15 Biggest Political Power Plays By WWE Talents
Which moments saw the most posturing behind the scenes?
Politics Politics Politics.
They are an unfortunate reality of many businesses, including pro-wrestling, and it's led to the creation and destruction of many WWE superstars' careers.
From paranoid talents struggling to keep their spot to upcoming superstars trying to get over, the backstage political maneuverings of WWE talents have never ceased to amaze even the most cynical of WWE fans.
The political game is never going to dissipate in WWE. In fact, many would say that WWE's environment backstage has only worsened over the years, making the ability to be politically flexible a new requirement of success for the talents of today. Some of the talents will read the writing on the wall and react, while others will keep their heads down and hope to avoid the shrapnel.
What tomorrow holds for WWE and its talents is unclear, but the following 15 incidents discuss times when superstars were unable to avoid the political machinations of their peers.
15. Sting Loses To Triple H In WWE Debut Match At WrestleMania 31
Starting off the list is a recent occurrence from 2015. The site was WrestleMania 31 and one of the biggest matches on the card featured the WWE in-ring debut of the icon of WCW, Sting, as he wrestled WWE legend and future Hall Of Famer, Triple H.
Prior to signing with WWE in late 2014, Sting had considered working for the McMahon family multiple times. Fearful that his character would not be protected, Sting was especially concerned after witnessing the lack of success former WCW talents such as DDP, Scott Steiner, and Goldberg experienced.
Ultimately, Sting decided he wanted to have that one WrestleMania match before he called it a career. While he got that wish, his worst fears were realized as well.
In what was certainly a political power play, Sting not only did the job for Triple H at WrestleMania, but he was made to appear weak by thanking Triple H for cheating and defeating him. Following a back-and-forth match that saw the involvement of the nWo, D-Generation X, and Shawn Michaels, Triple H used a sledgehammer to secure the 1-2-3 over the WCW icon and moments later, without exacting any sort of revenge, that icon shook The Game's hand.
It was yet another opportunity that the McMahon family took to remind the entire world that WCW was dead and buried and WWE had won the war.