10 Things That Would’ve Happened Had Sting Joined WWE In 2001

2. TNA Might Not Be Around Right Now

Before anyone gets into any "pro-TNA VS anti-TNA" arguments, this is actually a valid inclusion on the list. From all accounts, Sting's arrival in TNA breathed new life into the company and helped to "legitimize" them. He spent the second half of 2003 with the company, back in their early stages of existence, but it was his second run with the company, from January 2006 to February of this year, that really helped to put TNA on the map. Sting helped to put people over, became (arguably) the company's biggest star, won a total of six titles (including four TNA World Title reigns and one reign as NWA: TNA World Champion, back when TNA was still affiliated with the NWA), and was the first inductee into the TNA Hall Of Fame. He helped boost television ratings, ticket sales, merchandise sales, and pay-per-view buyrates. Sure, a lot of that didn't end up lasting very long, but he was still able to be a big help to the company when they needed him. Now, imagine if he signed with the WWF right away after WCW went under, and he never showed up in TNA. All of those boosts... gone. It might be slight hyperbole, but there's a chance TNA would not exist today if they never landed Sting. Spike TV officials loved Sting, and wanted the company to push him, so they did. With all of the current buzz about doom and gloom in TNA's immediate future, and with their time on Spike possibly coming to an end at the end of the year, you have to wonder if all this talk would have happened years ago instead, eventually giving WWE a true monopoly on mainstream wrestling all over again.