I sense a trend today.
Hey Scott, just (two) quick Sting Question's if I may. I noticed recently on WWE.com Sting featured as someone who had never wrestled for the organisation and on this past Raw he was shown as one of the great former world champions. Do you think this is the WWE getting advanced word out there about the guy, given the news floating round today about him potentially joining. And if he does join, can you see any benefit in that?
Yes, several million in Sting’s bank account thanks to a Hall of Fame trip and a DVD release. Plus if even broken down RVD can get a huge reaction just by jumping from TNA, imagine how batshit insane the crowds would go for Sting.
And another one…
ASSuming this is anything close to true…
Why would Sting ever want to go to the WWE? Just because it's something he's never done before, maybe?
And why would the WWE even want him at this point in his career?
Yes, there's a string of "dream matches" programs they could put him into for at least a year or two, but would the young fan base care about him or seeing him wrestle against the guys they do know (Undertaker, Rock, Cena, Punk, etc)?
Sting with a microphone desperately trying to be cool or funny against Cena or (even worse) The Rock would be some absolutely brutal promos.
It’s something he’s never done before, it’s someone new that the WWE fans haven’t seen in the same matches a million times before, it gives fresh new matches in the Super Duper Main Eventer Club, it probably motivates Sting to get in shape for one big match at Wrestlemania if nothing else, and it gives them a bigtime headliner for the Hall of Fame.
And then ANOTHER one…
Scott,
Why do the fans want to see Sting vs. Undertaker so badly? Both men are in the twilight of their careers and need a better wrestler to help carry them to good matches. Even back in 1997 the match wouldn't have been that good in-ring wise. Promos for it would be good, but in the ring I think the match would be awful. Is is because fans saw Sting as the WCW Undertaker and vice-versa? I just don't see anything good coming from a match between those two. Everyone knows Sting won't end the streak. Vince would never let the WCW definitive guy defeat Undertaker to end one of Vince's best creations. Plus, Sting wrestles with a t-shirt on.
Doesn’t have to be Sting v. Undertaker. Sting v. Punk would be pretty epic, or he can team with Undertaker & Kane against the Shield, or put over Ziggler, or a million other things. That’s the great thing about someone who’s never worked for WWE before: It’s all fresh matchups! Yeah, he hasn’t been up to his usual standards in TNA, but again, look at RVD. WWE’s fanbase isn’t watching TNA and don’t care that he’s a shit sandwich in the ring now most of the time, so Sting would get the same free pass, I’m pretty sure. Plus holy shit, they could probably even lure Shawn out of retirement for one match against Sting. That would probably blow the roof of whatever arena it’s announced in.
If it happens, it’s a positive.
"Why do the fans want to see Sting vs. Undertaker so badly? Both men are in the twilight of their careers and need a better wrestler to help carry them to good matches. Even back in 1997 the match wouldn't have been that good in-ring wise."
ReplyDeleteAin't all about ring work dude.
Those ideas are all good. But, and go with me on this, can't you just see Sting vs HHH on marquees all over the country? Sting loses a bunch of early matches because they're telling stories. But, somehow, he loses the nostalgia pop and doesn't get over, so of course, HHH has to win the big last matchup too. Be awesome, no?
ReplyDeleteShawn vs. Sting?
ReplyDeleteBUT WHO WOULD GOD CHOOSE?!
Indeed.
ReplyDeleteAnd seriously, people seem to be forgetting that if it hadn't been for his renaissance in the mid-2000s through to today, 1997 Undertaker would have been the absolute peak of Taker's abilities. Dude was the tits back then, main events with Sid notwithstanding.
Why would HBK come out of retirement to fight Sting? Why would we want HBK to come out of retirement to fight Sting? HBK is probably as out of shape as Stinger.
ReplyDeleteUndertaker was by far the most underrated worker from 96/97/98. Started to let himself go after that though.
ReplyDeleteI dont think the person who wrote the last question understands the business aspect of wrestling.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing Vince would have Shawn go over.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Ministry Undertaker was the unequivocal lowpoint for the character, work-wise. Sure, his character was disquieting and unsettling in a way it hadn't been since his debut, but man was that character just the drizzling shits between the ropes.
ReplyDeleteHell, I even preferred blue denim-wearing, leopard pants-sportin' 'Murrican badass to that mess.
I'd probably go Taker/Sting Survivor Series-ish, try not to build it as a main event, because I wouldn't have a finish. Let them go back and forth, Taker has him up for the tombstone....shield comes out to finish what they started...Sting tries to fight them off because he has a ptsd flashback from the Horsemen. Sting/taker destroyed to close out the show....slow build to rumble, get Kane in there, 6 man, book how you'd like, split sting off onto Ambrose for Wrestlemania Ledger Jokers collide, have someone confront Taker, get his match rolling. Sting/Kane do some of the week to week stuff while Taker does his 3-4 appearences for the year
ReplyDeleteSting hasn't been up since his usual standards since 1994.
ReplyDeleteAgreement. From Mankind's debut to his heel turn in late 1998 Taker was great.
ReplyDeleteI'm more confused by why it's such a bad thing that Sting wrestles with a T-shirt on. Maybe it's because he's been doing it for so long that I'm kind of used to it by now, but there's nothing that seems out of sorts about it. It's not like he's Kevin Steen or something. The general outline of his body beneath the shirt implies a guy who's relatively in shape.
ReplyDeleteIt's just that he's not exactly a spring chicken these days, and the leathery-skinned Flair look isn't good for the character. So I get why he does it, and it doesn't really hurt the work or cosmetics of it.
Now Mr. Anderson, I have no idea why he insists on wrestling fully-covered other than that he seems like the kind of guy who doesn't really want to bother with the whole "looking cosmetically in-shape" thing if it doesn't matter to his in-ring work anyway. But unlike Sting, he actually did look ridiculous -- wearing a T-shirt while wearing trunks. Hell, I feel like the only reason he was put in Aces and Eights was to give him an excuse for always wrestling with his body covered.
He did have that frighteningly awesome match with DDP on Nitro in 1999. Seriously, talk about unexpected chemistry.
ReplyDeleteHis usual standards were pretty high so even Sting from 95-98 was pretty good most nights.
ReplyDeleteIt's looks terrible.
ReplyDeleteIf he does jump, he has to be the classic 97 crow look with the simple face paint who barely talks or the old school surfer look. His Impact gimmick is cringe worthy.
ReplyDeleteShawn Michaels' record against the Undertaker while he was drugged up and full of sin was much better than it was after he cleaned up. Also, during the in-between period, the Undertaker pretended to be Satan. If anything, this shows that God prefers those who job.
ReplyDeleteNonono, you keep the Joker motif and have Undertaker act more like Batman because they're telling stories.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what it says about me, but I wouldn't mind a little Man Called Sting theme music
ReplyDeleteHe's big as a bull and quick as a cat..
ReplyDeleteSting needs to come in, not say one fucking word, point his fucking black bat at the Undertaker, then point it at the fucking Wrestlemania sign, beat Taker at 'Mania and retire. Both of them. End of story.
ReplyDeleteI'd say it was after he spent 15 months in the rafters that his match quality went downhill.
ReplyDeleteHe's simply ravishing, he's happening, he knows that he's cool. All the girls go crazy they don't know what to do.
ReplyDeleteRVD in TNA was only a bit less shitty in the ring than Great Khali.
ReplyDeleteIf WWE's fans aren't aware of how far Rob's fallen, then Sting who they likely assume disappeared after 2001, would be a God to those people.
Albert and Kane. Two good matches on Smackdown's within weeks of each other.
ReplyDeleteCan't lie, if Sting interrupted an Undertaker promo by careening down from the rafters and pointing to the WrestleMania sign with his black bat I'd MARK THE F--K OUT.
ReplyDeleteYeah...I mean, in a street-fight I can buy it. Hell, if it's part of your gear like the SHIELD (who are also clearly in shape) it can be okay. If you wear a shirt to a match but take it off before it starts? Go ahead.
ReplyDeleteBut wearing a t-shirt in a wrestling match is just awful.
I wouldn't say it was his lowpoint. I believe anything before 1996 was godawful from him in the ring. Of course, it might have well been the character holding back the wrestler, though. He had to wrestle like a dead man, so his matches were very tedious. To his credit, he wasn't exactly pairing up with anyone remotely close to Bret Hart.
ReplyDeleteTake this with a grain of salt, but I heard that WWE was going to release the Undertaker because he was so bad in the ring, but he dramatically improved in 1996 and 1997. It's hard for me to believe that, considering how many godawful wrestlers WWF had on the roster around that time.
Yeah, I suppose I was kind of asking for a debate by using the word "unequivocal."
ReplyDeleteBut 1995 is still pretty neck-and-neck with 1999. Cutting Dennis Knight and crucifying Steve Austin on live TV is just as bad as getting your urn stolen by King Kong Bundy and having it melted down by Kama before getting your face crushed by King Mab--okay, yeah, 1995 was the worst.
Like Job?
ReplyDeleteI doubt we will ever see any person descend from the rafters ever again in WWE...
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time believing that rumor because the Undertaker was well liked in the locker room and he hardly had anyone of quality to work with. Nevermind the fact that the zombie character forced him to wrestle at a speed well below that of other workers.
ReplyDeleteJust have him show up in a balcony area somewhere. Lights go out, then a spotlight appears and there's Sting. No music or anything. Just him and Taker staring each other down, then he points his bat at the WM sign, spotlight goes away, lights go back, and he's gone. I'd definitely need to change my pants after that. They'd HAVE to make sure they do it in a smark heavy town though for the reaction, cause the reaction Heyman got during his redebut when they were in buttfuck nowhere was just sad and really brought the moment down.
ReplyDeleteHaving Sting not actually face Undertaker but team up with him at WM30 (say, against the Shield in a handicap match) would be really interesting, plus it'd get around the stigma that Sting is just "being brought in to job." You could then do Sting/Taker at Summerslam 2014 and actually have a bit of intrigue attached since without the streak involved, there's a chance Taker would lose (though he wouldn't).
ReplyDeleteIf someone said CM Punk vs. John Cena in 2005, I'd have scoffed.
ReplyDeleteHe'll take your girl, break her heart, and leave you a fool!
ReplyDeleteI love Rick's theme in WCW. Often times the WCW-created themes were amongst the worst in history, but that shit rocks.
And just as much as I celebrate Rick's theme above this post, I'll admonish Sting's. It's absolutely God-awful, with some of the worst lyrics in history. Steiner Brothers theme is a close second.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you. If the t-shirt is part of your gimmick from the get-go, that's fine. But when you're an older dude, who use to be buff, it's obvious why you're doing it. Sting just became lazy.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of bodybuilding magazines, and he was featured in a recent issue of Muscle & Fitness. He talked about how he stopped using steroids in 1990. So, it's not like it'd be too hard to return to 1999 shape.
If he did jump over, I'd like to see him take 6 months to get into killer shape and come in with the Surfer/Crow fusion look he had at BFG 2006 against Jarrett.
ReplyDeleteDownvotes, here we come...WTF is people's obsession with Sting? He's below average on the mic, hasn't been in a really over angle since 97, is a below average worker, forgets spots in the ring, and just isn't compelling. Is it the face paint? The old man softball gut? I don't get it.
ReplyDeleteThose weren't quick questions.
ReplyDeleteClearly you've never heard Ricky Steamboat's WCW theme, "Family Man".
ReplyDeleteIt says you have excellent taste, is what it says.
ReplyDeleteAnd I supposed you'd prefer the terrorists win too?
ReplyDeleteTraitor.
And just in case you haven't heard it.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrzwvdScNt0
Yeah, we all would.
ReplyDeleteIf SHIELD were going to go face, it would be awesome to have Sting come in with them. You could play one of his real-life reasons for not wanting to jump ship (moral reasons) as Sting standing for Justice, which would give him a reason to join after all this time.
ReplyDeleteHowever, WWE probably needs SHIELD as heels for the foreseeable future. Unless the Wyatt family gets hot and takes their spot (I don't think it will, though. Hillbilly gimmicks only go so far in wrestling).
A friend and I were throwing around this very idea last night. However, I couldn't decide whether the WWE would be excited to mix up the Undertaker streak with a multi-man handicap match along side another legend, or if they want the streak to remain "pure."
ReplyDeletei use it whenever i create sting in the games. it's awesome
ReplyDeleteFor those who are worried about the "t-shirt wrestling," but also pine for the 1997 crow, don't forget he was originally wearing this. Goofy shoulder pads aside, you can just play it off as nostalgia complete with Starrcade (hahaha) clips.
ReplyDeleteWM19 featured Undertaker in a tag team match that became a handicap match.
ReplyDeleteHe's 54. Barring violating the Wellness Policy tenfold, what kind of shape do you really expect him to achieve? He might be able to lose some weight but that'd be about it. He's not gonna resemble the guy he was pre-1997.
ReplyDeleteI was always a huge Sting mark, but I think people are overreacting to how much the current WWE audience would even recognize the guy. I know RVD's been getting good reactions but I think it has more to do with the fact that he was at least still active in the company as of 2007 as opposed to people seeing him in TNA. And let's face it, if anyone recognized him from TNA... they wouldn't be excited about him coming back to WWE. In some places Sting might be over but in a lot of cities where the audience is mostly marks/childrenz, I doubt any of them are going to know or even care about the Stinger.
ReplyDeleteIt just feels so wrong for Sting to make a WWE move and not have his last match with Flair.
ReplyDeleteAs we've talked a lot about, the streak wasn't really "THE STREAK!!!!!!!!!!!" at that point. They've made it such a bigger deal/attraction.
ReplyDelete1000x times better than a fucking t-shirt.
ReplyDeleteIt's a way bigger deal now, but I brought it up because the "purity" is already gone as far as one on one matches.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe or simply just don't get the amount of people who are reacting so negatively to this prospective move. It's friggin' Sting! In WWE! I'd pay money just to see the entrances of a Taker-Sting match.
ReplyDeleteTo me, it would be pretty cool that Sting, after a long and illustrious career, makes his final stop at the biggest wrestling company that can have him go out in style. He will be rewarded by the company that he never went to. That's respect. That's cool.
One big win, one big loss to signal the end followed by a standing O to the great warrior, a Wrestlemania match, a WWE HoF induction in a packed arena, a DVD box set... or Taz and Tenay waxing poetic while 1,500 fans cheer him on as he gets some type of appreciation plaque from TNA.
Sting is my all-time favorite (from a fan's perspective, not workrate-wise or anything like that). But I don't care about whatever match(es) he has in WWE - I just want the career DVD set.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, if you bring in Sting then it HAS to be Sting vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with that is the Shield jobs, which while not awful, feeds into the problem of saying "hey the old guys are WAY BETTER than the new talent!"
ReplyDeleteagreed
ReplyDeleteSting was my favorite wrestler in the 80s/early 90s - more so than Hogan - but I have no interest in seeing him wrestle now based on the glimpses I've seen of him in TNA. I've heard claims he's had a "good" match since moving there but the last one I know of him having was 15 years ago against DDP.
ReplyDeleteIt might help the WWE make money, which as a union-supporting, non-shareholder who hates the McMahon family IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME. But from an entertainment perspective, seeing two 50+ year olds wrestle doesn't hold much appeal.
Hey Scott, just (two) quick Sting Question's if I may. I
ReplyDeletenoticed recently on WWE.com Sting featured as someone who had never wrestled for
the organisation and on this past Raw he was shown as one of the great former
world champions. Do you think this is the WWE getting advanced word out there
about the guy, given the news floating round today about him potentially
joining. And if he does join, can you see any benefit in that?
MONEY. Easy payday for Sting working a simple schedule and in matches where the agents and bookers will work to ensure that his shortcomings are hidden as well as possible. FWIW, Sting hasn't been anything more than an average worker (at best) since his run against Vader. If they stick to that formula (giant moose beating the shit of of the game smaller guy) they'll do wonders with him. Sting's always sold well.
Why would Sting ever want to go to the WWE? Just because it's
something he's never done before, maybe?
And why would the WWE even want him at this point in his career?
Yes, there's a string of "dream matches" programs they
could put him into for at least a year or two, but would the young fan base
care about him or seeing him wrestle against the guys they do know (Undertaker,
Rock, Cena, Punk, etc.)?
Sting with a microphone desperately trying to be cool or funny
against Cena or (even worse) The Rock would be some absolutely brutal promos.
MONEY. Wrestlemania buy rate pop. Assuming it’ll be Undertaker (and it’ll probably be Undertaker), Vince gets to put his pride and joy over the last big NWA/WCW star he can get his hands on. Yes, Vince is usually that petty.
Do we really think that the WWE production and costuming wizards will let the guy run out there in a t-shirt? Stop. He's going to look awesome if it ever happens.
ReplyDeleteThreadjack (sort of): my absolute favorite classic theme from NWA/WCW was Doom. The funkalicious bass and brass in this is awesome. http://youtu.be/LruG3ueaRLA
ReplyDeleteEverything except beat Undertaker. No chance it'll happen. But yeah, if 'Taker goes with the retirement build up, "there's nobody left to put the Streak against" and we get a lights drop, Sting music and him rappelling down to do the bat point - I'd mark out.
ReplyDeleteHe's one of my all time favorites ever...but I think he should just retire and wrap things up with a HoF appearance and DVD set. The bald spot is getting rediculous, he looks all withered and he's just not up to his former standards anymore. Love him to death, but any firther in-ring stuff is just going to be a wet fart. But a DVD set...that I will be over like Daniel Bryan on rice. It's SO long overdue.
ReplyDeleteI think that the attraction to Sting is much the same for a lot of older wrestling fans as the attraction to the Ultimate Warrior, only amplified by Sting's much more aesthetically appealing character outside of the ring. Sting was *cool* for young wrestling fans in the late '80s and '90s; he had charisma and a unique look that made him popular. I think that a lot of his early work, especially in 1988 and 1989 is VASTLY overrated (he uses about a dozen press slams it feels like against Flair in the first Clash match, for instance), but he hit a stretch from 1990 to around 1995 where he could do very little wrong in the ring. That kind of goodwill extends awhile amongst wrestling fandom, considering he was always considered the babyface antithesis to Hulk Hogan—along with his greatest rival when he turned heel.
ReplyDeleteI had a dream Rick Rude was my partner in a golf tournament last night. I'm not sure why.
ReplyDeleteUndertaker was painful to watch in the mid 90's. Even as a 12-year-old mark I was bored to tears with the never ending Goldust matches, Mable matches, Corporate Team matches, casket matches, etc.
ReplyDeleteDark Carnival 2.0 (Sting/Muta/Jeff Hardy) vs. The Shield at Wrestlemania.
ReplyDeleteSix months with training? I can see it. The WWE has trainers on staff now anyway.
ReplyDeleteBTW - I'm surprised McMahon didn't sign nWo Sting and push him to the moon to spite the real Sting.
ReplyDeleteI get the feeling you haven't watched much RVD in TNA, nor Khali in WWE. That was a pretty stupid comment, dude.
ReplyDeleteFalse. He still had good matches until he went up in the rafters, and that DDP match was shockingly good.
ReplyDeletehave sting come in as a total face, but teams with a heel Shield group to put them over, and justifying everything bad they do as what needs to be done. kinda like the current USA government...
ReplyDeletehave a side group called TSA or NSA beating everyone silly!! that would be awesome
Well there are things like age to deal with, but with a singlet and some time, I think Sting could look alright. I mean, he might not move alright anymore. But if he can hit the Stinger Splash and get Taker in the Deathlock...
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it would be a very nice plaque...
ReplyDeleteScott has this dream of HBK coming out of retirement, it shows up once a month or so in a post. =)
ReplyDeleteI appreciate and think the Warrior comparison is fair for Sting. Look how BAD Warriors return to WCW was, it might be one of the biggest debacles in pro wrestling ever. While the booking is a big reason why, I believe the biggest reason is because there's nothing sustainably good about his act, work rate, mic work, gimmick, etc. Same with Sting, the nostalgia of seeing him point a baseball bay at Taker might be cool but nothing after that would be WM worthy because he's just not that good IMO.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was a slight exaggeration. But there's no denying RVD's run in TNA was beyond sub-par. He was sluggish in the ring, unmotivated, and easily winded.
ReplyDeleteAs long as he purchased himself. If not, it'd be written on the back of a stop sign.
ReplyDeleteThey let Flair run out there in a T-shirt
ReplyDeleteIf he were to go to WWE it'd definitely start as a rehash of Crow Sting in the rafters. Anything he's done in TNA is meaningless since no common fan will have any knowledge of what he's done the past 10+ years. Taker would come out for a promo, the lights would go out, and when they come back on the lighting would be centered on Sting hanging out in the rafters
ReplyDeleteWhoops didn't see this. surfer would be goofy because he's in completely different shape.
ReplyDeleteHe looks better like this, IMO
ReplyDeletehttp://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/static/images/image/sting.jpg