Wow a lot of hostility here. It doesn't really matter what we think (no pun intended), Sting has made his decision. But there are a few things i also agree/disagree with.
1. Some have made the point that he doesn't belong in the WWE HOF as he hasn't wrestled/worked for the company, last i checked neither did Abdullah The Butcher, Verne Gagne, The Von Erichs etc (that i know of) As much as the WWE HOF can be a bit of a joke with some inductees, Its celebrity wing being a good example, the WWE HOF does recognize accomplishment's across all wrestling to some degree, so Sting most definitely belongs, and wouldn't be out of place being inducted at all.
2. It is in some ways common knowledge that WWE has 'buried' a lot of the former WCW talent it acquired, to a degree, i disagree with it being that way as a whole, i think it was more WWE weeding out the weak from the strong, even Sting himself said in that interview years ago, Booker T was smart enough to get past it and go on to have success, which he did.
Look at some of the names from WCW who did make it: Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Goldberg (yes it wasn't his best run, but it wasn't bad), Ric Flair, DDP (some don't agree, but he left on his own terms in the end, but i didn't mind the Positively Page character, it was essentially an extension of DDP's real life passion for Yoga), Big Show, Booker T, Arn Anderson (hasn't wrestled as much but highly thought of behind the scenes), Dean Malenko (same as Arn), Stunning Steve Austin (One of the biggest Stars ever), Mean Mark Calloway (some guy named the Undertaker with an impressive Wrestling resume), Shane Helms (his own backstage behavior is why he isn't there now, to a degree), Cactus Jack (again another big name who went on to great things), Rey Mysterio, Ron Simmons, Teddy Long, Eric Bischoff , Fit Finlay (well not at the moment), The Shockmaster (joking), possibly many more i may have missed, but correct me if i'm wrong, all these guys started out wrestling for other companies before ever going to WWF/WWE, and look at their success, sure it wasn't a smooth transition for all, but again they were the strong ones and made it work in the end. I don't agree with Sting's assumption that all the WWE does is bury talent (while true in some cases) i feel they give u an opportunity, give you the ball, and if you can't handle it or ain't going no where then what can they do. And let's be honest a lot of the other guy's who came over from WCW during the invasion, how many of them were really going to make it in all honesty? Shawn Stasiak? Shannon Moore? (yes i realize he ain't a bad wrestler, but seriously when has he ever been over? he doesn't really have IT), The Cat Ernest Miller? (good in small doses for comedy situations), Buff Bagwell (do i even have to say why). They could have if they truly wanted too, but some just left, some just couldn't handle it.
There are some though that admittedly weren't given more of a chance, Kanyon, Lance Storm (who had a good run anyway, and Rock put him over), Jaime Noble (again some success), Billy Kidman, Perry Saturn, Scott Steiner (though he was pushed hard at the beginning, he just couldn't seem to carry it long term) but at the same time it is up to the Individual to push past and succeed in the end.
But looking at that a lot more that come from WCW, made it more often then not, so i disagree with Sting always saying that WCW talent got buried.
3. While it was Sting's decision to stay in TNA, and i appreciate his loyalty (i don't see why personally, I'm not a TNA hater, and have tried to give the company a chance, but let's be honest there track record isn't that great, and the recent Jeff Hardy situation, sure he isn't being shown on TV now, but he shouldn't have gone out to the ring in the first place, but that's another story). I don't understand how Sting would feel WWE would miss-use him. Vince is a smart guy, he doesn't realize the History Sting has had on Wrestling, how big of an Icon he is, HHH has said in interviews as have a lot of WWE guys that Sting is an icon they respect him, he is an Icon, and one of the few WCW guys they want on board, i just don't see how Sting would not see that. Sting in WWE would be huge, and i'm confident WWE would use him to the best of their ability. I don;t see WWE bringing him in and making him into the next Eugene, or Santino type character, i'm sure he would be the Sting we all know and love, but with certain tweaks which are necessary in a new environment.
Again its Sting's choice we don't know what he is thinking personally, but at his stage in his career accomplishing what he has, as anyone would, wouldn't you want to go out on TOP? WWE HOF, a match at WM against Taker (one of the greatest of all time), that doesn't sound like burial to me, that would be an honor. Taker is a professional, No WAY would he bury Sting. Sure Sting would most likely lose the WM match, due to Taker's Streak, but is that so bad? He would look great and have a classic with Taker and he couldn't win the re-match at the following PPV, it's just me but the "Burial" logic Sting seems to have towards WWE is an excuse a bit.
Sting has to want it, and i basically think it comes down to that he doesn't want it, (self esteem issues, the big fish in a small pond theory, who knows),
but i don't buy the constant feeling he won't be used correctly, sure there would be some differences but Sting would have to surely get some creative control, WWE isn't that stupid when it comes to already established guys, i use Goldberg as an example, he wasn't exactly the same as he was in WCW but lets be honest some changes were necessary as WWE isn't WCW, and while the Goldberg run isn't considered a big success, i feel it was, (except the whole vs Brock Lesnar at WM) Goldberg had a decent run in WWE, his character remained mostly intact, he won the belt, had some decent matches with Rock, Jericho, the Elimination Chamber, HHH. Same as Booker T, so Rock asked who he was when he got there, big whoop that's the Rock's Character, it was The Rock being The Rock, if Booker was really getting buried he wouldn't have won belts, his matches with Rock and other's wouldn't have been good, the supermarket thing with Austin was great. Sure he was made to look sort of weak at times but he overcame. Had more success in WWE then he did in TNA. Anyway i'm rambling a bit, but yeah i don't get the IWC saying these guys didn't have any success in WWE when they clearly have, i'm not fully supporting WWE on all decisions though, like any company they make mistakes, but look at facts before saying guys like DDP were buried ( his run was also decent, and he obviously had input to his Positively Page run, as it was based on his real life), or guys like Booker T were buried. Buff Bagwell was buried, Booker T wasn't. But as stated the WWE burying everyone argument is weak and old from Sting. Especially when TNA is burying/or making just another guy on the roster guys like nothing, Matt Hardy, Ric Flair, RVD etc (but again that's another argument).
I'm just hoping Sting gives WWE a shot, he deserves the Big stage, wrestling in front of 70,000, not 200 - 1000, even if he is one of those guys who likes the small stuff, at least give it one run, a part time schedule etc, would it really be that bad? I don't think so.
