Gimmick Some (Wrestlemania) Lovin': Sting is Back

The Build

Without saying a word, Sting cuts a more coherent promo than Helmsley's first WrestleMania opponent, The Ultimate Warrior, ever could

Team Authority's Survivor Series loss stipulated that Triple H and his wife, Stephanie McMahon, would be removed from power in the company, which lasted until Rollins threatened retired (and near-fatally injured) Hall of Famer Edge with a Curb Stomp Blackout to a pile of bricks unless John Cena agreed to reinstate the couple as heads of WWE.

Upon their return, Triple H and Stephanie began an epic quest for revenge on the men who had dared to oppose them at Survivor Series, while continually calling out the man who ultimately attacked Helmsley and laid bare the final pinfall, Sting.

In a promo filled with Sting doppelgängers, blackouts, and implications of supernatural abilities on the Stinger's part, Triple H demanded a face-to-face confrontation at WWE's February schedule-filling live event, Fastlane.

When WWE wants to protect someone's image, they know exactly how to do it. Want to keep the Sting mystique intact? Easy: silence, baseball bats, and spooky imagery!

The confrontation would focus on Helmsley's resentment over Survivor Series, as well as his frustration that the Icon of World Championship Wrestling would wait 14 years to insert himself into WWE operations. A brief brawl ensued before the fan in that picture got exactly what they wanted: sledgehammers and baseball bats in a standoff duel.

Sting would use his bat to both to attack The Game and to perform Ronda Rousey's signature manoeuvre (pointing at the Wrestlemania sign), and a once-in-a-lifetime match (which was more once-in-a-lifetime than we realized at the time) was made official.