10 Times Triple H Was RIDICULOUSLY Selfish At WWE WrestleMania
7. A Sting In The Tail
Fast-forward to 2015, and WWE had finally persuaded Sting to sign on the dotted line. It was an acquisition decades in the making; Sting was always reluctant to head north. The reasons varied as the years dragged on. He felt a sense of loyalty to TNA. His morals were incompatible with the rampant product. He fretted over the manner in which WWE would protect - or rather fail to protect - his character.
The initial angle promised much, in that the Stinger promised to vanquish once and for all the Authority faction he had targeted. This premise was retconned; the crux of their issue soon (d)evolved into yet another tedious Monday Night Wars retread, made emphatic at 'Mania in a nostalgic, shortcut-laden smoke and mirrors novelty attraction that nonetheless was still the longest match on the entire card. This, combined with Trips' most hysterical 'Mania entrance ever, combined with a Rock confrontation that has not led anywhere to this day, saw Trips eat up a full quarter of 'Mania's epic runtime. Triple H is a master. He can't lose every 'Mania match, else risk undermining his gatekeeper role. Sting entered 'Mania as an Icon, and left as a makeweight. His appearing on WWE TV was framed as the real victory - for Sting.
He had finally made it.