Before we start the debate i would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sting on his Hall Of Fame Induction. I honestly never believed the day would ever come, as a fan i am over the moon but also upset due to the realization Sting has wrestled his final match.
Not only will Sting be entering the Hall Of Fame class of 2016, he will also be the Headline Act. A remarkable achievement by a remarkable man and also, a bold move by Vince McMahon considering The Stinger spent the best part of his career and built his own legacy at the “enemy” World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Congrats to Sting for this achievement.
Now, as most of you know, Sting and The Undertaker have had incredible careers, and quite polarizing depending on how you look at it. These two men are in my opinion are the best dark character creations of all time, hell, these two men are the best character creations period! Often compared to each other by fans of WCW and WWE.
Two of the biggest names in wrestling’s history and both are immensely respected by their peers, fans and many non-fans around the world. Each deserving of that respect.
Many fans saw Sting vs The Undertaker as a once in a lifetime match-up “The Big One” “The Ultimate Dream Match”
Unfortunately it was never meant to be, as i’m assuming, The Icon’s H.O.F induction spells the end of his legendary career, an end of an era’ if you will. In any case, i’d have liked to have seen the match happen decades ago, not in the year 2015/16 as both men are coming to the end of their careers. Would it have been fitting for both men to to end both careers at the same time on the grandest stage of them all? Maybe, but would the match have been any good? I guess we’ll never know.
Today i’d like to relive the past, compare these two legends career. For example,
Who had the best feuds?
Who won the most titles?
And finally, Who had the best career?
Let’s compare each wrestlers accolades first.
The Undertaker’s Wrestling Career Achievements:
Pro Wrestling Illustrated Feud of the Year (1991) vs. The Ultimate Warrior
Match of the Year (1998) vs. Mankind in a Hell in a Cell match at King of the Ring
Match of the Year (2009) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV
Match of the Year (2010) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI
Match of the Year (2012) vs. Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania XXVIII
Ranked #2 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2002
Ranked #21 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the “PWI Years” in 2003
United States Wrestling Association USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
World Class Wrestling Association WCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment/WWE WCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kane
World Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
WWF/E Championship (4 times)
WWF Hardcore Championship (1 time)
WWF Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Stone Cold Steve Austin (1), Big Show (2), The Rock (1) and Kane (2)
Royal Rumble (2007)
Slammy Awards (12 times) Best Entrance Music (1997)
Best Tattoo (1997)
Match of the Year (2009, 2010, 2012, 2015) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV, vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI, vs Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania XXVIII and vs. Brock Lesnar at Hell in a Cell
Moment of the Year (2010) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI
Most Intimidating (1994)
OMG Moment of the Year (2011) Kicking out of Triple H’s Tombstone Piledriver at WrestleMania XXVII
Rivalry of the Year (2015) vs. Brock Lesnar
Star of the Highest Magnitude (1997)
WWF’s Greatest Hit (1996) Sucking Diesel into the abyss at WrestleMania XII
Wrestling Observer Newsletter 5 Star Match (1997) vs. Shawn Michaels in a Hell in a Cell match at Badd Blood
Best Gimmick (1990–1994)
Best Heel (1991)
Feud of the Year (2007) vs. Batista
Match of the Year (2009) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV
Match of the Year (2010) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXVI
Worst Feud of the Year (1993) vs. Giant González
Worst Worked Match of the Year (2001) with Kane vs. Kronik at Unforgiven
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2004)
Sting’s Wrestling Career Achievements:
NWA World Television Championship (1 time)
NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
WCW International World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
WCW World Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
WCW World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Lex Luger (1), The Giant (1), and Kevin Nash (1)
Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup (1988) – with Lex Luger
Iron Man Tournament (1989)
Battlebowl Battle Royal (1991)
King of Cable Tournament (1992)
European Cup (1994, 2000)
Third WCW Triple Crown Champion
Pro Wrestling Illustrated Comeback of the Year (2006, 2011, 2014)
Match of the Year (1991) with Lex Luger vs. the Steiner Brothers at SuperBrawl
Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1988)
Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1990)
Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1991, 1992, 1994, 1997)
Wrestler of the Year (1990)
Ranked #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992
Ranked #15 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the “PWI Years” in 2003
Ranked #52 of the top 100 tag teams of the “PWI Years” with Lex Luger in 2003
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
TNA World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
TNA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Kurt Angle
Inspirational Superstar of the Year (2007)
TNA Match of the Year (2007) vs. Kurt Angle at Bound for Glory, October 14, 2007
TNA Match of the Year (2009) vs. A.J. Styles at Bound for Glory, October 18, 2009
TNA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)
Universal Wrestling Federation UWF World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Eddie Gilbert (2) and Rick Steiner (1)
World Wrestling All-Stars WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Match of the Year (1988) vs. Ric Flair at Clash of the Champions
Most Charismatic (1988, 1992)
Most Improved (1988)
5 Star Match (1991) with Brian Pillman, Rick Steiner, and Scott Steiner vs. Ric Flair, Larry Zbyszko, Barry Windham, and Sid Vicious (February 24, WarGames match, WrestleWar)
5 Star Match (1992) with Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham, and Dustin Rhodes vs. Arn Anderson, Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Bobby Eaton, and Larry Zbyszko (May 17, WarGames match, WrestleWar)
Best Babyface (1992)
As you see, these two are a testament to wrestling. The longevity of each of their respective careers stand out and it’s hard not to compare the two.
Possibly the greatest careers in wrestling folklore, both staying at the top of the game throughout. When times changed, so did they, when the company was on their backs, these two men helped pick up the pieces, when The future came calling, they both let them in with open arms putting so many bright stars “over” a dying trait in this day and age and this is why they are both so respected. True corner-stones to both companies.
If you compare them until 2001, i’d probably say Sting had the most stellar career because up to 96 Taker was paired against the giant men like King Kong Bundy, and Giant Gonzales ect. Where as Sting was making a big noise in WCW by defeating greats such as Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and The Macho Man Randy Savage. He then returned as the face of WCW in 97. “The Crow Sting” as fans called him moved on to take out the N.W.O by himself. After the NWO invasion of WCW Sting’s character would take a darker more enigmatic turn. With all of the accusations of betrayal being hurled at Sting by even his closest friends. Upon his return, he came back as a character akin to Eric Draven from “The Crow.” He wore all black, with a black trenchcoat and painted his face in a similar fashion to the aforementioned character. After The Stinger declined the nWo’s offer to join for revenge on WCW he would not speak on mic at all for the following year.
The Undertaker’s early career was good at times but it really took off after that match with Mankind where he literally threw him off the top of a 20ft cell down to the concrete floor. This elevated his career to another height and followed up by his feuds with Bret, Shawn, Austin and his brother Kane just to name a few. It was in 1999 the ultimately spawned the most frightening and phenomenal Undertaker character to date. This was when he became the leader of the Ministry of Darkness, who would go on to do sick things and torture souls.
Although The Phenoms career is on it’s final journey, not many more accolades will be added to his list as many fans finally accepted Taker’s career had come to it’s end after the streak was broken. Many were left devastated after the huge WrestleMania 30 loss to The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar.
It was shocking, and i had the exact same reaction as everyone else at the arena and people watching back home, it was like the world has stopped turning for a good five minutes, hands on head and still trying to sink in what i had just witnessed.
Looking back now it is easy to see why The Undertaker accepted the loss of the streak. He did it for the business he loved, whoever defeats Lesnar at any point will be made into a legitimate star and this is down to one man, and this time it’s not Paul Heyman, it’s “The Phenom” The Undertaker.
Mad respect for The Phenom, but all in all it was a tell-tale sign that Takers (now-part-time-) career was at it’s end.
After Taker’s defeat, rumors were rife that The Man They Call Sting was set to finally make his long overdue debut inside a WWE ring albeit 15 years too late.
Again fans were dreaming for an Undertaker vs Sting match feud or a tag-team combination at least, and again WWE denied the fans what they wanted.
In my opinion it was probably for the best interest in all as both men could not “hang” like they used too. It would not live up to the expectations.
Sting’s career in WWE was cut short after suffering a neck injury during a match with WWE Champion Seth Rollins. I am assuming the injury was so severe that Sting has been advised to call it a day and decided to accept an Hall Of Fame induction from the WWE.
So, with all that being said, i’m asking true wrestling fans and leaving biased WWE/WCW opinions aside, who do you guy’s think had the better career?
