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WWE Right Not to Prioritize Potential Sting Signing

WWE Right Not to Prioritize Potential Sting Signing

Posted: Feb 8th 2014 By: mikeiles

Over the last few weeks, with Sting's TNA contract having expired, there's been more talk then ever of him signing with WWE to...well, do something and remove his status as one of the biggest pro wrestling stars never to go to WWE. Since it's WrestleMania season, even though most of the main matches seem to be mapped out, a lot of fans are holding out hope that he may have a match at the biggest show of the year.

According to a report from Mike Johnson at PWInsiderElite.com (h/t WrestlingInc.com), WWE is taking their time in negotiating with Sting. Not in a bad way, mind, you: It's more that having him in a match at WrestleMania XXX is not a big priority. They want him in the company, especially for the sense of finality it gives to WCW, as well as the merchandising opportunities. He may be signed in time to at least appear at WrestleMania and wrestle occasionally after, perhaps leading to a Hall of Fame induction as the main eventer of the 2015 ceremony.

For a number of reasons, this is a good idea. Some of the push for Sting to go to WWE is strictly novelty, for him to wrestle a match, any match, before he retires for good. Another is that if he wants to have a big showcase WrestleMania match against The Undertaker or anyone else, he probably needs a lot more than a month or two of preparation.

I'm not judging the guy, but he's 55 years old and has been wrestling in a T-shirt for awhile, and that's not going to work in a WrestleMania main event level match. He needs time to get into "WrestleMania" shape and/or get new gear to work around the issue. "WrestleMania shape" doesn't just refer to his physique, either.

Sting has not really been able to have much in the way of good matches for several years. Again, he's 55 years old and has been wrestling since the end of 1985. The coasting on his name and a handful of trademark spots he was able to do in TNA isn't going to cut it in some of the biggest matches of the year in the biggest promotion in the world. That's even more true if he's going to end up working with The Undertaker at a WrestleMania, where, for the last several years, there's been an expectation of a great, "match of the year" caliber bout.

A Sting who's well-rested and able to focus on training is much more likely to deliver that great match. Look at The Undertaker: He moves slower and slower every year, but he still has enough in the tank to have a great match annually. In general, wrestlers who are able to take more time off are able to sustain working at a higher level for longer. Whether it's Chris Jericho and Rob Van Dam in WWE or Akira Nogami and Hiroshi Hase a decade ago in Japan: The time living normal lives away from the pounding of taking bumps refreshes them in a way that you don't see from other middle-aged wrestlers who never took breaks. Hell, when Sting was more of a special attraction in TNA, he could be used an an example, too.

Patience is a virtue.

 

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  • 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

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  • 04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
  • 04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
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  • 04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
  • 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
  • 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
  • 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
  • 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
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  • 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
  • 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
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  • 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
  • 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
  • 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
  • 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title
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