Sting Debut Was a Perfect Example of WWE's Business Acumen

The Internet is seemingly full of people determined to criticise Vince McMahon for his running of the WWE—a business that has sat at the top of professional wrestling for decades.

On Sunday, however, they were forced to eat their words as WWE pulled the trigger on one of their most recognisable talent acquisitions in the shape of WCW legend Sting.

He debuted during the main event of Survivor Series, delivering his signature Scorpion Death Drop to Triple H and securing the victory for Team Cena.

Many fans would've been pleased with Sting's debut, regardless of timing. Those who saw Sting tearing up WCW in the 1990s had been waiting for him to appear in a WWE ring ever since Vince McMahon acquired his rival promotion in 2001.

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The genius of the booking, though, was in how Sting was introduced to the audience that wasn't aware of his past achievements.

WWE had done a great job of putting over the significance of the Survivor Series main event. It was shown to be a match of extraordinary importance. As such, the person responsible for the finish would instantly receive an enormous rub as a result of the match's impact.

Immediately before Sting's arrival, Team Authority had the match in the bag. As a result of Triple H's interference, Seth Rollins was a second away from pinning Dolph Ziggler when the lights went out and a familiar face appeared on the screens.

Triple H's expression immediately told a story. This man wasn't supposed to be here. Whether those watching knew about Sting or not, they knew instantly that he was a big deal.

This was a man who could spook out Triple H merely by standing and looking at him. The stress and confusion of the company's COO was palpable, even before he had been driven to the mat by the wrestling legend.

In his first action as a WWE Superstar, Sting hammered the final nail into the coffin of The Authority and changed the landscape of the company.

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To top it all off, thanks to some very shrewd business from the WWE, this titanic moment in wrestling history occurred live and completely free of charge on the WWE Network.

At a time when subscription figures are disappointing, this is exactly the kick in the rear end that the network needed. More eyes would have been on the product than they have been for months, creating the perfect opening for Sting.

His arrival may entice lapsed fans to purchase the WWE Network. They will want to know where the Sting story goes next, and they may even want to peruse the WCW Nitro and pay-per-view archives to relive some of Sting's best moments.

For younger fans, the Network provides the perfect way to explore what made Sting the huge name he is today. They got their introduction to him for free, and if they pay for the network subscription, they can find out more about the man behind the face paint.

By unveiling Sting to fans for free, Vince McMahon has made perfect use of the ace in his hand. WWE may not have constructed the greatest PPV ever, but they certainly created a moment that few will be able to forget.