PWInsider - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

STING VS. HBK, DID WWE REALLY INTEND TO RE-LAUNCH WCW AND MORE

Hey guys, love the site and everything you do. So Sting is slated to show up at Survivor Series. That'll be an epic moment, no doubt. If the plan is for Sting to wrestle at Wrestlemania, here's an idea I have. Sting gets his moment at Survivor Series, says what he has to say, is about to leave, then HBK's music hits. He comes down, shows Sting respect, talks of how Sting was the face of WCW in the 90's and he was the face of WWE in the 90's. Other things are said, and the seed of a Sting/HBK Mania match is planted. The list of worthy opponents for Sting is limited to *in no particular order*: HBK, Taker, Cena, Vince, Austin, The Rock, and MAYBE HHH. WWE will NEVER get a moment like this again. They need to execute this as perfect as they can. With Sting/HBK, you have 50/50 odds. You don't have someone who needs "the rub". You have a true "Wrestlemania match". And I know that HBK is retired, but if he's willing to have a final match, this would be ideal. Thoughts?

In a fantasy world, that’s fine but I don’t think we’ll ever see Shawn Michaels wrestle again, and if we do, it won’t be against Sting.

If memory serves me for a few weeks/months after WWE bought WCW Shane McMahon was saying he was trying to find someone to continue airing WCW but his father was running interference. Was that a total and complete storyline or was there any chance WWE was ever going to try to continue WCW (whether it was renamed,repackaged or whatever) and try to make it a profitable show for them? I know WCW is dead and gone and frankly with how bad the show was towards the end I accepted it years ago but was just wondering. Thanks.

WWE did intend to relaunch WCW and at one point, had advertising done for a taping billed as “Shane McMahon’s WCW” in Trenton, NJ. WWE was unable to find a TV home for the series due to their TV partner at the time, Viacom not allowing them to broadcast a WWE-owned series outside the Viacom world. But, the original plan was indeed to promote WCW as a separate property.

I have no problem with Brock Lesnar or the WWE Heavyweight Championship not being around on TV or him to defend it. But I feel like the WWE is losing steam when it comes to the potential rub of him beating The Undertaker. It feels kind of like when a wrestler is pushed and then depushed. It will be harder to bring that heat/rub back than when it was white hot and fresh in people's mind. Do you guys think that since it has been "dropped" from the storyline for now that it will lose the magnitude of beating the streak?

In most cases, I would tend to agree with you, but with Brock, he brings such a unique element of danger and an aura of a sheer badass, that he immediately walks in maintaining that momentum and heat, When wrestlers leave WWE, I hear a lot about them having a 90-day non-compete built into their contract, preventing them from working with other professional wrestling companies after their release. Is there any word on such a non-compete being in Brock Lesnar's contract that prevents him from working for the UFC for a similar time period after his contract is up with the WWE?

There’s no word of Brock having such a stipulation in his contract, but what you are describing is when WWE chooses to release a talent, which allows WWE to pay them for 90 days while they sit at home. If a contract expires, that talent is free to go wherever he wants.

I read an interview with Sheamus where he mentioned the WWE Network needed more original programming. I concur, and I think some of these are simple and cheap to produce. I think they should add the following: a weekly panel show like the Legends of Wrestling, an exercise show (ideally hosted by Trish Stratus), and shoot-style interviews with legends. These would require minimal post-production. I enjoy the original programming they've produced, but it's all kind of redundant. Your thoughts?

I have written several articles suggesting the type of content WWE could add to the Network, so I am pretty much in agreement with you.

If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!

• Tweet