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On Raw a few nights ago, the WWE twice aired a video hyping the date “2-21-11.” To be honest I was watching it on DVR and fast forwarded right by it twice. I thought it was one of those previews for a something I could care less about on SyFy. Turns out, I was wrong. The next morning, I jumped on the net and saw that people were really talking up what was apparently a vignette. I went into the forums and saw a thread created for it and figured, I’ll check this out really quickly. That was not to be, as there were approximately 6 pages worth of posts about it already. Truth be told, I went about my business that day and didn’t even think to read anything in that thread. Late that afternoon, as my schedule was winding down for the day, I logged onto the LOP and saw “Sting update” as one of the headlines. Wait! WHAT?! Sting? I scrolled through some of the other headlines until I found the Sting rumor. I grew up watching a very young Sting in the NWA. I didn’t see the best parts of his career – by the time he’d started his main-event program with Ric Flair, I’d already been lured in by the WWE – but I have enough respect for the Stinger’s name that I got a chill down my spine. As I continued to read, I thought of one very important thing: I’ve been a member of the so called “Internet Wrestling Community” for nearly 10 years now. My freshman year in college was the first year I began reading LOP. One consistent thing throughout that time has been the rumor about Sting and the speculation as to whether or not he’d ever come to the WWE. That being said, I still can’t help but see all the news report (including one from the NY Times) and get REALLY excited about Sting being involved in Wrestlemania. Examination Wrestlemania in Atlanta is perhaps the best time that Sting could FINALLY make his presence felt in the world’s most popular wrestling organization. Even though Sting is 51 years old, he is in good shape and he’ still accustomed to being in the ring after several years with TNA. Also, one of the primary reasons why he was rumored to have never come to the WWE is that his religious beliefs conflicted with some of the racier material on WWE television over the years. Now that the WWE has converted back to a family friendly (good wholesome entertainment) series of programming, then Sting should likely be much more comfortable being featured on their shows. Frankly, the WWE needs Sting this year more than they ever have. Alberto Del Rio just won the Royal Rumble and – because he’s so new – he doesn’t have much of a name to sell Wrestlemania. Neither do CM Punk, Sheamus, or The Miz, for that matter. The WWE appears headed in a direction where they’ll need newcomers to carry the bulk of the Wrestlemania card. Thus, the WWE still has to come up with something that could even come close to matching the atmosphere that most of the Manias of the past 10 years have had. If Sting were to come to the WWE, then especially in the ATL environment where he was the “Franchise” for so many years, he would go a long way toward providing Wrestlemania with that “Mania” feel. However, the flip side of the coin is that all of this speculation is based off a video promo that could be hinting at numerous other options. February 21st would be a solid return date for one of three big superstars that have been out for a considerable amount of time. Most likely, it would involve Undertaker coming back to get his Wrestlemania program started right after Elimination Chamber. That’s a big enough deal that the WWE would choose to up their ratings for Raw with his return there instead of on SD. The video could also be something involving the return of a darker version of Triple H. While it may seem far fetched, I wonder if the Game would like to tweak his character to challenge himself during the last few years of his active in-ring career? And of course, it could also be Chris Jericho. While, a week ago, it seemed like Jericho would be gone for quite awhile – if he ever returned. However, a more recent interview suggests that he’s got a contract on the table and that just a detail or two need be worked out. Another option would be that a completely new superstar is about to debut. I read one rumor that Tyler Black, formerly of ROH, might be debuting a dark cowboy character that brings to life the popular video game “Red Dead Redemption.” Analysis I think this will end up being the most over-analyzed topic of 2011 by the time it’s all said and done, but I’m afraid that if the WWE don’t deliver Sting on the 21st, that many of the fans that were instantly energized about April 3rd would just as instantly become deflated and uninterested. Unfortunately, I think that unless it’s announced 2 weeks in advance that it ABSOLUTELY isn’t Sting, then people are going to quietly hope and pray that it is Sting. If it turns out to be anyone else, the WWE puts itself in an unenviable position: 6 weeks from their biggest show of the year, concerns about PPV buyrates kicks into high gear as people get turned off from a star powering lacking card. You know, I’m not personally even that big a fan of Sting. I like him and I certainly never had a problem with him, but I’ve never been that into Sting. However, what I am a fan of is all of the fans being excited about Wrestlemania. This is the best time of the year and I seemingly have an innate ability to get behind whatever the WWE puts on the card (CM Punk would call it “faith”). I want everyone else to match my enthusiasm. If having Sting on the card would make people more excited about the Show of Shows, then I’m all for his involvement. There’s been some discussion already about who he should face at Mania if he were to join the WWE. I initially hesitated to even bother speculating, but when I read the updated news about Jericho having a contract about three lines below a rumor about Sting joining the WWE, I immediately thought that the best possible opponent for Sting would be Y2J. Jericho is the Best in the World at what he does in my opinion and there’s nobody that could get Sting over with a new crowd faster or be an opponent that could help him create a Wrestlemania moment better than Chris Jericho. Others have suggested that perhaps the Undertaker would be a perfect opponent. I definitely think that Taker vs. Sting would be a draw, but I just have my doubts about Sting coming in just to be Streak fodder. I think a guy like Sting would have no problem doing the job for the Taker – I’m sure there’s a lot of respect there between professionals that have been in the business since the 80’s (in one form or another). I just think that Jericho is the better opponent. Doctor’s Orders No matter what happens, I hope to God that Sting is the guy revealed on 2-21-11. What a MOMENT that would be to see Sting return on Raw and go on to have a match at Wrestlemania. I can feel the buzz generating from Atlanta all the up here in Greensboro, North Carolina. Former WCW fans and long-time professional wrestling fans and curious newer fans both here in the States and across the globe are buzzing about this. I cannot personally shake the feeling that this is all just pure speculation and that it isn’t going to happen, but also cannot deny how excited that I would be if it happened. So, while I never thought that a random book that my wife read last year would find its way into one of my professional wrestling columns, but for the next two weeks, I urge you to “Eat, Pray, and (Show Some) Love” for the one and the only…STING
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