3 -- STING vs. TRIPLE H -- The Monday Night War
After all the elaborate introductions, it was time for the bell and a big staredown. Hunter paused to look around the stadium while Sting kept his eyes locked on Hunter. Lock-up and it's on. Sting ran over Hunter with a shoulder tackle, then he pounded his chest and howled at Hunter. Howls for the crowd. Hunter delivered a shoulder tackle, but Sting came back with a hip toss and big dropkick, stunning Hunter. Loud "You Still Got It" chant from the crowd.
Reset and another mid-ring lock-up. Sting drove Hunter to the corner, but Hunter landed a blow to the face. Hunter followed with more offense, then landed a kneelift, but Sting no-sold. Howl. Pound the chest. Hunter was stunned. Sting dropped Hunter and teased the Scorpion Deathlock, but Hunter slithered out of the ring to get a breather. Hunter continued to sell being surprised by Sting matching and bettering him early on.
Hunter returned to the ring at 4:40 as Sting continued to lock eyes. Another lock-up. Hunter drove Sting to the corner, but Sting reversed a whip and sent Hunter flying over the top rope to the floor. Cole said it might be too early to say this, but Sting has been pretty dominant. Sting followed to the outside, but made a mistake going for the Stinger Splash, as Hunter moved and Sting crashed into the guardrail. Hunter then chucked Sting into the ring steps.
Back in the ring, Hunter worked over Sting as the crowd continued to buzz about the match thus far. Hunter stood up and smiled as JBL continued the narrative of WCW being below WWE. Hunter then whipped Sting into the corner turnbuckle and Sting fell down at Hunter's feet. Hunter crotch-chopped the crowd, then dropped a knee for a two count. Hunter followed with a reverse chinlock as the camera focused on a giant welt running down the back of Hunter's left leg. Sting powered out of the hold, then managed to get Hunter in the Scorpion Deathlock.
Suddenly, DX's music played. Out came Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, and Sean Waltman. Sting cleared them from the ring, but Triple H got up and teased the Pedigree, only to have Sting back body drop him over the top rope to the floor. Sting recovered, climbed to the top turnbuckle, and big-splashed all four men down on the floor. Sting stood to his feet as the crowd saluted him.
Sting rolled Hunter back into the ring, but Gunn went after him. Sting then turned around and took a Pedigree from Hunter. Hunter covered, but Sting kicked out of the Pedigree, wowing the crowd. "Let's Go Sting" chant as Hunter slid out of the ring and retrieved a sledgehammer. Suddenly, the NWO theme music played. Out came Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall in NWO t-shirts. Are they all going to take out Sting? DX flipped out ringside as Hogan, Hall, and Nash slowly made their way down to ringside. JBL played Dusty Rhodes wondering what side the NWO is on.
Suddenly, NWO and DX came to blows on the entrance ramp. Hogan and Nash stood tall, then Sting grabbed Hunter from behind and delivered a Scorpion Death Drop. Sting covered, but Hunter kicked out. Another big crowd reaction. Sting then put Hunter in the Scorpion Deathlock as the NWO watched ringside. Hunter tried to crawl toward the sledgehammer, but Hogan pulled it away. JBL yelled about Hogan making his name here. Suddenly, Waltman posted Hogan, so Nash took out Waltman. A big brawl broke out ringside. Meanwhile, Sting still had Hunter in the Scorpion. The focus went back to the move as Sting sat down on Hunter's back. But, Hunter powered to his stomach and reached the bottom rope for a break.
Sting went for the Scorpion Deathlock again, but Shawn Michaels was suddenly in the ring sporting a DX t-shirt. Michaels superkicked Sting for the real WCW vs. WWE dream match that never happened, then stood over Sting as the crowd booed. HBK crotch-chopped the crowd, then Hunter draped an arm over Sting, who rolled a shoulder to escape the pin. The crowd roared again. Michaels could not believe it was not the finish.
Another situation broke out ringside with Hunter receiving the sledgehammer from DX. Hunter stalked Sting, but Hall pulled out the baseball bat and handed it to Sting, who sold being stunned by the NWO helping him. Sting and Hunter circled each other with weapons in-hand, then Sting jabbed Hunter in the gut with his bat. That giant bruise on Hunter's leg is turning colors. Sting suddenly broke Hunter's sledgehammer in half, sending Hunter begging off. Sting delivered right hands and kicks in the corner. Big strikes, big slows. Big moment. Sting pounded his chest, then went for the Stinger Splash and connected. Hunter slumped down to the mat, then Sting stalked him for another one. But, Hunter bashed him with the head of the sledgehammer. Hunter covered, and it was good for the pin and the win.
WINNER: Hunter at 18:36. Definitely exceeded expectations. A lot happened with the sudden shift pre-match to no DQs, but the overall match story fit one aspect of the main build-up centered on WWE vs. WCW nostalgia. There wasn't much about Sting looking to conquer Hunter and his power-abusing ways in current storylines, plus Sting being aided by the NWO force that he tried to conquer in WCW seemed a bit counter to the justice-seeking story. There was so much nostalgia putting a bow on the Monday Night War, though, that it all worked. Plus, Sting looked good based on how the match was laid out to keep Sting strong in defeat and earn Hunter (WWE)'s respect. Was this Hunter turning babyface for storylines going forward, especially with Stephanie not present? Hard to tell until the follow-up on Raw since the present vs. past story connections mixed. (***1/2)
Last edited by PixieP; 2015-03-29 11:45 PM.
