Triple H vs. Sting: 2015’s Version of “Icon vs. Icon”?

At WrestleMania 31 in Santa Clara, the world will be treated to another version of an “Icon vs. Icon” showdown. Can Triple H vs. Sting live up to the hype of a match that’s similar of a classic one-on-one thriller from 13 years ago?

Triple H and Sting are two of the biggest stars in the last 30 years in the wrestling business. Two separate career paths, but two similar impacts in their respective companies.

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The Game has done it all and won it all in the WWE. His resume is almost second-to-none, including a King of the Ring Tournament victory in 1997, a Royal Rumble victory in 2002, eight WWE Championship title reigns and the first World Heavyweight Champion.

Sting was WCW personified. A six-time WCW Champion and a three-time WCW World Tag Team title holder, The Stinger’s loyal to NWA/WCW can never be questioned.

One of the most iconic moments in wrestling history was the final match in WCW’s illustrious history. On March 26, 2001, Sting and Ric Flair closed WCW’s doors the right way in one final meeting.

After Vince McMahon purchased WCW, Sting avoided walking through the curtain in a WWE arena. During Sting‘s absence from the ring, Triple H‘s ascendance to the top of World Wrestling Entertainment was just getting started.

The Game dominated the wrestling scene and became an easy choice as a first-ballot WWE Hall of Famer someday. Sting found success in TNA with five separate world title wins, but the question always remained: What would Sting‘s impact be in the WWE? In 23 days, we’ll find out.

The Game and The Franchise will go one-on-one for the first time ever in a match that most thought that we would never see.

But wait, haven’t we seen this showdown before?

Take a ride with me into WWE lore to WrestleMania X8 from the legendary SkyDome in Toronto. The biggest match of the evening wasn’t Triple H‘s title match with Chris Jericho; the biggest showdown of the night was the return of Hollywood Hulk Hogan to WrestleMania.

Who was worthy enough to take on The Hulkster one-on-one on the Grandest Stage? None other than The People’s Champion, The Rock.

Even when The Great One dabbled into Hollywood to begin his film career, nobody was bigger than The Rock. Hogan returned home to the WWE, but in the legendary black and white of the New World Order.

Rock stepped to the plate and threw down the gauntlet of giving the world a match that was unprecedented. The Great One. The Immortal One. WrestleMania X8.

The scene was electric on March 17, 2002. Two of the biggest names in wrestling history went one-on-one in a 16-minute classic, with Rock emerging victorious after keeping Hogan down for a three-count with a People’s Elbow.

Fans stood and applauded the two combatants after a thrilling match-up that had every twist and turn in the book from not just the match, but the SkyDome crowd itself.

Fast-forward to March 29, 2015 and we’re being treated to a sequel of a monumental “Icon vs. Icon” thriller at WrestleMania 31.

Triple H vs. Sting is identical to the legendary Rock/Hogan meeting. One of the greatest superstars in WWE history against an icon who transcended wrestling in World Championship Wrestling in a match that no one ever saw coming.

Sure, did the Internet marks hope and pray for a Sting/Undertaker showdown at WrestleMania someday? Of course. Hell, I was one of those marks that grew up dreaming about that match.

But, Triple H vs. Sting has the potential to be just as good as Rock/Hogan I from SkyDome. Despite being “retired” from in-ring action, Triple H looked fantastic in the opening match against Daniel Bryan to open WrestleMania XXX in New Orleans last year. Sting appears to be in shape and ready for battle.

The build for Triple H vs. Sting has been awesome, including a hard-hitting face-to-face segment last month at WWE Fastlane.

There are matches that come along in this business that we get excited for more than others. Even with Triple H‘s move to the corporate world, this match could bring down the house at Levi’s Stadium, just like Rock and Hogan did in Toronto 13 years ago.

Next: Bill DeMott Steps Down as Head WWE NXT Trainer

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