WWE 2.21.11: The Simplicity of Promo Creates Utter Chaos

With one 46-second promo, Vince McMahon set the IWC on fire and earned a ratings spike for the Monday Night Raw that will air 24 hours after the Elimination Chamber event.

The date on the minds so many members of the WWE Universe is February 21, 2011. Or, as we saw it typecast last night, 2.21.11.

In one day, the Internet has collectively responded to the promo with widespread speculation. Who is depicted in the promo? What does it mean?

There's no way we'll know exactly what it means before Feb. 21 unless a confirmation breaks on one of the Internet's countless wrestling websites. But that won't stop the speculation machine from running on overdrive between now and then.

There are two names dominating speculation, but there may be more to it than that. This in-depth look at the promo, and what it means, starts with the most popular name thrown around discussion boards and Internet dirt sheets.

The Undertaker

As I said in Monday's Brewing Thoughts, my knee-jerk reaction was that this promo was the beginning of the build for The Undertaker's return. An overwhelming percentage of the IWC seemed to agree with me.

It would, after all, make the most sense for this promo to indicate the return of The Deadman. It's WrestleMania time, and recent reports have The Undertaker set to return in time for the big event April 3. The Undertaker is arguably the most famous professional wrestler to don a black trench coat and black boots. And there is no denying his return promos are always dark and eerie.

The most overwhelming evidence pointing to The Undertaker returning Feb. 21 in Fresno is the ads for Raw at the Save Mart Center. The advertisement for the night's main event is followed by one indicative phrase.

The return of The Undertaker.

A video promoting the event stated The Deadman would make his WWE return in Fresno. The video has since been taken down.

As we all know, things can quickly change in WWE, and the promos for events are written weeks, or even months, ahead of the date of the event. Such an instance can be found in the advertised main event, a tag match that would see John Cena and Randy Orton take on The Miz and The Leader of Nexus, Wade Barrett.

Now, we all know CM Punk is the leader of Nexus. Barrett has since moved to SmackDown as a member of The Corre.

The Undertaker is likely to return to WWE television this month. Only time will tell if he returns before, after, or on Feb. 21.

Sting

Though he has never stepped foot in a WWE ring, a very small percentage of pro wrestling fans don't know who Sting is.

And it just so happens Sting has sported a long, black trench coat and black boots for years.

There are signs pointing to Sting making his long-awaited WWE debut Feb. 21 in Fresno. After spending years with TNA, Sting has yet to re-up with the company. WrestleMania XXVII takes place in Atlanta, the home of WCW. Sting could co-headline the 2011 Hall of Fame class while also making a one-off performance at WrestleMania in a year lacking legit star power.

Like the case for The Undertaker, the case for Sting has one piece of indisputable evidence. The New York Daily News reported Steve Borden, the man who portrays Sting, signed a one-year deal with WWE.

Borden has said, on multiple occasions, that he did not want to work for Vince McMahon. Money can change a lot of things, though, and McMahon surely isn't short on cash.

Someone Else

The Undertaker and Sting are not the only two superstars that have been mentioned in the 2.21.11 discussion.

Some have pegged the promo as the possible WWE debut of Awesome Kong. While the chances appear to be incredibly remote, there is a possibility that the former TNA competitor is the subject of Monday night's promo.

If it were Awesome Kong, the WWE Universe may collectively riot. There is nothing wrong with Awesome Kong, and the character will likely bring a new facet to the WWE Divas division, it would be a massive letdown after the hype that has swirled over the past 24 hours.

In Monday's Brewing Thoughts, I said Triple H couldn't be ruled out. Since publishing the most recent version of my regular piece, I have seen The Game's name mentioned in a couple circles.

Triple H is the true wild card here. The Game is a master of theatrics, and Triple H's long-awaited return may be best served with a cryptic, mysterious promo.

Chris Jericho's WWE return was hyped by the "Save Us" promo campaign. It was a promo reminiscent of The Matrix, and it took all of about a week for the IWC to figure out Y2J was the subject of the promos.

Maybe Vince McMahon learned from previous mistakes. Instead of an extravagant promo to hype the return of Triple H, maybe The Game is the man walking in the rainstorm. After all, Triple H has long worn black wrestling boots, and his trademark iron cross logo could be hidden by the trench coat shown in the promo.

When this story comes to a close in three weeks, I firmly believe it will be revealed that The Undertaker was the man depicted in these promos.

This is WWE, though. You never know for sure.