As WCW's franchise icon, Sting did deserve to finish his last full year with WCW on close to two million dollars. It reflected on how long he'd been there. Also, $504,727 of that sum was licensing. It shows how important his image was to WCW. The huge $1,969,089 earnings also explain why he didn't go to the WWF in 2001. There's no way Vince McMahon would have matched such a sum. Sting would have been devaluing himself if he went for any less, hence he waited it out and took easier opportunities in TNA Wrestling.