Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 128: DDP vs. Sting (Nitro 4/26/99)

Sting is still really over as a Crow-like babyface, and DDP is coming off a good heel turn with an even better heel persona. Plus, he’s got the big gold belt. Let’s hope Sting feels like working hard and selling, because his whims make matches very good or only decent.

One of the under-rated DDP attributes is how he played the opening minute or two. He was great with the confrontations, especially as a heel, and going back and forth before losing and bailing to the outside. He had a good sense of pacing that he deserves some credit for. Sting ends up beating Page “pillar-to-post” for a minute and they tease the Scorpion Death Lock (Sting finisher submission). DDP goes on offense and the crowd really reacts to Sting. Page is good at handling it, but Sting won’t sell for much. Sting during this era tried to be to much like Goldberg for my liking, and it’s fine if he’s gonna do this in a Flair match (maybe fine is even to definite), but I’m not a fan of the face is so above the heel stories, even if the crowds stay with it.

Sting beats DDP down the aisle way, and I’m reminded that this walk around brawl style was very in vogue at the time. Unfortunately I don’t feel quite the intensity as when Steve Austin, Bret Hart, or the Rock did it. Sting finally sells a desperation low blow and DDP soaks up the heat as he goes on offense. I really like this section, and not because it is nearly action packed, but because it’s a necessary and good part of the story. And of course Sting’s comebacks get the fans going. Great crowd for these guys. Page cuts him off well. The story is being told well. I like it, even if I’m not a fan of Sting’s selling.

I should mention that Toney S. and Mike Tenay do a pretty good announcing job in this one. Nothing over the top, and some good detail in painting the picture. Sting gets a comeback and near fall that really works, and DDP is in the home stretch as he works Sting over on the outside. Both men throughout the match have trouble getting on the same page at times, so don’t think this will be the greatest match you’ll ever see, but there is nothing that sticks out as awful either.

There’s a dramatic ten count on both, and you can tell they’re nearly spent. This is a typically good effort from DDP, but Sting did work hard too. They run through a bunch of near falls, which get over to varying degrees. There’s a weird pile driver in there for a near fall where Page decides to let go early and nearly gets his neck smashed. A great reversals sequence into a tombstone pile driver, and DDP AGAIN kicks out. Now it’s exciting, but a bit silly, because when Sting does his kick outs he barely tries. Sting blocks two Diamond Cutters and perfectly hits a Scorpion Death Drop for the win in twenty minutes. A new champ in Fargo, ND of all places. Last stretch really helped this match out, but DDP’s heel stuff in the middle is what made this stand out. 3 ½ and 7.2/10.