When Sting finally made his long-awaited WWE debut at Survivor Series 2015, it was a huge deal for everyone involved. The last hold-out of the Monday Night Wars was finally going to make the jump and get his shot inside a WWE ring and, most importantly of all, finally get his very own, well-deserved WrestleMania Moment. It sounded too good to be true and, sadly for The Icon, it was. From the very outset of the match, it became clear that it was going to be the Triple H show; immediately evident by their respective entrances. Sting was granted a bizarre Japanese drum instrumental that made little sense (with Sting billed from California and residing in Texas), while Triple H was given the most elaborate entrance known to mankind the world that is, not Mick Foley. The Games ring walk was undoubtedly the most memorable of the entire show and the awe-inspiring Terminator-themed entrance was so cool, it almost turned him babyface pre-lock up. When the bell eventually did ring, a decent match followed with some enjoyable spots and fun, if-not slightly nonsensical nostalgia (seriously, the nWo helping Sting?). Nevertheless, the crowd was into it, neither man had missed a beat and all was running smoothly that was until the finish. Triple H blasts Sting with a sledgehammer to steal the victory and ruin The Stingers WWE/WrestleMania debutonly to offer him his hand in respect post-matchwhich Sting then accepts! Wrestling psychology meltdown! While some believe that a Sting victory would have been too obvious, sometimes the obvious decision is actually the best course of action (see Daniel Bryans WM30 title win). As Stings first match inside a WWE ring, the moment was 25 years overdue and The Icon needed to win; if not to cement his standing amongst the younger fans who werent so familiar with his past, then for the sake of any future Sting matches to come. Conversely, a Triple H loss wouldnt have hurt The Games standing in the company one bit. Even the segment later in the night with Ronda Rousey and The Rock could have worked well with a dismissive and defiant Trips laying down an excuse-laden promo prior to their scuffle. A loss for The Stinger immediately devalued The Vigilante and left any future plans for the Venice Beach native up in the air. Even for Triple H fans, its hard not to chalk it up to ego on this one because its happened so many times before. Triple H even boasts the only WrestleMania victory over Brock Lesnar since his dominant return in 2012 which seems incredible considering the run The Beast has had since then and is a feat not even The Undertaker can match. For Triple H to book himself into Stings very first WWE match is one thing; but to book himself to go over with a victory was just plain short-sighted. It wasnt the fact that they missed the boat on a classic WrestleMania moment, it was the fact that they were stood on that boat, bound for WrestleMania and made the conscious decision to jump off right before they had reached the shore. With the match being Stings debut match in WWE, his first appearance at a WrestleMania and a big moment in history (not to mention Steve Bordens career), the snub was a huge waste of moment that can now sadly never be undone.
Occasional wrestler, full-time gym rat and lifelong lover of the grapple game. Would probably buy you a shot of Jack at the bar in exchange for witty banter...and preferably more Jack.
@MartynGrant88 for more wrestling-related musings and weight room wisecracks!
