The Great American Bash was back! But something was missing.
That pay per view had always been associated with WCW. Bill Goldberg was gone. Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff, and the old WCW championship belt were all on RAW. SmackDown would need something big to further the illusion of two separate wrestling promotions. Associating SmackDown with WCW trademarks was not enough. Even Vince McMahon knew that much.
That was why he signed Sting.
Much like Goldberg, Steve Borden agreed to work a limited schedule for a somewhat high amount of money. Management believed it would be an investment worth making. Not only did Sting agree to work for the SmackDown brand, immediately adding to the star power of that program, but his first feud was going to be against The Undertaker. The money made from that feud would more than likely return the financial investment with interest.
It was perfect, except for one problem.
The Undertaker was afraid.
The Undertaker had just finished off Bradshaw with a tombstone on the main event of SmackDown. The lights in the arena went out as they always did for the dead man's entrances and exits. When they came back up however, something was much different. Sting was in the ring.
"IT'S STING! IT'S STING!" cried Michael Cole.
The Stinger was decked out in his usual black and white attire. He had a large black bat in his hand. The ink on his contract hadn't even dried yet, but management wanted an immediate surprise to spike ratings and build towards the June pay per view show. If the crowd response was any indication, the surprise worked and the Bash would draw a huge buy rate.
There they were. Sting was face to face with The Undertaker. The symbols of their respective federations for years were now on the same show, in the same ring, ready to do battle for the first time ever.
And then, The Undertaker walked away.
Paul Bearer was confused. He tried calling the man from the dark side back to the ring, but Undertaker wasn't listening. The fans pictures snapped almost as much for 'Taker walking away as they did for the appearance of Sting.
"What the hell's he doing?" wondered Tazz. "Is he leaving?"
Sting pointed his bat towards The Undertaker, indicating that he would get him eventually. It was the same bat he pointed at the New World Order seven years ago. He didn't have to say he wanted to fight the dead man in words. No Words were needed.
'Taker raised the head he was hanging in shame just enough to see Sting's white face staring coldly at him on the SmackDown ovaltron. As the two men locked eyes, The Undertaker knew this was far from over. Eventually, promoters would sign a match between the two of them.
And that's what scared him the most.
That pay per view had always been associated with WCW. Bill Goldberg was gone. Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff, and the old WCW championship belt were all on RAW. SmackDown would need something big to further the illusion of two separate wrestling promotions. Associating SmackDown with WCW trademarks was not enough. Even Vince McMahon knew that much.
That was why he signed Sting.
Much like Goldberg, Steve Borden agreed to work a limited schedule for a somewhat high amount of money. Management believed it would be an investment worth making. Not only did Sting agree to work for the SmackDown brand, immediately adding to the star power of that program, but his first feud was going to be against The Undertaker. The money made from that feud would more than likely return the financial investment with interest.
It was perfect, except for one problem.
The Undertaker was afraid.
The Undertaker had just finished off Bradshaw with a tombstone on the main event of SmackDown. The lights in the arena went out as they always did for the dead man's entrances and exits. When they came back up however, something was much different. Sting was in the ring.
"IT'S STING! IT'S STING!" cried Michael Cole.
The Stinger was decked out in his usual black and white attire. He had a large black bat in his hand. The ink on his contract hadn't even dried yet, but management wanted an immediate surprise to spike ratings and build towards the June pay per view show. If the crowd response was any indication, the surprise worked and the Bash would draw a huge buy rate.
There they were. Sting was face to face with The Undertaker. The symbols of their respective federations for years were now on the same show, in the same ring, ready to do battle for the first time ever.
And then, The Undertaker walked away.
Paul Bearer was confused. He tried calling the man from the dark side back to the ring, but Undertaker wasn't listening. The fans pictures snapped almost as much for 'Taker walking away as they did for the appearance of Sting.
"What the hell's he doing?" wondered Tazz. "Is he leaving?"
Sting pointed his bat towards The Undertaker, indicating that he would get him eventually. It was the same bat he pointed at the New World Order seven years ago. He didn't have to say he wanted to fight the dead man in words. No Words were needed.
'Taker raised the head he was hanging in shame just enough to see Sting's white face staring coldly at him on the SmackDown ovaltron. As the two men locked eyes, The Undertaker knew this was far from over. Eventually, promoters would sign a match between the two of them.
And that's what scared him the most.