10 WWE WrestleMania Moments That Meant NOTHING In Hindsight

10. The Icon (And Sting)

Sting's November 2014 WWE arrival was monumental for some pleasingly old-fashioned reasons.

'The Icon' had somehow managed to keep away from Vince McMahon's clutches for 13 years since WCW folded, just as he'd done for decade and a half he'd spent in the business before then. It was a thrilling reminder of the constant buzz of the Monday Night Wars and the fantasy booking fans could greedily indulge in with talent constantly switching sides. As too was, unfortunately, how 'The Stingers' actual debut played out.

After being promoted as a vigilante on television fighting against the oppressive Authority, the WrestleMania 31 match completely abandoned the premise at the eleventh hour. Commentators reframed him as WCW's last minor threat and Triple H (still) as WWE's everlasting gatekeeper. The live crowd wouldn't have had a clue about the narrative shift had it not been for D-Generation-X and the New World Order making broadly illogical run-ins for their respective 'sides' and an absurd handshake conclusion after grappling over a sledgehammer just minutes earlier.

Sting's inadvertent retirement came in a WWE Title match later that year after a Seth Rollins' buckle bomb agitated his weathered neck. This being his WrestleMania one and done served as a frustrating reminder of the company's thoughtless wastefulness.