Welcome to the WWE, Sting – A Year End Reflection

For the last few months, WWE PPVs have seemed to be very repetitive. The feud not only gets pushed back to the next PPV event, but even matches on RAW and SmackDown seemed to constantly repeat myself. While I was excited for some matches at this year’s Survivor Series PPV event, like Dean Ambrose and Bray Wyatt’s intense yet exciting feud and to witness the Divas match to see the state of AJ Lee amidst rumors that she was planning on leaving, I was beyond happy to be greeted with perhaps one of the biggest surprises in recent history in the WWE.

When I heard the music, I wasn’t sure who’s it was. Was it a new NXT Superstar debuting on the main roster? A new character that will be introduced to the public for the first time tonight? As soon as the camera panned to the Titantron I gasped, my heart racing. Was this it? Is he finally here? I recognized that black and white paint anywhere. He walked out. It took a minute for the crowd to register what was happening before their eyes and before we knew it, it was true. Sting had made his WWE debut.

The pop from the crowd was insane. The Twitter and Tumblr internet wrestling communities exploded with words in all capital letters, expletives, and a lot of exclamation marks. The rumors of Sting’s arrival have been running rampant ever since he was included in the WWE 2K15 video game and made WWE appearances at such events as the San Diego Comic-Con. Some speculated he would debut at Summerslam (nope), Night of Champions (nada) or Hell In A Cell (it didn’t happen). Whenever I would hear more rumors about, “Sting’s coming back tonight!” I would blow it off like the little boy who cried wolf. However, that element of surprise and honestly not knowing when he was to debut, especially in the era of spoilers and rumors, made his debut that more magnificent. The stare down in the ring with Triple H, who was explicitly not happy to see him. The first time seeing the Scorpion death drop in a WWE ring. Like when The Rock returned announced and the crowd went wild, Sting coming to the WWE for the first time (the former WCW and TNA superstar had long been reluctant to sign with the WWE), can easily be listed as one of the best surprises and greatest moments in recent WWE memory. Now, what’s next for Sting? Was it a one-time thing? Will he have a match with Triple H at WrestleMania 31? The only thing I can say is that my interest is definitely sparked and I, along with many others, am beyond excited for what’s to come.

-Celine