During the last episode of Monday Night Raw, there was a mysterious preview. It was a man walking into a cabin or shed of some sort, but you only ever saw his feet and a small portion of his jacket. At the end of the preview, the date 02/21/2011 was emblazoned across the screen. I'm sure I was not the only one that was confused by this, but what does this mysterious date mean exactly? I first noticed the question posted on the WWE Facebook page that asked what people thought was coming on the Monday Night Raw after the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. Then speculation just exploded, the two names that stuck out the most to me were Sting and Undertaker. Another name that popped up is Triple H, although I think that this is highly unlikely.
I almost immediately started looking into this and came up with some information but no definite answers.
At the first glance, I thought that this promo just REEKS of the Undertaker. During my research, the only inkling that the Dead Man was returning is a post on Wrestle Scoop's website that can be found here. The video has since been taken down and after extensive searching on the site, there is no other evidence that it is 100% the Undertaker. He is still recovering from an injury suffered months ago and it has been under speculation for a while as to when he will return, many are hoping in time for Wrestlemania. Another thing, Taker is a Smackdown brand wrestler, why would he be advertised to return on a Raw program? Unless they are doing some kind of cross promotion build up for a pay-per-view, it really does not make much sense.
Concerning Sting, people are analyzing this promo all the way down to the style of boots worn and the alleged spelling of his moniker in the smoke. If it is Sting, he cannot have signed a new deal with TNA, as I doubt McMahon would even give a second thought to anyone if they were still signed with TNA. I personally think of them as a second-rate promotion, even going so far as to call them a poor man's WCW, and we all know how that one ended. An article that appeared in the New York Daily News, claims that Sting has in fact signed a one year deal with the WWE, and that article (or at least a picture of the article) can be found here. With the recent signings of both Booker T and Kevin Nash to the WWE, one can't help but speculate that Sting is next. He is one of the most popular wrestlers ever and is the only 'great' that has not wrestled for McMahon and his promotion.
All the information that is circulating is pretty much the same as what I had theorized in my own head, and what else I gathered from talking to my Dad, who is a wrestling genius. He also mentioned that McMahon and Sting had some kind of a feud, I tired looking into is but am coming up a bit short in the facts department. Hopefully I can find some more information to share and provide some insight into this mysterious and intriguing story. It might be something as simple as they just don't like each other or it could be something more deep rooted than that.
There are so many questions that could be asked. Could his alleged contract signing mean a possible spot in the WWE Hall of Fame for 2011? How will fans feel about a man who has never had a career in the WWE being inducted along the likes of Bret Hart, Andre the Giant, and Ricky Steamboat (among countless others)? What kind of impact could this have on Wrestlemania XXVII?
Everything is speculation at this point. Who know what will happen on 02/21/2011?
I'll try to keep updating this happening as more (if any) information is made available.
**********UPDATES**********
-Wrestle Scoop has an article stating that Sting is still a free agent and has not signed with anyone
-Sting is still listed on the TNA roster page as of February 5, 2011
-I found an interview with Sting on YouTube and he states why he didn't jump ship to WWE after Vince McMahon's buyout of WCW, that can be found here
-I took a look at the 02/21/2011 video and the Starrcade '97 video with my Dad, just to see if there were in fact any similarities or any clues. The videos have the same exact dark and dreary tone to them. My Dad also noted the pace with which the person in the 02/21/2011 video walks, it is not consistent with the Undertaker. The same thing is said about the jacket and the boots shown in the 02/21/2011 promo. Also, when the numbers turn into smoke at the end, I distinctly made out an 'S', 'T', and 'G' (taking into account that some people said his name was spelt out int he smoke). My Dad also pointed out the striking similarity in the music used and Sting's entrance music. Coincidence? I don't think so.
-Sting has been removed from the TNA roster page
-According to a Wrestle Scoop source, the title for the 02/21/2011 video on WWE's Hulu video page is called 'He's Coming Back', indicating that it is for the Undertaker (that small blurb can be found here)
-The 'Undertaker' tag has reportedly been removed from the 02/21/2011 promo on WWE's website (red herring or adding fuel to the Sting rumors?)
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