After the much-talked-about WWE 2K15 commercial featuring Sting premiered on this past Monday’s edition of WWE RAW, the pro wrestling world has been buzzing about “The Icon” possibly signing on to work with WWE in the near future.
While nothing is confirmed, and by all accounts, “The Stinger” has yet to actually officially sign a contract with the company, he is rumored to be deep in negotiations to do so, with many big-time players in WWE expecting that his signing is an inevitability. Additionally, Sting has been making the media rounds expressing his interest in working a match at WrestleMania 31, one that he would like to be against WWE legend The Undertaker.
Assuming Sting can pass the strict WWE physical to even compete in the ring in an actual match, which at nearly 56 years old (by the time WrestleMania rolls around) I honestly don’t believe he can do, that still leaves the question as to how they would promote the match in story lines.
In my opinion, if all goes well, Sting signs, passes the physical and Undertaker agrees to the match (so many hurdles there, I can’t see WWE jumping over all of them), I think WWE should mimic the build to one of WCW’s most successful pay-per-views of all-time, Starrcade 1997.
Fans of the Monday Night Wars will likely remember the way WCW build up to the highly anticipated return to the ring of the new “Crow-like” Sting.
Basically, Sting would appear in the balcony or rafters at WCW Nitro on a weekly basis for months. He would simply appear, people in the ring would acknowledge him, yet he would do nothing. He wouldn’t speak. He wouldn’t do much but stare.
Eventually this morphed into Sting carrying a baseball bat and pointing it at people. As time went on, Sting finally got physical and also made it clear that despite returning without his old colorful persona, and the fact that he was wearing the black-and-white colors of the New World Order, he was out to destroy Hulk Hogan and the nWo.
Fast-forward to 2014 and 2015 with the build-up to WrestleMania 31.
I’m of the opinion that WWE should try and replicate the mystery surrounding that Sting character from 1997 WCW. Either have him appear and not say anything, or say very little, or simply play elaborate video packages and vignettes, such as the WWE 2K15 video game commercial from Monday’s RAW, for weeks and weeks at a time. End the videos with some text that says something along the lines of “Sting is coming,” or something like, “WrestleMAnia 31 — Sting finally enters the WWE ring.”
Word it however you want, but you get the picture.
Slowly but surely make it clear through these video packages that Sting is targeting The Undertaker. This is where I hate that WWE ended “the streak” because Sting would have been the perfect guy to convince fans that “maybe, just maybe” this is the guy who could end it.
But that’s not an option, so we move on.
Sting vs. Undertaker is still an extremely interesting match on many levels. Sting seems to want it. The fans are clamoring for it. Basically, there’s still a lot there to play with and build excitement towards.
Anyways, that’s my arm-chair booking for today.
I should make it clear though once again that many people are over-looking the fact that by the time WrestleMania 31 rolls around, Sting will be a 56-year old man. WWE’s physicals are said to be extremely extensive, and I really don’t think Sting will be able to get clearance to actually wrestle matches. I absolutely hope that he can and does, but I’m just not sure if it’s in the cards.
What do you guys think? Leave your feedback in the “Comments” section below. You can also hit me up on Facebook at Facebook.com/MattBooneWZR and/or on Twitter @MBoone420.
