Jun 9th 2024 07:59am

Sign Up / Sign In|Help

 

Sting's Legacy Hinges on WWE WrestleMania 31 Match with Triple H

Sting's Legacy Hinges on WWE WrestleMania 31 Match with Triple H

Posted: Mar 1st 2015 By: Erik Beaston - BleacherReport.com

Over the course of his career, Sting has garnered the nickname The Icon, and rightfully so.

With all that he has accomplished in World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, there has always been a twinge of doubt cast over his legacy, thanks to the fact that he has never competed in Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Entertainment.

For decades, fans have dreamed up some phenomenal matchups involving the legendary figure but never have they had the opportunity to see those contests play out on the grand stage that the company offers.

That will all change Sunday, March 29, when Sting squares off with Triple H in one of the marquee matches on the WrestleMania 31 card. And win, lose or draw, the match will forever alter the way fans see and remember the franchise player of WCW.

At age 55, the Stinger is far from the prime of his career. In fact, he has been on the downside of his athletic life for the last 15 years, but his presence and aura alone have continued to captivate fans, leaving them to hope and dream about one day seeing him at the Showcase of the Immortals.

With all of the hype and anticipation that is being built up to the moment he battles Triple H at the biggest event of the year, anything less than a performance that meets expectations will go down in the history of professional wrestling as one of the biggest busts, disappointments and bombs of all time.

Sting has kept fans waiting for so long that his advanced age and a lack of the universally desired match with The Undertaker has added unnecessary pressure on him to make all of it worth it.

Luckily, he has a dance partner in Triple H who is coming off of a phenomenal match against Daniel Bryan last April, not to mention a series against The Shield that netted at least one Match of the Year candidate, proving that The Game can still produce when it comes to big-match situations.

While the contest is unlikely to look like a pretty, beautiful, technically sound match, it will have tremendous heat behind it, courtesy of the two men waging war between the ropes. It will be that heat, the excitement surrounding the contest, that helps make up for the deficiencies of the combatants at this stage in their careers.

At least it better.

If not, WWE could be looking at a scenario in which, for the second consecutive year, one of the supposedly historic matches on the card will leave fans underwhelmed.

And Sting's legacy will be tarnished forever, his first opportunity to leave his mark on WWE and influence a new generation of fans ruined.

 

Printable version Email to a friend

Supplemental Information

Latest News

1
Making History pt 1:  Riley Grinn wins the 2024 Ryder Herring Memorial Cup Tournament

Making History pt 1: Riley Grinn wins the 2024 Ryder Herring Memorial Cup Tournament

Sometimes talent surprises you in the ring. The show astonishing accomplishment at y... Read More

All News

Grappling With Tragedy: Jean ‘Black Venus’ Kirkland

Grappling With Tragedy: Jean ‘Black Venus’ Kirkland

Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred t... Read More

All Columns

1

Spotlight in History

  • 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Champion

Week of Sun 06-09 to Sat: 06-15

  • 06-09 1959 The Golden Giant became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-09 1966 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 1980 The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) def. Junkyard Dog & Buck Robley for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 1989 Jeff Jarrett & Mil Mascaras def. Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 2017 The Rising (Matt Durden & Riker) def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-09 2023 Koko became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-09 2023 The Regime (Derek James & Logan Knight & Merc & Skylar Slice/Sgt. Slice) def. The Roll Modelz (Malik Mayfield & Olivier Vegos) for the CPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-09 2023 Mr. Nasty def. Mascara Purpura for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-09 2023 Red James def. Mr. Nasty for the CPW 918 Champion
  • 06-10 1979 Bruiser Brody def. Mark Lewin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-10 1985 Tim Brooks def. Scott Casey for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-10 2006 Dexter Hardaway became the AACW Mid-American Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-10 2023 MLP became the XDWF New GenX Champion
  • 06-11 1984 Chris Adams became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-11 2009 Sage became the SWCW Art of War Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien def. Robbie Awesome for the MERC Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 The Ring Intruders (Jon Cross & Fuel) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2011 Jake O'Brien became the SRPW Patriot Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Kareem Sadat def. Rick Russo for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-11 2011 Tim Storm def. Michael Faith for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Pastor Brent & Andrew Fenix def. The Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the WAH Tag Team Champions
  • 06-11 2022 Connor Smith def. Romeo Reese for the WAH Spotlight Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Umbra def. Koko for the WAH Living Hope Champion
  • 06-11 2022 Dan Webber def. Paul Puertorico for the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 1982 The Spoiler def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 06-12 2009 El Latino became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-12 2021 Brawler Morrison def. Blade [2nd] for the UWO Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 1960 Tony Borne def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1969 Chuck Karbo became the TSW North American Champion
  • 06-13 1978 Karl Krupp became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 06-13 1998 The Bad Boys (Splash Jackson & Bull Schmitt) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-13 2008 Brent Albright def. Slam Shady for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 06-13 2008 Josh Michaels became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2009 The Canadian Red Devil became the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Seth Angel & Adrian Dell def. Nemesis (Bobby Starr & Damien Morte) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 06-13 2015 Killista def. Paul Puertorico for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Rolling Thunder def. Michael Duplanti for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Queens Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Michael Wolf def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-13 2015 Jake O'Brien def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 1970 Fritz Von Erich def. Boris Malenko for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 1982 Fritz Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2004 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. Li'l Joe & Al Farat for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2008 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Nathan Sensation & Striker def. The New Age Syndicate (Shawn Sanders & Scott Sanders) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2008 Anarchy [2nd] def. The Enforcer for the SECW Tri-State Champion
  • 06-14 2008 Dane Griffin def. Mo'Body Gillespie for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-14 2009 El Super Colibri became the TAP Adrenaline Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Reckless def. The Canadian Red Devil for the TAP Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2009 Shane Morbid def. Jon Cross for the TAP Oklahoma Heritage Champion
  • 06-14 2013 Clint Cox became the BPPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-14 2014 The Rising (Justin Riker & Abel) def. Psycho Sawyer & Diamond for the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 06-14 2014 Omega X (Brett Stopp & X-Static) def. The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 06-15 1982 King Kong Bundy became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2003 Tyler Bateman def. Jef Tiger for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-15 2003 John O'Malley def. Tyler Bateman for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 06-15 2008 El Culo Intruso def. Dane Griffin for the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 06-15 2018 Sam Stackhouse def. Abyss for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Double D became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 06-15 2019 Prince Mahalli def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Champion
06-09
  • Mark Wilson Jun 9th Today!
  • Jamie Jun 9th Today!
  • Jim Barnett Jun 9th Today!
  • Dick Listener Jun 9th Today!
  • Dutch Savage Jun 9th Today!
  • Jeff Wolfenbarger Jun 9th Today!
  • Dick Dunn Jun 10th
  • Largus RagnaBrok Jun 10th
  • Magnum T. A. Jun 11th
  • Mathmagician Jun 11th
  • J. D. Richards Jun 11th
  • King Parsons Jun 11th
  • D'Licious Jun 12th
  • Baby Blimp Jun 12th
  • Stan Pulaski Jun 12th
  • Rolling Thunder Jun 12th
  • Steven Dane Jun 12th
  • Zac Royal Jun 12th
  • Lady Sensacion Jun 12th
  • Deuce Rodriguez Jun 12th
  • Geronimo Jun 13th
  • Chandler Hopkins Jun 13th
  • John Pfanz Jun 13th
  • Neo Genesis Jun 13th
  • Dustin Heritage Jun 13th
  • Mikey D Jun 13th
  • Bill Ash Jun 13th
  • Buzz Sawyer Jun 14th
  • Trey the Bae Jun 15th
  • Sean Ryan Jun 15th
  • Jaxon Stone Jun 15th
  • Lilith Grimm Jun 15th
  • Brad Armstrong Jun 15th
  • Paul Linam Jun 15th
  • Ultimate Warrior Jun 16th
  • Paul Jones Jun 16th
  • Brock Landers Jun 16th
  • Chuck Hinds Jun 16th
  • Jef Tiger Jun 16th
  • Ted Arcidi Jun 16th
  • Shawn Matthews III Jun 16th
  • Talos Jun 17th
  • Ray Martinez Jun 17th
  • Rob Justice Jun 17th
  • Mario Galento Jun 17th
  • Bad Boy Jun 18th
  • Sashimi Deluxe Jun 18th
  • Abe Jacobs Jun 18th
  • Bruiser Brody Jun 18th
  • Cam the CODA Jun 18th
  • Johnny Angel Jun 18th
  • Andy Dalton Jun 18th
  • Miguel Padilla Jun 19th
  • Mike Two Jun 19th
  • Top Dollar Bill Jun 19th
  • Kodi Ocean Jun 19th
  • Canadian Red Devil Jun 19th
  • Billy the Kid Jun 19th
  • Wahoo McDaniel Jun 19th
  • Koko B. Ware Jun 20th
  • Professor Ito Jun 20th
  • Jon Cross Jun 20th
  • David Kyzer Jun 20th
  • Jeff the Ref Jun 21st
  • Milton Winkelman Jun 21st
  • Rick Russo Jun 21st
  • Super Star Jun 21st

More Look Back In History

Oklafan Quiz

What was Flamon Raymon's weapon of choice?

  

  

  

  

139

Take the OklaQuiz!