Last night the WWE Universe was shaken to its core.
Old-School wrestling fans: Sting FINALLY (14 years later) made his debut in the WWE and is the last of the former WCW employees to go to work for Vince McMahon.
News of his signing with the company has been known for quite some time with his inclusion in their WWE 2k15 video game, the production of a three disc DVD collection on his career, and the production of other merchandise available on the company’s website. However, Survivor Series was his first ever appearance in a WWE ring.
Sting is in his early 50’s now and we all would’ve liked to have seen him make the jump in 2001/2002 with Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, etc. However, he was given an introduction like no WCW wrestler before him, and it’s better late than never.
News broke late last week that Sting would be appearing at Survivor Series. This has been reported many times over the years, and every time the shows have come and gone with no sign of the Stinger. That is the reason many pro wrestling fans, including myself, chose to control our anticipation as Survivor Series approached.
However, Vince McMahon promised at the top of the show it would be a night pro wrestling fans would never forget, and he meant it. This show was built around one match, the five on five elimination main event that pitted Team Cena against Team Authority. The stipulations in place were all of Team Cena’s members would be fired, except for Cena himself if they lost. If Team Authority lost, Triple H and Stephanie would be completely out of power and have zero control over WWE. The stakes were at an all time high.
It looked like Triple H and Stephanie were prepared. They turned Big Show on team Cena. Triple H took out two referees and even brought in his own hand picked official. Just when it looked like Team Authority was going to cheat their way to victory, the sound of the crow filled the arena and Sting finally made that long awaited appearance. Fans in the arena came off their feet as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing as he made his way to the ring. He stood face to face with Triple H as the crowd chanted “STING” and “THIS IS AWESOME.” It was a truly historic moment.
It looked for a moment he may be pawn in Triple H’s plan to retain power. However, Sting kicked him in the gut, dropped him with a Scorpion Death Drop, and laid Dolph Ziggler on Seth Rollins as the original referee regained consciousness to count the pinfall.
It was very fitting for this to be Sting’s moment. He was arguably the face of WCW and saw first hand what greed and corruption from the powers of the company can truly do. He knows for a fact that what Triple H and Stephanie are doing is NOT “best for business” and if someone didn’t put a stop to them, it might drive them OUT of business. It’s the perfect storyline for the injection of Sting into the WWE Universe if they chose to go in that direction.
Sting’s debut couldn’t have been more impactful. He stopped Triple H’s plan, dropped him with a signature move, and ensured the Authority would finally be removed from power. It was the perfect introduction for Sting and sets up a rumored Wrestlemania feud with Triple H perfectly.
He also single-handedly saved this show, which left a LOT to be desired prior to the surprise at the conclusion of the main event. After a well-wrestled four way tag title match, we got a very long diva’s Survivor Series elimination match. This time could have been used for an undercard or even NXT featured elimination match. We already had the Diva’s title match on the card and I feel like this match really killed the crowd.
We also had a DQ finish in the first Dean Ambrose vs. Bray Wyatt match. Although this match was highly entertaining, the lack of a clear winner was disappointing. The two also failed to really have a stand out moment in this match to truly make it memorable. They should make up for that and then some in three weeks at TLC.
Everything after this match was complete filler up until the main event. If there were people watching the “FREE FREE FREE” month of the WWE Network and watching a WWE Pay Per View for the first time, like Michael Cole kept claiming during the broadcast, than they probably asked themselves why they would pay for this event when they saw a grown man in a bunny costume wrestling a tag team match. I understand the need to fill three hours on a Monday Night, but this is a pay per view and suppose to be a showcase event. Adam Rose and the bunny against Titus O’Neil and Heath Slater is not a showcase match. This was another opportunity to showcase a traditional elimination match of undercard wrestlers. If they felt the need to get comedy on this show, they could have included these four in a five on five elimination match. The finish felt too much like the Mizdow victory at the top of the show.
The Diva’s title match served it’s purpose, but was tough to take after sitting through a video package and both ring entrances for a ten second match. However, it made perfect sense. The Diva’s elimination match just killed my desire for the whole thing. Also, the video package prior to the main event was unbearable if you watch WWE programming every week and tuned into the pre-show. At that point you had seen that thing a dozen times. The show had thoroughly put me to sleep by the time the eleven men and women (Triple H and Stephanie also got their full entrance) had made their full entrances.
The guys worked hard to turn the show around in the main event but fans had to be cringing as another Authority screw job began to play out. Too many shows over the past year have ended in such a fashion. That is why choosing THAT moment for the debut of Sting, and having him save WWE of the Authority, was such a brilliant move by Vince McMahon.
It was something many fans thought would never happen and on November 23rd 2014 it finally did. That is why he not only saved WWE in a storyline fashion, he also saved them on this night in a literal fashion. Instead of fans all over the world hating on this event and ranking it among one of the worst Survivor Series of all-time, the introduction of Sting flips all of that. It makes this event one of the most memorable Survivor Series of all-time. It also shows the new fans watching the FREE FREE FREE promotion that ANYTHING can happen on a WWE pay per view. Despite what you were forced to watch in the middle, THAT is why you need to subscribe to the WWE Network.
Sting has made his feelings about Vince McMahon and the old WWE product known plenty of times over the years. But the company has changed significantly since 1997 when they were pushing the envelope and highly promoting sex and over the top violence to get eyeballs on the screen. The company has changed and no matter how badly fans pine for the attitude era, it’s never coming back. The family friendly product is here to stay. The WWE Network is something he can get behind and fully support. He’s a great spokesmen to a different kind of fan. He can speak to the old NWA/WCW fan that can get on the WWE Network and find his old footage. It’s a great partnership financially and the debut made perfect sense.
I am also happy that he finally got his moment to actually be on camera and step into a WWE ring. Not only is it something I have always wanted to see, I am sure it’s something Sting has always secretly wanted as well. The crowds are going to be like nothing he has seen in 15 years (if ever), the international recognition will go through the roof, and he will be getting appearance and merchandise checks that will help his family during his retired life.
Triple H will also provide him a perfect Wrestlemania opponent as he now seeks his revenge on Sting for costing him control of the company. It should be a fun storyline and as much as we would all like to see him wrestle the Undertaker, the Dead Man’s future is still very much in question, so you can’t fault the company for moving forward. Triple H can more than carry his weight in the ring and I think he can get a good match out of the Stinger. Plus, he is one of the last guys left that was around when Sting was in his prime being nationally showcased on WCW.
How will we get there? I’m not sure. One thing I do know, I have no interest AT ALL in Sting being the GM. However, he could appoint a GM that will rule the WWE with an iron first and run things the right way. The way things SHOULD have been run and the way they will need to be run to avoid corruption, greed, and the fate of WCW. Triple H will eventually come calling for his revenge, and their Wrestlemania 31 match is set.
I am sure Sting has sat back and played out his debut in the WWE in his mind many times over the past decade and more specifically since he finally signed the contract. I know he was a little apprehensive of how he would be used in the past or how he would be received by the WWE audience. I am sure he had many scenarios he’s dreamed up about when this moment finally happened, but he could have never have dreamed that his debut would be so well received by nearly everyone. The internet has been a buzz by fans and critics alike who enjoyed Sting’s moment at Survivor Series.
The building was electric, the fans responded great, and the internet nearly broke because fans were so happy that he finally made his debut. The ending was a little bit of an overbooked mess, but nobody cared. The show was a disaster prior to the main event, but again nobody cared. Sting literally saved the day and saved WWE. With so many more eyeballs on Survivor Series because of the free month of WWE Network, it was perfect timing. In a world where nothing is perfect, on this night, the WWE got it right.
Sting vs. Triple H at Wrestlemania will be truly special and every wrestling fan should be excited.
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