"Sting is not an Icon"

[swarm]

Road Warrior Animal made a comment on his radio show 100.3 KFAN in Minneapolis, Minnesota, that Sting isn't an “icon” until he works in WWE. Animal said:

"Sting is not in the same league as guys like Triple H, Stone Cold, The Rock. Sting will never be considered a legend or icon until he lets his pride go and joins WWE. He needs to bury his personal issues and just get into the WWE. Sting has to come over to the WWE to be that guy, it's a bigger stage. Impact is one thing, the WWE is a way bigger thing."
______________________________________________________

Pretty reliable source here. A true legend, icon and friends with Sting. So he's being honest. I wholeheartedly agree. Have been saying this for years. Sting became an even bigger embarrassment to himself and his fans when he ultimately decided not to fight Taker at Mania last year (the article is out there where he says they were super close on a deal). Karma bit him in the ass when he found himself in the ring with a crazed drug addict in full blown zombie mode.

So what do you think? Is Animal right or is he wrong?

WCW is dead...TNA is the walking dead...millions of wrestling fans probably think Sting retired 10 years ago. Millions more probably never even heard of him. Icon? No way. He never even faced the best. Austin, Rock, Hogan, HBK, HHH, Taker etc...sorry.. Can't be an Icon if you never wrestle other icons. Just Ric Flair by himself only goes so far.

[Bazzy]

I dont ever think Sting will go to the WWE .

[pikemojo]

Sting did wrestle Hogan & a younger Steve Austin.

Ric Flair, Kurt Angle, Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, DDP, Big Show, Scott Steiner, Lex Luger, Kevin Nash, The Great Muta, Vader, Goldberg.

Was HBK any less of an icon prior to wrestling Hogan or Ric Flair. No.

I would certainly rank Sting below HBK, HHH, Rock & Austin but that doesn't mean he isn't an icon of the sport. I certainly wouldn't mind him in WWE but I think he knows that if he went to WWE he would end up losing to Undertaker, HHH, Cena and would come out looking like he was never fit for the main event slots that he had. It is especially unimportant now that he is older. I don't see a run in WWE bolstering his legacy much other than to simply say he was in WWE. Obviously wrestling in TNA isn't bolstering his legacy either though.

Maybe he would be more open to wrestling for WWE now that they have gone to a more family friendly format.

[Phoenix]

You're forgetting something. hogan and Flair aren't really Shawn's peer's. They're both much older. We're talking about Sting facing people of his generation. It goes beyond facing wrestler's too, because HHH has faced everybody, and i don't think i'd consider him and Icon.
First problem is that nickname is already taken...since 1997.
Sting isn't an Icon. I've heard of a lot of young wrestler's in the past decade come out and say hogan or Flair inspired them or Steamboat, and a lot or them want to perform like HBK.
To be an ICON you have to be the best in the biz as a performer at one time...either on the mic or the mat. Sting was never that. He was a big star, but he was never the biggest.

[Sickman]

I don't see "family friendly" as a reason Sting did not go to WWE. It's been family friendly-ish for a few years now and he passed up an op to go. I think at this point it would be best for him to retire and get in the WWE HOF at some point.

As far as Icon status, I agree with Phoenix. While a big star; he was never THE star. Always over shadowed by Flair, Steamboat, The Horsemen, Lugar, Rhodes, Vader, Muta, ect.

Edit: I would also say that based on that, Animal is wrong. Even going to The E would not make Sting an Icon.

[pikemojo]

There is obviously differing opinions on what ICON means. I would say that someone could be an icon without being the #1 guy in the company. Especially considering that Sting was often #2 and is a multiple time WCW Champion and was champion at a time when WCW was the #1 company.

It could be cool to see Sting in WWE but it is extremely unlikely that he would go into WWE and win the championship which would be about the only thing that he could do that would make a huge difference in his legacy. Who knows though, maybe they would bring HBK back for one match with him and give him a match with Taker & HHH etc...

[Big Bri]

Funny you mentioned this, as I just watched the Road Warriors DVD for the first time in a few years.

I’m not a fan of Animal. He comes off as a know-it-all.

Sting has said time and time again the reason he didn’t join WWE is because he didn’t want to get buried by WWE-homegrown people (like they buried Booker T when he first showed up during the Invasion angle). I can’t blame him for feeling that way. I’d protect myself too.

I think he looks better by NOT going to WWE, especially at this point in the game. I wish he would’ve done it in his prime, but now I think it would be kind of sad, like he sold out to make a quick buck at the end of the road.

How Sting should end his career is by spitting in Jeff Hardy’s face, then peeing on a TNA banner in the center of the ring, letting out a final “howl” and walking out. THAT would be ICONic!

[Justin Case]

well, I was really curious to know just what does the word "icon" actually mean by definition?!

So I looked it up:

An icon is a graphic representation of something, a person or thing that is symbolic or is a noted figure. (noun)

Having that information, and believe me, there are many different definitions associated to this word. This one seems to fit what we're talking about here?!

Sting I believe is a very notable character in the wrestling world. He's well known by just about every wrestling fan who watched wrestling in the 1980's. So he is arguably an icon just for the amount of service and time spent in the business.

Now not having faced others who are received as "icons" in the industry, he hasn't faced a lot of the bigger names in the industry in say the past 10-15 years, like Triple H, Undertaker, Michaels, etc. He has with the likes of Hogan, Bret Hart, Ric Flair, Terry Funk, etc...

In my opinion, and it's just that, he's an icon, but perhaps on different level. Not the highest level one can achieve, but he's a recognizable name who has brought wrestling fans around the world some very entertaining moments (ok, maybe not lately in TNA, but touche).

I think Animal wants Sting to be one that is held in the highest level and on his radio program expresses what he'd like to see happen for Sting so he does achieve that! He's been "brothers in paint" with Sting for years and I know he considers him a friend. Friends look out for each other, which I believe that's all Animal is trying to do.

Swarm could be right, with Sting not taking an opportunity to face another wrestler in that category, that could be just enough to keep Sting from ever being consider one of the All Time Greats...Of all Time! Pride is a deadly sin, but open minds and communication are divine!

[Phoenix]

"he's well known by just about every wrestling fan'

well, so is the Junkyard Dog. Or Tito Santana or Koko B. Ware.
It's like saying Maroon 5 are Icon's like the Beatle's because people know about them. Or Justin Bieber is well known and has some hit's (i guess?) so he's an Icon like Elvis Presley.
Or the Giants have won 2 Super Bowls, so they're like the Steeler's were in the 70s.

[Sinclair Promotions]

I think that Sting will always be known as the biggest name in wrestling to never work for the WWE. If WCW never folded we probably wouldn't even be having this debate (well we may, but it would be in a slightly different light).

As for Sting being an Icon. I personally feel that title gets tossed around way to much in this business. In my eyes the only true Icon's are the guys who have had great crossover success.(Hogan/Rock/Austin [to a lesser extent]). Sting & Flair have never really had that crossover success. Ask most non-wrestling fans who Sting & Flair are and they have no clue. Ask them about Hogan/Rock/Austin and most can at least identify them.