ironworks
11-17-2012, 02:28 AM
Feed Source: Bleacher Report
Once again, it looks like WWE is mortgaging its future on the past.
A report this week stated that Sting may be joining the WWE sometime next year. And that has to leave many of the younger stars on the current roster scratching their heads over the direction the company is taking.
With a roster that includes stars like John Cena, CM Punk, Sheamus, The Miz and Randy Orton, why would WWE want to hitch its wagon to yet another part-time wrestler? And that is on top of other rumors that the company wants to put its top singles title around the waist of part-timer The Rock.
Also, all eyes have been fixed for months on the WWE curtain waiting for Ric Flair to walk through.
Who's next? Ivan Koloff?
No wonder there has been talk of backstage tension between the current Superstars and WWE management.
Now, I am not slamming the Stinger in any fashion. He is an icon in the industry, just like Flair, The Rock and all the others from years ago. He had opportunities several times to come to WWE, but obligations to WCW and TNA blocked that path.
Now, after almost 30 years, Sting—also known as Steve Borden—might be on the cusp of realizing his long dream of working in WWE. Obviously, he still packs the star power, is a superior worker and would be an ideal mentor to the younger wrestlers.
But the same has been said about The Rock being a mentor, Ric Flair being a mentor, Bret Hart being a mentor. Pretty soon, WWE could wind up with too many mentors and not enough mentees.
WWE is talking about a possible program between Sting and the Undertaker to culminate at WrestleMania 30, wherever that will be. The buildup for that match would start at or shortly after WrestleMania 29 and run the year, a la Rock-Cena. WWE is betting on the marquee magic of a Sting-Taker match to shoot ratings and revenue through the roof.
Perhaps if this were 20 years ago, I would be all for that meeting. Both men were just hitting the beginning of the prime of their careers.
Now? If the match were to happen at WM 30, the combatants’ combined age would be 104 (Sting would be 55 and Taker 49). At the risk of age-discrimination accusations, may I suggest that WWE get AARP to be a chief sponsor of WrestleMania that year.
That’s not to say they would not work well together and probably have a good match, not to mention serve as an inspiration for aging baby boomers everywhere.
But back to the present.
You have these younger wrestlers who have busted their humps for a chance at a coveted WWE roster spot. Now WWE is going to push them aside in favor of someone old enough to be their father—or older brother, if the young wrestler is a later-in-life child?
The Internet Wrestling Community has been ablaze with rumors that existing Superstars already are not happy about what is happening with current storylines. The push of yet another part-time wrestler might just send some of them over the edge.
A WWE roster spot, even for a short time, would put the stamp on a WWE Hall of Fame spot for Sting. But he conceivably could get in now since WWE owns the rights to everything WCW.
On the other hand, the Four Horsemen got in earlier this year with three of them managing to get at least a cup of coffee in WWE during their careers. They made their mark in WCW, as did Sting.
If WWE feels like Sting would be a good fit, then by all means, go forth and recruit him. Since it has been his career-long dream to be in WWE, it would not be a hard sell.
Diehard fans have long memories, and I am sure they would gobble up tickets to see their childhood heroes like Sting.
I always have maintained that there is absolutely nothing wrong with saluting wrestling history. Just don’t do it at the expense of the ones who are there to do the heavy lifting day in and day out for the company.
Once again, it looks like WWE is mortgaging its future on the past.
A report this week stated that Sting may be joining the WWE sometime next year. And that has to leave many of the younger stars on the current roster scratching their heads over the direction the company is taking.
With a roster that includes stars like John Cena, CM Punk, Sheamus, The Miz and Randy Orton, why would WWE want to hitch its wagon to yet another part-time wrestler? And that is on top of other rumors that the company wants to put its top singles title around the waist of part-timer The Rock.
Also, all eyes have been fixed for months on the WWE curtain waiting for Ric Flair to walk through.
Who's next? Ivan Koloff?
No wonder there has been talk of backstage tension between the current Superstars and WWE management.
Now, I am not slamming the Stinger in any fashion. He is an icon in the industry, just like Flair, The Rock and all the others from years ago. He had opportunities several times to come to WWE, but obligations to WCW and TNA blocked that path.
Now, after almost 30 years, Sting—also known as Steve Borden—might be on the cusp of realizing his long dream of working in WWE. Obviously, he still packs the star power, is a superior worker and would be an ideal mentor to the younger wrestlers.
But the same has been said about The Rock being a mentor, Ric Flair being a mentor, Bret Hart being a mentor. Pretty soon, WWE could wind up with too many mentors and not enough mentees.
WWE is talking about a possible program between Sting and the Undertaker to culminate at WrestleMania 30, wherever that will be. The buildup for that match would start at or shortly after WrestleMania 29 and run the year, a la Rock-Cena. WWE is betting on the marquee magic of a Sting-Taker match to shoot ratings and revenue through the roof.
Perhaps if this were 20 years ago, I would be all for that meeting. Both men were just hitting the beginning of the prime of their careers.
Now? If the match were to happen at WM 30, the combatants’ combined age would be 104 (Sting would be 55 and Taker 49). At the risk of age-discrimination accusations, may I suggest that WWE get AARP to be a chief sponsor of WrestleMania that year.
That’s not to say they would not work well together and probably have a good match, not to mention serve as an inspiration for aging baby boomers everywhere.
But back to the present.
You have these younger wrestlers who have busted their humps for a chance at a coveted WWE roster spot. Now WWE is going to push them aside in favor of someone old enough to be their father—or older brother, if the young wrestler is a later-in-life child?
The Internet Wrestling Community has been ablaze with rumors that existing Superstars already are not happy about what is happening with current storylines. The push of yet another part-time wrestler might just send some of them over the edge.
A WWE roster spot, even for a short time, would put the stamp on a WWE Hall of Fame spot for Sting. But he conceivably could get in now since WWE owns the rights to everything WCW.
On the other hand, the Four Horsemen got in earlier this year with three of them managing to get at least a cup of coffee in WWE during their careers. They made their mark in WCW, as did Sting.
If WWE feels like Sting would be a good fit, then by all means, go forth and recruit him. Since it has been his career-long dream to be in WWE, it would not be a hard sell.
Diehard fans have long memories, and I am sure they would gobble up tickets to see their childhood heroes like Sting.
I always have maintained that there is absolutely nothing wrong with saluting wrestling history. Just don’t do it at the expense of the ones who are there to do the heavy lifting day in and day out for the company.