

The only way to book Sting is to book him in a way that makes sense to:

- Children who don't know who he is

- Adults who have never watched TNA and last heard of him in 2001 when WCW folded

- And to people who have followed him from blonde Sting till a couple weeks ago when Magnus beat him for the Vince Russo Championship Wrestling World Championship.

Book him with the Crow gimmick dropping down from rafters; or if the WWE is hesitant to involve rafters for obvious reasons, (and this approach might be better anyways) have the lights go out every time he is to appear. Even do a spot the night after Wrestlemania where The Undertaker comes out to open the show. And while the Undertaker is in the ring, have the lights go out (crowd will be confused as fuck as this is usually Undertaker's thing) and have Sting pop in when they come back on. No words, just staring.

That's it. Taker should be his only program. Sting beating anyone does nothing for the WWE in 2014.

Closer to WM31 obviously you would obviously have Sting cut promos on how he's beaten all the big dogs except for Taker and blah blah blah but Taker should be his only program.

 

[OutsiderDX]

I don't think it will be a good idea to try and recreate old gimmicks like the CROW Stinger.

Bringing realism into his debut would be best. I'm thinking HHH is trying to show he has the business saavy to do stuff Vince has never done... and one of those things is, is to bring in STING.

HHH could be very proud of this accomplishment, but of course Sting is a man of his own morals and ethics, and their relationship quickly dissolves.

Then the "Sting was never good enough to hang" angle can be touted by HHH.

 

[HeymanHustler]

Too much.

The decision to make Sting a Raw GM is terrible. Nobody knows who Sting is in 2014. TNA's lack of marketing can allow you to go ahead and assume the majority of casual wrestling fans doesn't know it exists.

The only way to book Sting is to book him in a way that makes sense to:

- Children who don't know who he is

- Adults who have never watched TNA and last heard of him in 2001 when WCW folded

- And to people who have followed him from blonde Sting till a couple weeks ago when Magnus beat him for the Vince Russo Championship Wrestling World Championship.

Book him with the Crow gimmick dropping down from rafters; or if the WWE is hesitant to involve rafters for obvious reasons, (and this approach might be better anyways) have the lights go out every time he is to appear. Even do a spot the night after Wrestlemania where The Undertaker comes out to open the show. And while the Undertaker is in the ring, have the lights go out (crowd will be confused as fuck as this is usually Undertaker's thing) and have Sting pop in when they come back on. No words, just staring.

That's it. Taker should be his only program. Sting beating anyone does nothing for the WWE in 2014.

Closer to WM31 obviously you would obviously have Sting cut promos on how he's beaten all the big dogs except for Taker and blah blah blah but Taker should be his only program.

Whether or not he's booked with The Crow gimmick or not, he has to have at least two matches before Mania. Him just cutting promos every now and again isn't going to get him over with the crowd (new fans included) for very long. They're going to get tired of hearing how he beat guys like Hogan and would rather see him face guys the crowd actually cares about. Just having promos for a year will get boring. New fans won't believe that a guy who they've never seen wrestle (aside from some 10+ year old matches from WcW they found on WWE Network) is going to be able to take on Taker. And if you can't have him wrestle and you want him with the Crow gimmick, don't have him do nothing but talk in his promos. Crow Sting got over because he never said much in his promos, if anything at all. Having him talk over and over will just kill it really fast. That's why I'm more in favor of his TNA version of his character on WWE TV. Gives him an excuse to speak often for a year.

 

[HeymanHustler]

I don't think it will be a good idea to try and recreate old gimmicks like the CROW Stinger.

Bringing realism into his debut would be best. I'm thinking HHH is trying to show he has the business saavy to do stuff Vince has never done... and one of those things is, is to bring in STING.

HHH could be very proud of this accomplishment, but of course Sting is a man of his own morals and ethics, and their relationship quickly dissolves.

Then the "Sting was never good enough to hang" angle can be touted by HHH.

I completely agree on the Crow Sting. I don't see that character taking off very well in this day and age, especially with this "Reality Era" WWE seems to be going for. I actually really like your idea of HHH bringing in Sting himself to put himself on a higher pedestal. That would work perfectly.

 

[oldschool26]

Sting deserves this mania. Wwe have waited so long for him to sign.
Now he's not priority. Kidding me? Sting should
Vs taker at mania 30 we all know he will lose. But then
Have sting beat Jericho, triple h, Kane, the rock, cena , Orton
And retire with a win over hbk at mania 31. He does have it in the tank
To put on a decent 20min match with taker this mania.
Everyone judging him on tna performances. Its not him.
Dixie says sting your in main event do you signature moves
You have 5mins. Crowd just wanna see a stinger splash and finishers.
She never said sting your vs angle, lets put on an amazing Marchh.
Blame her. Has any one see sting reverse a tombstone?
I have many times, he does it side ways and typical fall back
Like Kane does. Be an awesome mania moment. Watch him
Vs ddp on YouTube for example. Also watch him vs mucho man. Nitro or thunder.
Sting gets piledrived by savage. Gets straight up and walks round like a zombie.
That's wan fans wanna see vs taker. Them 2 will have awesome chemistry.
They are friends in real life too. Give them 20mins at mania 30 its well over due.
Fans will be on their feet. Crowd will go crazy. You can make it believeble
That sting might win. Wwe too scared of the young crowd reacting.
Sting knows how to work a crowd easy.

I think sting will debut mania after taker match.

He will fight against the authority beating triple h, kane
Jericho,hbk,rock in singles matches at ppv.
He wouldnt sign unless he was promised victory over
Some top wwe stars

Extreme rules vs triple h

Summerslam vs the rock

Royal rumble vs hbk

Survivor series team sting vs team triple h

Triple h
Undertaker
Rndy Orton
Kane
Mason Ryan
Dean Ambrose
Seth Rollins
Cesaro

Vs

Sting
Bryan
Cena
Swagger
Kurt angle
Reigns
Tyson Kidd
Cody Rhodes

Hell in cell: sting vs masked Kane

Elimation chamber: attire era chamber. Winner gets streak
shot

Sting vs triple h vs Kane vs angle vs Goldberg vs hbk

Mania 31. Vs undertaker

 

[enviousdominous]

Someone else took the Bruce Campbell avatar? Aww, fuck.

Don't worry, I'm not one of those "TL/DR" assholes. I actually have an attention span, maybe make more paragraphs next time.

I think you have something going there with the notion of Sting coming out without the Crow gimmick. I think it would be foolish to make him wrestle before Wrestlemania if the eventual plan is to make Sting vs Undertaker at Wrestlemania. I realize that you only suggested one match of him before Wrestlemania, but still. I think his fans will be patient if they understand that Sting vs Undertaker is literally happening.

Having a "Team Sting" at Survivor Series would be an awesome idea because then you'd have a team of faces get a boost to their popularity through Sting's faith in them.

I'd suggest brainstorming a little more for Crow Sting, just to keep your creative mojo in check. I realize that the Crow incarnation is low-key by design, but turning it into something big responsibly is a good way to prove your mettle as a creative writer.

Maybe have Undertaker duck him for the better part of a year of being stalked by Crow Sting, saying that his plan is to win the Royal Rumble and retire after winning the championship at Wrestlemania. Undertaker is the last person in the ring, the next entrant is (big surprise, I know) Sting. Sting's music hits, the lights go out, Sting appears standing behind a waiting Undertaker while holding a baseball bat, Sting wails on Undertaker and eliminates him setting in motion the face off at Wrestlemania. I realize that such an occurrence doesn't need to have Crow Sting to be plausible, but you left his section pretty brief.

Maybe, and I realize I'm contradicting myself here somewhat, do both by having Undertaker challenge Non-Crow GM Sting to a casket match at Survivor Series to which Sting refuses. After a series of taunting and mind games possibly going so deep as to involve Sting's family, Sting agrees to the match. Sting puts out a Hell of an effort, but Undertaker has Kane come out and attack Sting. Sting is put in the casket and Undertaker cuts a promo suggesting that he sent Sting to Hell, leading to a display of Sting on the bigscreen with a timeline of his career shown with the end date being that day.

Strange things start happening to The Undertaker in the coming months. Maybe night vision footage exposes how he's been skirting under the ring to "disappear" and candid footage shows him making back stage deals with Vince McMahon to "bury" Sting. Sting is called out by The Undertaker and Vince, the lights go out and Sting is in the raftors as his Crow gimmick. Have a child voice-over the words of Meister Eckhart.

"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. The spirits burn them all away. But they're not punishing you, they're freeing your soul. If you're frightened of dying and holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth."

Vince freaks out and demands a match between Sting and Undertaker at the Royal Rumble, a buried alive match. Crow Sting controls most of the match, and is about to put Undertaker in the open grave. Vince McMahon comes out with a shovel and swings hard at Sting, misses and hits The Undertaker knocking him into the grave. Sting takes the shovel and stares down Vince who's seen visibly shaking, maybe have him simulate peeing himself. Undertaker reaches out of the grave and pulls Vince into it. Sting buries them both, after a while The Undertaker's hand erupts from the grave while "Aint no grave can hold my body down" plays.

The next Raw footage is shown of HHH and Stephanie frantically attempting to dig out their boss, after digging out the grave it's shown that it's completely empty. Vince is written off tv indefinitely, I realize he hasn't been on it much lately but the guy is getting too old for this. Undertaker and Sting have their first real shoot interview against each other that night to close the show, the only thing scripted is that they agree to settle the score once and for all at Wrestlemania. No Disqualification, no countout, a clear winner will be decided.

 

[Griezz]

Regarding the proposal of having Sting start a year-long angle leading to Wrestlemania 31, one of the stated counter-arguments is wrong. While it is true that many of the young or casual fans may not know who Sting is, don't forget that Wrestlemania XXX will also be the PPV premiere of the WWE Network. Assuming all goes through as the WWE plans, people will have a whole year of watching the history of WCW (highlighting Sting). As such, the new and casual fans will have a good chance of seeing Sting in action

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Allegedly, Sting being signed to WWE isn't considered a top priority by WWE officials right now. I don't know if it's true or not but, if it's true, I'm actually relieved by that. During the past few years in which The Rock has returned, in my opinion, there was FAR too much attention devoted to The Rock during WrestleMania season. At the same time, I understand that The Rock is a genuine mega star and his presence helped the last three WrestleMania events score seven digit buyrates. From a business perspective, the attention could be justified because of the money. However, here we are in 2014 and I think a lot of WWE fans are over the novelty of huge stars from the past popping up during WM season, dominating the air time, collecting their big paycheck and disappearing for the next 8 or 9 months.

When it comes to Sting, he's a legend. No doubt about that. He's the biggest American wrestling star of the past 40 years or more to have never wrestled in WWE. However, in about 5.5 weeks time, Sting turns 55 years of age and he's nowhere near what he once was even 4 or 5 years ago. WWE is well aware of that and, let's be honest, aside from the absolute die-hard fans of any wrestler, there comes a point in which most fans will look at a man a certain age still wrestling as ridiculous. At this point, Taker vs. Sting is probably the one match that people will genuinely wanna see out of Sting because of the legendary status & respect that both of them have garnered; it's also a match that Sting is about 99.9% guaranteed to lose.

After that, what then? What's the big draw for people to invest in Sting? Again, at this point in his life, I don't see fans lining up to see Sting take on someone half his age for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship apart from absolute die-hard Sting fans. You know, the same sort of fans who want to see Hulk Hogan win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at age 60 despite being able to barely move. If WWE wants to gush all over Sting's almost certain arrival at this point, more power to 'em, just wait until WrestleMania is over if he's not going to be a major participant in some way.

 

[MCMG]

There will be a lot of hype. I don't think there is any coincidence that this could happen just as they launch the Network. They have probably contacted Sting many times over the last few years but they have reached out because they know having the face of WCW for the Network will be great.

Sting will probably wrestle a few times. I'm not overly keen on seeing him as a GM but a few matches can't hurt. I imagine he debuts after Wrestlemania 30 because I him joining now would be overshadowed and they would have little for him. Unless they write a feud with Taker and shuffle everyone around (presuming Punk is gone) Something like Summerslam, Survivor Series, WM31 and then maybe Wrestlemania again.

I'd don't think they need to add a lot for Sting to be entertaining. He is great on the mic and will no doubt be good to watch. I'd like to see feuds with guys like Taker, Cena, Orton, HHH and perhaps Ambrose or Wyatt. A few dream matches and him putting over a younger talent. That is about all he needs to do for the WWE. Promote the network and have some interesting feuds/matches.

 

[kumarjtk]

They debut sting at raw after wm for bigger ratings. Then they make him as gm is good move bcoz he adopt the wwe condition. They debut him as a wrestler at summer slam in tag match. At survivor series team sting vs team hhh is good move. At royal rumble both taker and sting enter the rumble match and had a face off is awsome. Next night on raw sting address the universe and challenge takers streak at wm31.

 

[justinept]

They debut sting at raw after wm for bigger ratings..

The reason you debut Sting the night after WrestleMania isn't for the ratings. If you were concerned about the ratings, you'd do it at WrestleMania so that people would tune into Raw the next night. The reason it's important to do this the night after is because the of the crowd.

The worst thing that could happen to Sting is that he debuts, and crowd doesn't pop because most people just don't know who he is. I understand that most people on this board know who Sting is, but does the average wrestling fan of today know? Look at the MNR crowds. It's a bunch of families - some teenagers - and a few older fans that have hung around since childhood. I don't think it's outside the realm of possibility that the majority of that crowd might not remember a guy who last appeared in a major wrestling organization in 2001 ... or who has been wrestling in a fledgling company ever since (no knock against TNA, but most casual WWE fans don't know that company exists.)

By debuting Sting the night after 'Mania, you avoid this problem. That crowd will know Sting, and they will pop huge for him. The crowd reaction alone will make Sting a star for the however long his WWE tenure lasts.

 

[HeymanHustler]

Someone else took the Bruce Campbell avatar? Aww, fuck.

Oops. Sorry. Didn't know you called dibs on Campbell avatar. He's such an awesome guy, I couldn't help myself

Don't worry, I'm not one of those "TL/DR" assholes. I actually have an attention span, maybe make more paragraphs next time.

I'll keep that in mind for the next thread I post. This is my first thread for the site and I wasn't sure if I was going too long or too short.

I think you have something going there with the notion of Sting coming out without the Crow gimmick. I think it would be foolish to make him wrestle before Wrestlemania if the eventual plan is to make Sting vs Undertaker at Wrestlemania. I realize that you only suggested one match of him before Wrestlemania, but still. I think his fans will be patient if they understand that Sting vs Undertaker is literally happening.

Having a "Team Sting" at Survivor Series would be an awesome idea because then you'd have a team of faces get a boost to their popularity through Sting's faith in them.

I'd suggest brainstorming a little more for Crow Sting, just to keep your creative mojo in check. I realize that the Crow incarnation is low-key by design, but turning it into something big responsibly is a good way to prove your mettle as a creative writer.

Yeah, I wasn't really sure how to book Sting with The Crow gimmick. Personally, I don't see how the Crow gimmick could get over very well without it being overdone. In WcW, he always got over as the silent character who got over on his presence more so than his words. You can't just have him make silent promos for a year straight without it getting old. Plus, with this Reality Era that WWE seems to be going for, I don't see him fitting in the overall story without straying too far away from reality and without coming off as a carbon copy of The Undertaker. That's why I think the best approach to go about with him is without The Crow gimmick.

Maybe have Undertaker duck him for the better part of a year of being stalked by Crow Sting, saying that his plan is to win the Royal Rumble and retire after winning the championship at Wrestlemania. Undertaker is the last person in the ring, the next entrant is (big surprise, I know) Sting. Sting's music hits, the lights go out, Sting appears standing behind a waiting Undertaker while holding a baseball bat, Sting wails on Undertaker and eliminates him setting in motion the face off at Wrestlemania. I realize that such an occurrence doesn't need to have Crow Sting to be plausible, but you left his section pretty brief.

Maybe, and I realize I'm contradicting myself here somewhat, do both by having Undertaker challenge Non-Crow GM Sting to a casket match at Survivor Series to which Sting refuses. After a series of taunting and mind games possibly going so deep as to involve Sting's family, Sting agrees to the match. Sting puts out a Hell of an effort, but Undertaker has Kane come out and attack Sting. Sting is put in the casket and Undertaker cuts a promo suggesting that he sent Sting to Hell, leading to a display of Sting on the bigscreen with a timeline of his career shown with the end date being that day.

Strange things start happening to The Undertaker in the coming months. Maybe night vision footage exposes how he's been skirting under the ring to "disappear" and candid footage shows him making back stage deals with Vince McMahon to "bury" Sting. Sting is called out by The Undertaker and Vince, the lights go out and Sting is in the raftors as his Crow gimmick. Have a child voice-over the words of Meister Eckhart.

"The only thing that burns in Hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life; your memories, your attachments. The spirits burn them all away. But they're not punishing you, they're freeing your soul. If you're frightened of dying and holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth."

Vince freaks out and demands a match between Sting and Undertaker at the Royal Rumble, a buried alive match. Crow Sting controls most of the match, and is about to put Undertaker in the open grave. Vince McMahon comes out with a shovel and swings hard at Sting, misses and hits The Undertaker knocking him into the grave. Sting takes the shovel and stares down Vince who's seen visibly shaking, maybe have him simulate peeing himself. Undertaker reaches out of the grave and pulls Vince into it. Sting buries them both, after a while The Undertaker's hand erupts from the grave while "Aint no grave can hold my body down" plays.

The next Raw footage is shown of HHH and Stephanie frantically attempting to dig out their boss, after digging out the grave it's shown that it's completely empty. Vince is written off tv indefinitely, I realize he hasn't been on it much lately but the guy is getting too old for this. Undertaker and Sting have their first real shoot interview against each other that night to close the show, the only thing scripted is that they agree to settle the score once and for all at Wrestlemania. No Disqualification, no countout, a clear winner will be decided.

If this was going down a few years ago, say 2007 or 2008 or even 2009, I think your idea can play off really well. Problem is these days Undertaker only works a WrestleMania and a couple Raws afterwards. Also, instead of having those two work a series of matches at PPVs leading up to WrestleMania, its best to have those matches work as rematches after WrestleMania since its the WrestleMania match people want to see most of all. Seeing them face off in matches at PPVs beforehand would be sort of irrelevant. Like when everyone wanted HBK and Taker to face off at WrestleMania for the first time. They weren't satisfied just with seeing them eliminate each other at consecutive Royal Rumble's nor with seeing them in tag competition on Raw and that one No Way Out PPV. They wanted Mania or bust. Sort of in the same sense of how some people were disappointed with seeing Batista and John Cena face off for the first time randomly at Summerslam without having a proper feud at Mania first. In a program like your suggesting, it would be best to book those matches as rematches ala Batista vs Undertaker circa 2007. Taker beats Batista at WrestleMania and Batista wants a rematch so they had a series of matches where there wasn't a clear cut winner (the last man standing match at Backlash and that cage match on Smackdown) Batista goes after Taker one last time to prove he can beat him at Cyber Sunday, where he wins. So since the score is 1 to 1, they have one more match that would decide who the better man was: Hell in a Cell at Survivor Series. That all worked out perfectly and if worked in with your suggestion (again, if this was 2007-09) Sting vs Undertaker would have a perfect feud too. Otherwise, I love your set up for the match.

 

[HeymanHustler]

Regarding the proposal of having Sting start a year-long angle leading to Wrestlemania 31, one of the stated counter-arguments is wrong. While it is true that many of the young or casual fans may not know who Sting is, don't forget that Wrestlemania XXX will also be the PPV premiere of the WWE Network. Assuming all goes through as the WWE plans, people will have a whole year of watching the history of WCW (highlighting Sting). As such, the new and casual fans will have a good chance of seeing Sting in action

I actually kept that in mind, but at the same time I still wondered if people would buy Sting as a threat to Taker's streak even with the matches they see on WWE Network. If new fans won't know about TNA (chances are, mostly likely they won't) then they might just assume Sting hadn't wrestled since WcW ended in 2001. Now they're looking at an old guy in face paint who as far as they know hadn't won a match against believable competition in over a decade. So he should work a program with at least one major star. Maybe I'm just looking too deep into the matter but that's just what I thought.

 

[HeymanHustler]

Allegedly, Sting being signed to WWE isn't considered a top priority by WWE officials right now. I don't know if it's true or not but, if it's true, I'm actually relieved by that. During the past few years in which The Rock has returned, in my opinion, there was FAR too much attention devoted to The Rock during WrestleMania season. At the same time, I understand that The Rock is a genuine mega star and his presence helped the last three WrestleMania events score seven digit buyrates. From a business perspective, the attention could be justified because of the money. However, here we are in 2014 and I think a lot of WWE fans are over the novelty of huge stars from the past popping up during WM season, dominating the air time, collecting their big paycheck and disappearing for the next 8 or 9 months.

When it comes to Sting, he's a legend. No doubt about that. He's the biggest American wrestling star of the past 40 years or more to have never wrestled in WWE. However, in about 5.5 weeks time, Sting turns 55 years of age and he's nowhere near what he once was even 4 or 5 years ago. WWE is well aware of that and, let's be honest, aside from the absolute die-hard fans of any wrestler, there comes a point in which most fans will look at a man a certain age still wrestling as ridiculous. At this point, Taker vs. Sting is probably the one match that people will genuinely wanna see out of Sting because of the legendary status & respect that both of them have garnered; it's also a match that Sting is about 99.9% guaranteed to lose.

After that, what then? What's the big draw for people to invest in Sting? Again, at this point in his life, I don't see fans lining up to see Sting take on someone half his age for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship apart from absolute die-hard Sting fans. You know, the same sort of fans who want to see Hulk Hogan win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at age 60 despite being able to barely move. If WWE wants to gush all over Sting's almost certain arrival at this point, more power to 'em, just wait until WrestleMania is over if he's not going to be a major participant in some way.

While I agree that it's good that Sting isn't working this WrestleMania considering how booked things seem already, I doubt WWE would even consider putting him in line for a WWE Title run or even a shot. That's why I think they should make Sting vs Taker at Mania a retirement match. It's a nice way to write Sting off WWE TV and if he still wants to wrestle, well he can always go back to TNA. Just because his WWE career is over, it doesn't mean he'll end his wrestling career *cough* Ric Flair *cough*

 

[kadroan]

I'd love to see him come into the WWE and face off against Orton after he loses the title, maybe even HHH, just to build credibility for him.