http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x21c3ff_the-sting-crow-era-vol-40-sting-w-vulture-sends-a-cryptic-message-to-the-nwo-8-21-97_sport In 1996, Sting ascended to the rafters, his loyalty to WCW betrayed by distrust. The company he headed for so very long thought the Stinger had turned his back on him, that he had sided with the New World Order, something he never would have done. So distraught was he over the implications by co-workers and friends that he had done the unthinkable that Sting disappeared, leaving WCW to fight its battle with the nWo without its biggest star. By year's end, he would reemerge, the colorful paint he once was so associated with replaced by the black and white worn by movie and comic book antihero The Crow. Watching from a distance, he witnessed every assault perpetrated by the heinous organization, led by Hollywood Hogan, and emerged only when he felt the time was right. One of those times was August 21, 1997, on WCW's final Clash of the Champions broadcast. The nWo was celebrating one year of existence when the lights dimmed and a spotlight was shone in the rafters. Sting appeared, a vulture perched on his forearm. The voice of a young boy read some sort of poetry, then ended with the iconic words, "this is Sting." Suddenly, the arena went dark and when the lights turned back on, the vulture was perched atop the ropes, forcing the toughest men in the sport backward. While WCW had a long history of doing theatrical as poorly as possible, they produced a haunting segment that really put over the fear that the nWo had of Sting, just months before the epic showdown between he and Hogan at Starrcade.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.