Sting did some promo events for the game and was pretty vocal about wanting a match with either Taker or HHH but from the sounds of it he has only signed a deal for them to use his likeness in media like the game, toys and DVDs etc.

Maybe he is tired of wrestling in a t-shirt and is getting into shape.

I really remain skeptical about this Reigns thing happening at Mania. I realize that he's already been sort of propped up to the realm of main event status, but I seriously can't visualize him having his crowning WM moment as soon as this coming April.

Yeah, but the "Bastista winning the rumble" idea sounded ridiculous too, and we know how that turned out.

Lame. Pretty sure he has a couple of matches left in him, especially if he gets on the DDP yoga like Goldust.

In my opinion it is too soon for Reigns.

He has future star power for sure, but if they push him too soon he will not last as the crowd will turn on him.

Better off giving Austin 2.0 (Ambrose) a run.

I still think Rollins could be the next HBK if things go right.

Granted. I still draw a dividing line between that and this just because my biggest impediment toward seeing them give Reigns that match is that they haven't shown a willingness to really pull the trigger on Reigns as the guy yet, whereas Batista had at least held that spot as the champion in the past. But I do take your point.

If Lesnar is going out, there's really nobody else who needs and would benefit more from beating him than Cena. I don't think anybody really believes he's a top guy yet. A 2nd victory over Lesnar would solidify it.

The WWE simply built up Lesnar too strong kayfabe-wise such that it doesn't make sense for him to lose the title to anyone at the moment. I would be legit pissed if he lost the strap to Reigns to Mania after coming back for only a couple of months. If Reigns didn't get injured and they actually built him up over that timespan, it would be a different story.

I'm sure it's always been this way to an extent, but it feels like especially recently the WWE fans are really resistant to the company trying to make the stars for them. I think that was a big part of why Daniel Bryan got big -- he was perceived as the guy WWE didn't want you to cheer for over Cena or whoever, and fans felt like they were getting shut out. If they keep trying to force Reigns on the audience, I think the result could be ugly.

Gloriously?

The audience is more or less defiant at certain times and places. The Bryan build was one of the best things WWE has done in a long time; a new twist on the underdog face where not only is he the underdog in the match but an underdog facing an uphill battle against the company.

I do agree that it could get ugly with Reigns. Part of the issue also is that Reigns has to do things he isn't that great at, and would have to do it more at a top position. A top face in WWE has to wrestle many long matches on TV and engage in these long live discussion segments. If Reigns mostly wrestled squashes and didn't talk much if at all, less of the audience would have an instant gag reaction (although eventually they would get bored of him like they do with most wrestlers).

From Smackdown Spoilers

Man, that's terrible. I realize that it could be the whole "kayfabe firings that last all of a week" thing, but more likely it just means Team Cena goes over and we get some inferior replacement authority taking over for HHH and Steph.

Team Authority wins, Team Cena gets fired, Vince reinstates them to start his feud with The Authority and the build to WM.

Probably going to be Cena wins lol though.

This does sound possible.

On further reflection I guess I don't think this necessarily makes the result that obvious since it feels like they're leveling.

I think Team Cean winning was so obvious that I can't get too worked up about that, but it's not smart.

To me the drama is just who they have be the final guy. Could be a huge moment for Ziggler (or ugh, Ryback) and will be awful if it's Cena.

We could also get the glorious return of people power

That seems unlikely. Laurinaitis didn't seem to want to be an on-screen character anymore, and only ever became one because CM Punk called him out in his worked shoot and they ran with it for a bit.

Hopefully the "doesn't want to be an on-screen character anymore" thing doesn't apply to HHH and Steph now too. I mean I realize they'll come around for sporadic appearances like Vince does, but the product really takes a hit if they're not a really regular part of the programming.

I know, just a pipe dream of mine. I miss Big Johnny

Big Johnny was certainly entertaining, but was far worse as an authority figure than HHH/Steph. He was probably a slightly funnier troll but was way more difficult to take seriously.

There's just no way they take HHH and Stephanie off TV right now when they have so much of their top talent on the shelf.

I'd guess what we might get is HHH back as a worker, maybe in a feud with Randy?

I've loved Steph for most of the year, but recently she's been pretty meh (much more the material than her), but I think it might be good for her character to take some time away.

Smackdown Spoilers



I really think they missed an opportunity (dunno if it was possible 'cause he's doing a movie) to have Randy show up and RKO some fools to end RAW.