Wrestlemania 31- Sting VS Triple H

[Richard Blonoff]

After their confrontation at Fast Lane last night, Sting laid down the gauntlet and challenged Triple H to a match at Wrestlemania. Later in the show it was confirmed that Sting and Triple H will square off on the grandest stage of them all.

Who should win? Who do you think will win? At 55 years old can Sting still put on a decent match? Is this match the right call?

Personally I think we see Sting go over. Triple H does catch a lot of flak for his ego, but I think he will do what is best for business and give Stinger the win in his long awaited debut in a WWE ring. I have some reservations that Sting will be able to go full speed, but from his limited appearances he appears in decent shape, so I remain cautiously optimistic that this match will turn on well. Its been a long time since Trips was in a bad match, he has the ability to carry most guys. I for one am excited about this match. I think the ship for Taker/Sting sailed a while ago, so seeing a WWE legend like Triple H take on Sting is the next best thing in my opinion.

Discuss it all in here.

 

[TheICChampion]

I'm definitely interested in seeing these two go at it. We know Triple H can carry just about anyone and I'm pretty sure Sting has a couple of good matches left. I see Stinger winning it. Question is, will this match have any stipulations? Y'know, like No DQ, Falls count Anywhere, if Sting loses he never wrestles again, etc.

 

[rge2010]

I see Sting going over here because Triple H knows what is best for business. Triple H may have had ego years ago when he was trying to get the top but again, that's just business - he has put over Batista, Cena, Orton and lost to Taker and Bryan in recent years . I think Triple H losing at Mania again is all part of the big plan where he finally decides to call it a day, probably in the next 2-3 years. I still hope HBK is the one to send him out on his back.

Back to Triple H vs Sting. Sting will pick up the win here, probably win a rematch, maybe 1 or 2 other matches before he faces the Deadman at Mania 32.

 

[Khalifa]

I'm guess I'm just one of those people that doesn't care how the match turns out, it was good to watch. It has been my dream as a kid to see Sting be in WWE and now that he is fighting at Mania against HHH just makes it awesome. There is not too many more people I would rather Sting face. The match will probably be sloppy but that's okay because that's not what it's about. It's about the Rock vs Hogan hype to me. Hogan was always an average wrestler to me so him being 1000 years old at Mania 18 wasn't the greatest but to be honest I don't think it affected the match for me. I just cannot wait.

I see HHH actually winning at Mania. It makes no sense for Sting to lose and it's unlikely but for some reason I see a Hunter sledgehammer and pedigree for the win. Should be a good back and forth though, well as good as it's going to get at this point. I've already got my 'whooooo" ready for when he is going to Stinger Splash HHH. Would love to see a bit of that Ric Flair/Hogan wrestling were HHH is just beating up on Sting and then Sting gets this life and punches aren't hurting him and HHH is looking all worried. I can just see it now. Wouldn't mind the feud going past it but depends on how the match help up and how many matches Sting can wrestle.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I'm torn as to whether this will be Sting's only match in the WWE, or whether he'll have a couple more. I reckon it could depend on how he performs in this match- if he really struggles then he'll probably call it a day.

For that reason, I don't think Sting will lose. Having been so protective of his legacy and persona since leaving WCW, and refusing to join WWE until this year, I don't think he'd accept a defeat, especially as HHH has been referring to Stinger as the "face" of WCW, and him losing at Mania this year would be Hunter finally killing WCW...I don't think Sting would go for that.

I expect this to be a pretty good match, to me Triple H is still one of (if the THE) best in-ring talent WWE have, and it's a shame he's wrestled so infrequently over the last few years (I still want to see him as Champion), but he just doesn't have bad matches/ Because he has time to prepare physically for every match, he is always in top shape and will be able to hide any weaknesses Sting may have at his age- but I fully expect Stinger to be in good shape too, he's had a year to get there!

Sting will win this, but it'll be a solid match. Of that I have no doubt.

 

[Y 2 Jake]

I've grown to appreciate the few matches Triple H has each year but I couldn't care less about this. Sting in WWE doesn't mean much to me. It's way too late and I endured eight years of him in TNA.

Also, why would I be on Sting's side? Triple H has almost tried to position this as a WWE vs. WCW feud and Sting has got the better of Triple H at every turn. Basically a guy from a promotion WWE make out as the enemy and inferior has come and is inserting himself into other people business and bullying poor Triple H.

 

[Bockwinkel's Class]

bullying poor Triple H.

Considering that Triple H has been bullying people people for the past two plus years as part of the tired worn out "Authority" angle I doubt you're going to be able to sell the fans on the notion of "poor bullied Triple H".

 

[spaldoni]

For the longest time I thought it had to be Sting/Taker at Mania. I didn't care if they just had a 5 minute match. The spectacle alone would be worth the price. Now after watching the build to Sting/HHH, I have to say I'm really impressed with how HHH and the WWE is handling the character of Sting and their match at Mania. I loved the package they did with Sting and showing his history with WCW. I followed Sting's entire WCW career and the WWE has shown great respect for him and everything he did. I now firmly believe they made the right call with this match. HHH will be an awesome opponent for Sting in his WWE debut. I think Sting will go over and there will be more to come. I'm looking forward to this match.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I think the ship for Taker/Sting sailed a while ago, so seeing a WWE legend like Triple H take on Sting is the next best thing in my opinion.

Agreed, and for all the talk about the possibility of Undertaker-Sting, I now believe it was simply never going to happen because the legendary status of both performers pretty much guaranteed that neither one could lose.....and given fans would disapprove of a match of that magnitude ending in a no-contest or disqualification, it precluded the match taking place at all. Yes, 'Taker lost last year, but that's even more reason he wouldn't get beaten twice in a row, particularly if this is his last match. As for Sting, he might be making only one wrestling appearance in WWE, and he's probably damned if he's gonna agree to lose. 'Taker-Sting had apparently been discussed by the players and the company....but that's why it was never going to happen. Sad, but logical..

For the same reasons, this is why Triple H is a perfect choice to meet Sting if Undertaker can't. Trips can....and will....lose. He doesn't suffer at all from being defeated....in fact, it's better for business because what's bad for Trips as a wrestler is good for him as an owner of the company. It raises Sting's stock, having actually performed....and winning.....in a federation he had never graced before, and he can enter the WWE HOF someday with a perfect record, presuming this is his one and only fight.

All pre-conditions are filled by Sting wrestling Triple H: They want Sting to wrestle a match in WWE....they want him to win.....they need a high rep opponent for him....they need an opponent who knows how to work safely and effectively.

To all of those factors.....check.

 

[hatehabsforever]

Agreed, and for all the talk about the possibility of Undertaker-Sting, I now believe it was simply never going to happen because the legendary status of both performers pretty much guaranteed that neither one could lose.....and given fans would disapprove of a match of that magnitude ending in a no-contest or disqualification, it precluded the match taking place at all. Yes, 'Taker lost last year, but that's even more reason he wouldn't get beaten twice in a row, particularly if this is his last match. As for Sting, he might be making only one wrestling appearance in WWE, and he's probably damned if he's gonna agree to lose. 'Taker-Sting had apparently been discussed by the players and the company....but that's why it was never going to happen. Sad, but logical..

For the same reasons, this is why Triple H is a perfect choice to meet Sting if Undertaker can't. Trips can....and will....lose. He doesn't suffer at all from being defeated....in fact, it's better for business because what's bad for Trips as a wrestler is good for him as an owner of the company. It raises Sting's stock, having actually performed....and winning.....in a federation he had never graced before, and he can enter the WWE HOF someday with a perfect record, presuming this is his one and only fight.

All pre-conditions are filled by Sting wrestling Triple H: They want Sting to wrestle a match in WWE....they want him to win.....they need a high rep opponent for him....they need an opponent who knows how to work safely and effectively.

To all of those factors.....check.

See, I see things a little differently than this. I do agree that seeing Sting versus Triple H for Wrestlemania this year is the perfect choice. Triple H, despite the reputation that some naysayers give him, will have no problem whatsoever putting the Icon over on the grandest stage of them all. Look at Hunter's Wrestlemania history, it's certainly less than stellar. For a guy who supposedly hogs the spotlight, is selfish, and never puts anyone else over, the facts dispute this, and I have no doubt that Triple H will lose to Sting at WM 31, and while it won't be the wrestling clinic that perhaps it could have been a decade ago, I think both guys will come out of it looking great. Both guys are iconic, both guys know how to tell a story and know ring psychology, and I think reports of their age and supposed deterioration physically may be grossly over exaggerated. Triple H will do what's best for business, Sting will win his WWE debut, and everyone is happy.

Regarding the Undertaker, though, I still think this is going to happen. Not this Wrestlemania, obviously, but I'm still not convinced that we won't see them in the future, and possibly more than once. While they won't wrestle each other this year, I hope there is at least some sort of a tease regarding it: a backstage face to face, a promo, whatever. They could face off at Summerslam, with Sting emerging victorious, then do a rematch at WM32 in a farewell match for both men. Sting concludes his in ring WWE career with a respectable 2-1 record. Taker wins his finale. And the match that so many people would love to see finally does happen, even if it is far too late with both men as shadows of their former selves.

Sting versus Triple H this year, though, should be great. Finally put the whole WWE versus WCW Monday Night War thing to rest once and for all. See two legendary performers feature a classic nostalgic Wrestlemania moment. And if done properly, set the stage for a future Icon versus Phenom encounter. Works for me.

 

[John McCass]

Regarding the Undertaker, though, I still think this is going to happen. Not this Wrestlemania, obviously, but I'm still not convinced that we won't see them in the future, and possibly more than once. While they won't wrestle each other this year, I hope there is at least some sort of a tease regarding it: a backstage face to face, a promo, whatever. They could face off at Summerslam, with Sting emerging victorious, then do a rematch at WM32 in a farewell match for both men. Sting concludes his in ring WWE career with a respectable 2-1 record. Taker wins his finale. And the match that so many people would love to see finally does happen, even if it is far too late with both men as shadows of their former selves.

Yes,this. I liked your idea. WWE can go this way to give us the matchup we want. It will also keep the legacies of both men. Taker will not loose at Wrestlemania and Sting will also get a win over Undertaker. But,there is still a problem. If Undertaker vs Sting doesn't exceed our expectations at Summerslam, it will be difficult to put Sting vs Undertaker at Wrestlemania.

 

[Mustang Sally]

Regarding the Undertaker, though, I still think this is going to happen. Not this Wrestlemania, obviously, but I'm still not convinced that we won't see them in the future, and possibly more than once. While they won't wrestle each other this year, I hope there is at least some sort of a tease regarding it: a backstage face to face, a promo, whatever. They could face off at Summerslam, with Sting emerging victorious, then do a rematch at WM32 in a farewell match for both men. Sting concludes his in ring WWE career with a respectable 2-1 record. Taker wins his finale. And the match that so many people would love to see finally does happen, even if it is far too late with both men as shadows of their former selves.

Well, sure, if both men want to continue to perform in the ring, I suppose it opens the possibility of a 2-match set, with each taking one victory.....but I've been proceeding on the idea that both Sting and Undertaker have one match left in them, and if it was going to occur against each other, they'd be meeting at WM31.

The thing is, we don't really know what's up with Undertaker, do we? Okay, he lost his Streak to Brock last year. It is what it is, but that we didn't hear a word from him the entire year afterward is what surprised me. I expected him to address the situation with grace and sportsmanship.

How badly banged up was he? Was he ready to call it a career at that time, or wise enough to wait a few months to decide when he wasn't hurting as much?.....and if the latter was true, where in hell has he been all this time? I've been of the firm belief that if he wrestled at WM31 at all......that would be his final curtain call, no matter who he was facing.

As for Sting, he arrived in WWE around 13 years too late, imo. He's going to turn 56 later this month, for gosh sakes! Yes, Ric Flair performed in the ring even later than that, and I can just see Sting watching Flair in TNA and deciding he was damned if he'd ever allow himself to appear before a live crowd looking like that.

Yes, if both Sting and Undertaker decide to continue their active careers on a limited (very limited) basis, I'd watch them duke it out against each other. But part of me just wants to see them both go out to pasture and enjoy the fruits of retirement.

In the end, Father Time always wins out.

 

[L@RISANO]

Well, sure, if both men want to continue to perform in the ring, I suppose it opens the possibility of a 2-match set, with each taking one victory.....but I've been proceeding on the idea that both Sting and Undertaker have one match left in them, and if it was going to occur against each other, they'd be meeting at WM31.

The thing is, we don't really know what's up with Undertaker, do we? Okay, he lost his Streak to Brock last year. It is what it is, but that we didn't hear a word from him the entire year afterward is what surprised me. I expected him to address the situation with grace and sportsmanship.

How badly banged up was he? Was he ready to call it a career at that time, or wise enough to wait a few months to decide when he wasn't hurting as much?.....and if the latter was true, where in hell has he been all this time? I've been of the firm belief that if he wrestled at WM31 at all......that would be his final curtain call, no matter who he was facing.

As for Sting, he arrived in WWE around 13 years too late, imo. He's going to turn 56 later this month, for gosh sakes! Yes, Ric Flair performed in the ring even later than that, and I can just see Sting watching Flair in TNA and deciding he was damned if he'd ever allow himself to appear before a live crowd looking like that.

Yes, if both Sting and Undertaker decide to continue their active careers on a limited (very limited) basis, I'd watch them duke it out against each other. But part of me just wants to see them both go out to pasture and enjoy the fruits of retirement.

In the end, Father Time always wins out.

I think that this Mania for Sting and Taker, is a way to test whether both guys are up for it physically. Just a theory I have, basically.


I can't see Taker losing again at Mania, unless this match with Wyatt turns out to be his last one at Mania, and thus, he puts over the young guy before moving, the defeated Streak be damned.


IF the tentative plan is for Sting-Taker at Mania 32, then I guess the WWE wants to see how they go this year and should they both show they still have it in the ring, I am sure that 'dream' match will happen next Mania, as both putting on shows this year, would definitely help ease fears of many fans whose arguments are along the lines of their ages and health, more than anything else.

 

[The Warlord]

No chance sting jobs in this one.

HHH will make him look great, and Im sure they'll have plenty of fantastic false finishes.

 

[TootsieBear]

No chance sting jobs in this one.

HHH will make him look great, and Im sure they'll have plenty of fantastic false finishes.

I agree with you. Sting will win his debut match in the WWE. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see a rematch between Triple H and Sting in the future.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Do we really wanna see Sting and HHH at Mania?

I mean if Sting has all but a little left in him and can go only sporadically, shouldn't it be against marquee names. The likes of Cena, Ambrose, D Bry are all right there and if its a dream match we wanna see it really should be against these guys or a Rock or a Taker. Hunter and Sting isn't a "match I thought I would never see", its just a mediocre marquee with someone who used to an uppercard heel. I don't think H Vs Sting would've headlined a Mania even in 2000, Rock Vs Sting would have.

Has anyone looked at this from the prospect of 'Mania should have the best matches, biggest matches' philosophy (which is perfectly fine) and realized the glaring flaw?

 

[Y 2 Jake]

Nah. It's a nothing match. To be fair, Triple H is the best guy they could pair him with in order to get something out of the match. And it's not being helped by Sting's absence. But a match against Undertaker is what people want and would've drawn bad I think The Rock could've been tempted back for the match.

Why is Sting not on T.V. by the way? He appeared on Impact weekly a little over a year ago. Make him earn that cash.

 

[L@RISANO]

Well on the current roster, besides HHH, there was... Cena and Lesnar? Other than that, there isn't really any big name unless they go looking outside again.


Lesnar would break Sting like he did Taker, and Sting needs to be treated as a Hero, and given his arguable best work was fighting a Big Bad Heel, I guess it was logical that other than a marquee match with the 'stricken' Taker; the Authority and HHH was the logical choice.


Personally, like you, I don't really see it as a "Marquee Match"(no offense to those who do), but I guess it was a case of lack of choices for the WWE at this point...

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Well on the current roster, besides HHH, there was... Cena and Lesnar? Other than that, there isn't really any big name unless they go looking outside again.


Lesnar would break Sting like he did Taker, and Sting needs to be treated as a Hero, and given his arguable best work was fighting a Big Bad Heel, I guess it was logical that other than a marquee match with the 'stricken' Taker; the Authority and HHH was the logical choice.


Personally, like you, I don't really see it as a "Marquee Match"(no offense to those who do), but I guess it was a case of lack of choices for the WWE at this point...

If Taker can work Bray, Sting could work Bryan. The buzz for that would have been waaaay bigger than this shittery. He could have worked Dean Ambrose, why do you need a nostalgia Monday Night War shit here! Rock's gone, Austin's gone; Taker is the only big name left. So why not work a program with someone up and coming. Ambrose is great and could have used the rub, could you imagine the promos he would have dropped? Painting his face like the Crow Sting and acting extra psycho?

 

[SoulTrain4]

HHH is perfect. He needs a heel to work against and he needs a heel to beat. HHH fits both of those very well.
He can carry Sting if need be, which would greatly improve the match quality.

None of these younger guys have the ring generalship and experience in matches at this magnitude to carry a legend like Sting anyway.

 

[L@RISANO]

If Taker can work Bray, Sting could work Bryan. The buzz for that would have been waaaay bigger than this shittery. He could have worked Dean Ambrose, why do you need a nostalgia Monday Night War shit here! Rock's gone, Austin's gone; Taker is the only big name left. So why not work a program with someone up and coming. Ambrose is great and could have used the rub, could you imagine the promos he would have dropped? Painting his face like the Crow Sting and acting extra psycho?

And then we would have the got the usual, "Sting comes to bury Ambrose and hand him his umpteenth consecutive loss at PPVs in a row" stuff.


Seriously tho, it is obvious Sting would be brought just to work some nostalgia type matches and I am sure that is the purpose of signing him more than anything. I guess WWE rates HHH as a name worthy of being placed in that nostalgic category.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

HHH is perfect. He needs a heel to work against and he needs a heel to beat. HHH fits both of those very well.
He can carry Sting if need be, which would greatly improve the match quality.

None of these younger guys have the ring generalship and experience in matches at this magnitude to carry a legend like Sting anyway.

This shit again. 'Oh he is old, he needs carrying', Do you even know what ring generalship is? Do you think H will call all the shots with a near 30 year veteran like Sting? Sting doesn't need a blast from the uppercard past. If you can't give him someone who was on par with him like an Austin or Rock (as the face), someone mystical like Taker, just give him the hottest up and comer who isn't Samoan.

Match quality...pffft. Carry Sting, ugh. Put D Bry and Sting in there and they will tear that fucking stadium down.

And then we would have the got the usual, "Sting comes to bury Ambrose and hand him his umpteenth consecutive loss at PPVs in a row" stuff.


Seriously tho, it is obvious Sting would be brought just to work some nostalgia type matches and I am sure that is the purpose of signing him more than anything. I guess WWE rates HHH as a name worthy of being placed in that nostalgic category.

Its about moments, not wins and losses when it comes to this. As cliched as it is, it is about those flashbulb moments. Someone like an Ambrose's valiant (but losing) effort woul dbe far FAR more emotionally worth investing than this.

 

[@smarkmouth]

I think the reason they're doing this match is because (again, I'm dealing in hypotheticals, here) Sting doesn't want to just be fed to the Undertaker. Everyone's been clamoring for that match for years, yet it would just be a WCW guy showing up to lose to the WWE guy. By having Sting go over Triple H, it probably clears his conscious, for perhaps WM 32.

You could put Sting against a younger talent, and I think those days are ahead of us. Summerslam vs Rollins, maybe? Sting needs to establish himself as a threat by beating a veteran like Triple H before he starts going over the younger guys. Say what you will about Sting's legacy, but other than a few video packages, young fans know nothing about him. Do you want them to see some older guy in show up out of nowhere and clean Rollins' clock at Mania, or would you rather see Rollins face off with the guy who beat Triple H at Mania?

 

[Navi]

HHH is perfect. He needs a heel to work against and he needs a heel to beat. HHH fits both of those very well.
He can carry Sting if need be, which would greatly improve the match quality.

None of these younger guys have the ring generalship and experience in matches at this magnitude to carry a legend like Sting anyway.

How can you use the word "Legend" to describe Sting, then say no one but HHH has the experience to work a match with him? Doesn't Sting have the experience to work a match with anyone? After all he's been in the business for 30 years. And I would think if you are "Legend' material you don't need to carried.

I would love to have seen him in a match with Ambrose or Rollins. They could have used the prestige much better than HHH can. But I guess it's not about prestige anymore. Sting might have had a say too in who he fights, and if he picked HHH then what can anyone else say.

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

I think the reason they're doing this match is because (again, I'm dealing in hypotheticals, here) Sting doesn't want to just be fed to the Undertaker. Everyone's been clamoring for that match for years, yet it would just be a WCW guy showing up to lose to the WWE guy. By having Sting go over Triple H, it probably clears his conscious, for perhaps WM 32.

You could put Sting against a younger talent, and I think those days are ahead of us. Summerslam vs Rollins, maybe? Sting needs to establish himself as a threat by beating a veteran like Triple H before he starts going over the younger guys. Say what you will about Sting's legacy, but other than a few video packages, young fans know nothing about him. Do you want them to see some older guy in show up out of nowhere and clean Rollins' clock at Mania, or would you rather see Rollins face off with the guy who beat Triple H at Mania?

You see how they have somewhat fixed Wyatt. Made him win that feud with Ambrose, he has beaten uppercarders on Raw consistently, good showing in the Rumble, hell they even gave him the coveted mid-Rumble promo!

Thats how they are making him look slightly like a threat after fucking with him in 2014 with all the hopeless flip flopping. If someone like Ambrose charged in with momentum (and by god he has some momentum already) and faced Sting, he would still come out of it better as a loser than in this musical chair IC match we are getting.

Him painting his face and stalking Sting, looking for Sting in the rafters, he didn't need to win as long as they gave it their all in that ring. I stress, this isn't a championship match, you can come off way better than you come in, and it doesn't matter that you lost at Mania. There has to be a great story and a smashing match, the crowd would ne emotionally drained by the end of it and all this was possible.