One of the greatest debates in the past decade has been the reasons why Sting never signed for the WWE after WCW folded. Sting chose to let his WCW contract run out instead of signing with the WWE, and backed up his decision by criticizing the way WWE and Vince McMahon handled the WCW superstars during the Invasion angle. Sting believed that the WWE would’ve ruined his reputation and star power had he signed with the global juggernaut after Vince McMahon bought WCW. Sting later worked for TNA for a few years, before choosing not to re-sign with the Knoxville based promotion.The rumor mill once again started rolling, and the anticipation of Sting working for the WWE once again lingered in the air after Sting was included in the new WWE 2K15 video game, and the fans believed that it was no longer a matter of if but when the Stinger would sign with the WWE. After months of anticipation, the Stinger finally showed up on WWE TV during the Survivor Series, in what was one of the biggest groundbreaking moments in the history of the company! Although he was never seen on WWE TV till the PPV, the WWE fans knew very well who he was, and what the moment epitomized.In this article, we give you five reasons why the Stinger has been so famous in spite of never working under the WWE banner.
#1 The greatest living legend to have never competed for the WWE
Till Survivor Series, there was only one legend who, at least by the North American fans, was believed to be the biggest name in the history of professional wrestling to have never signed for or competed in the WWE. After WCW folded, WWE and Sting had the option of negotiating a new deal, but the Stinger turned down the offer, as he believed the WWE would do nothing but make a mockery of his legacy. Sting gave the example of Booker T’s debut in the WWE, when Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson asked Booker who he was.
With Sting refusing to sign a contract with the WWE, the fans and wrestling pundits alike hailed him to be the greatest living legend to have never worked for the company. Obviously, all that has changed since the Survivor Series PPV, as it would’ve been a crying shame had Sting never showed up on WWE TV before he hung up his boots for good.
#2 The face of WWEs greatest rival WCW
It is no secret that in the past half a century, WWE ever truly had one competitor. After breaking the old territorial system, Vince McMahon globalized his promotion, and in the early 90s was the undeniable mogul of professional wrestling in the world. Ted Turner then gave the power to Eric Bischoff to either save WCW or run it into the ground, and Eric Bischoff gave the WWE a run for their money, as WCW defeated the WWE in the ratings war for over a year and a half!
All this while, Sting was the happy – go – lucky face who was touted to be the face of WCW, but with the likes of Flair and Hogan working for WCW, he never truly became the face of the organization. All that changed when the Stinger decided to change his gimmick, and for the WCW fans and wrestling fans around the world, he has since become what The Undertaker has been for the WWE for the past two decades, and the face of WCW.
#3 His iconic feud with Ric Flair
Back the late 70s and early 80s, Ric Flair was the man. Flair was seen as the greatest professional wrestler in the world, and was the face of NWA. He had legendary matches with some of the biggest names in professional wrestling in North America and in Japan, and was the undeniable face of the business. But he had one adversary who he couldn’t shake off, and who was handpicked by Flair himself to take over his spot and pass on the torch. That one man was none other than the Stinger.
Flair and Sting were involved in an iconic feud, and the Stinger was successful in dethroning Flair to capture his first NWA World Heavyweight championship. Since then, the two have embarked on a journey which has been a stuff of legends, culminating in a match between the two to bring down the curtains on WCW, on the final episode of the company. The two embraced post match, in what is considered to be the most emotional moment for a WCW fan.
#4 The gimmick that sold tickets
When The Undertaker first debuted during the Survivor Series, his gimmick took the wrestling world by storm. It was something that was unheard of, and to this day, is considered to be one of the greatest gimmicks in professional wrestling history.
Stinger on the other hand has done something similar, when he dropped his old generic – face gimmick, and embraced the “dark side”. Sting’s crow gimmick is considered to be a pivotal change to resurrect Sting’s career, as well as to change the fortunes of WCW, as he confronted the greatest faction to hit the business at that time, the New World Order.
#5 The man who single handedly saved WCW from NWO
With Hogan, Nash and Hall running through the entire roster in the WCW, the stage was set for one wrestler to not only rescue the company, but also etch his name in the annals of wrestling history. Such was the impact of NWO on WCW and the wrestling industry, and that one man was none other than the Stinger.
Sting was handpicked by the fans to be the face of the organization, as well as to put the Outsiders in their place. In hindsight, it was the crowning moment in WCW’s history, with the Stinger epitomizing everything great about WCW.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
