I've been racking my brain trying to remember if Sting had ever faced someone named Terra Ryzing, or, as he was later known in WCW, Jean-Paul LeVesque, before the latter left WCW in 1995. Apparently, it never happened. In that regard alone, the match between Sting and Triple H, set for next month at Wrestlemania, should have a different narrative than what has been presented.
Time and again, WWE "creative" (and I use the quotes for a reason) has failed to note the fact that the future Cerebral Assassin, like Steve Austin, was cut by Eric Bischoff, and likely for the same reasons. 20 years later, Triple H is gradually putting the caps on a Hall of Fame career, but there apparently was one foe he never fought, never thought he'd fight, until the opportunity presented itself. Triple H has already avenged himself upon Bischoff, judging by the way Bischoff was booked as Raw GM from 2002-5, subservient at times to Triple H & Evolution. That, to a degree, was HHH getting some payback on his former boss. Still, there was that void in his career........
HHH has said on the air that he doesn't like John Cena, at least as a competitor, but he respects the "face of the WWE". The fact that the Authority went out of its way to try to eliminate Cena last year, so that Randy Orton, no spring chicken himself, could be installed as the new "face of the WWE", suggested that, after the battles he had with Cena 10 years earlier, "The Game" was still missing something. That something, or someone, really, being Sting, finally materialized at Survivor Series in November. Now, 20 years after leaving WCW, Paul LeVesque could close that chapter in his career, by wrestling, and perhaps beating, Sting. WCW's "Franchise". Its "Icon". The "Face of WCW".
WWE "creative" has been conditioned to ignore TNA, which employed Sting on and off the last few years, and not all that well at the end. That makes HHH's remarks about Sting returning "after 14 years" no more than fallacy. So what if TNA continually presents itself as being way over their heads, a minor league promotion passing itself off as a major league. The wrong story's being told, and there's still time to change the narrative.
Some wags online are thinking this is about Sting putting down the Authority, headed up by a member of the notorious Kliq, a la the NWO. No, it's hardly that at all. This is a potentially epic battle between two veterans who should've had at least one bout against each other when they were much younger. If HHH needs a scouting report on Sting, he knows who to turn to. Kane (as Bruiser Mastino) was used as a TV jobber several years ago. Big Show, of course, has fought beside and against the Stinger. So has Booker T. He can talk to road agent/producers Jamie Noble & Dean Malenko, or even Christian, who worked with Sting in TNA for a spell. The fact of the matter is, this is a match made more than 20 years after it should've. There is only one conclusion. Sting isn't going to be at Wrestlemania to lose. Oh, no, not at the Show of Shows. Not when another "old friend" (Undertaker) is a possibility next year.
20 years ago, Jean-Paul LeVesque vs. Sting on WCW Saturday Night would have been worth staying home for. In 2015, with both men at the end of their careers, Triple H vs. Sting will be anti-climatic. Now, all HHH has to do is make one major sales pitch to his father-in-law, and bring back Jim Ross to call the match. His voice was all over that video shown on Raw. Ross has called plenty of matches involving HHH and/or Sting in his career, and this is one he deserves to do. It isn't the same with Michael Cole, JBL, & Jerry Lawler at the mics. Not this time.
Do I think Triple H wins at Mania? Be serious. The hero rarely loses a main event match at Wrestlemania. You can count the times on a hand and leave room for some fingers. As I said, Sting ain't going to Santa Clara to lose. Not gonna happen. Triple H's post-match menu will just have to include humble pie and a side order of what might've been's.
