Sting, Undertaker, Triple H, WrestleMania and This Week's Top WWE Buzz

You may or may not have heard, but there's been a bit of a back and forth debate about where wrestling free agent Sting is headed.

Is he going to WWE? Will he re-sign with TNA? Or is he taking a nap on his couch while we all speculate?

But don't be fooled, because Sting isn't the only wrestling legend with a questionable future.

What's the deal with Triple H and his impending return?

How about the latest news on The Undertaker and WrestleMania 27?

Don't worry, your boy Blake's got your back.

So sit back, chill out and enjoy all the hard work I've done.

Here is a look at this week's biggest WWE news, all in one convenient place for your viewing pleasure. 

WrestleMania 28 to Be Held in Miami, But Is It the Right Call?

WrestleMania 28 Location Is a Surprising Choice for the WWE

Earlier today, the Miami Herald broke the news that WrestleMania 28 would be held at Sun Life Stadium, the home of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.

Miami was chosen over several cities, including New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans, but it's believed that the final two choices were Miami and Toronto, with the Sunshine State eventually winning out.

It's not that I have any sort of problem with the city of Miami or anything like that, but here's why I disagree with the decision.

WrestleMania is obviously an annual attraction, which makes hosting the event a huge luxury, but just four years ago WrestleMania 24 was held in Orlando.

Obviously, Miami and Orlando aren't the same city. However, the same state hosting Mania two times in five years?

Let's just say I disagree with that decision.

I'm also not a fan of hosting the granddaddy of them all in an outdoor stadium, because of all the elements and the random stage apparatus that has to be built above the ring, because it's distracting (and aggravating) to viewers who attend the show live.

But perhaps my biggest problem with the decision is the WWE's inclination toward certain cities or areas (like the Southeast in four of the last five years).

Toronto, Los Angeles, New York and Florida have all hosted multiple WrestleManias.

How about giving a city that's never hosted it a chance?

CM Punk Plays Big Role in Creative Direction of Feud with Randy Orton

CM Punk Suggests That the WWE Addresses His History with Randy Orton

On Monday's Raw, CM Punk gave Randy Orton a reason for Nexus' attack on him at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

Punk showed a clip from Unforgiven 2008 of Orton's now-defunct group Legacy ambushing Punk during a backstage segment.

Well, according to sescoops.com, it was actually Punk who pitched the idea of using the clip as Punk's motivation for his payback on Orton.

I bring this up not because it's any sort of Earth-shattering news, but because I'm shocked that the WWE actually addressed history for once.

I mean, how many times has the WWE just completely disregarded past storylines?

A few examples for you:

One, Orton and Edge reunited as Rated RKO a few weeks ago on Smackdown, but there was no mention of the fact that they feuded last year.

Two, Christian and Edge started in the WWE as "brothers." However, now they're referred to as "best friends."

And three, Chris Jericho was "banned" from Raw last year like fifteen times, yet he consistently appeared on the show week in and week out.

The WWE refusing to recognize things like this really irritates me because it's almost as if the creative team assumes the fans have no brains.

Well, sorry, but we do.

We remember things that have happened in the past, and like with Punk, it makes for better storylines when the WWE does, too.

Update on the Possible Candidates to Host WrestleMania 27

WrestleMania 27 Has a Wide Range of Host Possibilities

Monday's episode of Raw opened with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon announcing that WrestleMania 27 would have a special guest host and teasing that it would be someone who's a huge attraction.

And according to wrestlingnewsworld.com, here are some of the leading candidates who have been contacted about a role at the granddaddy of them all: former Price is Right and Raw guest host Bob Barker, singer Justin Bieber, and former WWE stars Batista, Goldberg and Chris Jericho.

The site notes Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has not been mentioned as a candidate, but does not dismiss him as a possibility.

So these appear to be some of the frontrunners for the guest hosting gig.

I mentioned yesterday that my three favorites are (in order from least likely to most likely): Bieber, The Rock and Shawn Michaels.

I'm still sticking with HBK because no one fits the bill as a special attraction at WrestleMania quite like Mr. WrestleMania.

However, both Goldberg and Jericho make a ton of sense if the WWE still plans on having a WCW tie-in at the event, while Bieber would attract plenty of younger viewers.

As for Batista, I'm not sure he'd be great in that role considering his lack of mic skills—even though Goldberg has the same problem—but at least he'd be in touch with the product, unlike Barker.

With these new candidates I've mentioned, however, what do you guys think?

Who is the likeliest choice to host WrestleMania, and who would be the best choice?

Who Do WWE Officials View As Smackdown's Top Heel?

Vickie Guerrero Seen as the Top Heel on Smackdown

When WWE fans think about the company's top heels, CM Punk automatically comes to mind, as do guys like The Miz, Wade Barrett and Alberto Del Rio.

But who do WWE officials see as the company's best heel? None other than Mrs. "Excuse Me," Vickie Guerrero.

According to wrestlingnewsworld.com, Guerrero is said to be "10 times" more over than any other heel on the Smackdown roster.

And you know what? I would take that one step further and say that she generates more heat than anyone in the entire company.

Though she's not as good as Punk is on the mic—and Punk is the second most-hated heel—no one gets showered with boos quite like Vickie does.

Her "Excuse me!" line is easily the most hated line of the last 20 years.

Yes, even more hated than Michael Cole's "And I quote."

Vickie can flat-out work the crowd, she's one of the most entertaining characters currently in the WWE, and she's the best female heel I've ever seen.

Not trying to take anything away from Dolph Ziggler, but he wouldn't even be in the Smackdown main event scene if it wasn't for Vickie.

So, Dolph, you may want to give her a big thanks, because without her, you'd still be stuck in mid-card land.

The Undertaker Vs. Wade Barrett at Wrestlemania 27 Has Been Scrapped

The Undertaker Will No Longer Face Wade Barrett at Wrestlemania 27

The mystery surrounding both The Undertaker and the ominous "2 21 11" video appears to have been solved.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is reporting that Undertaker is indeed scheduled to return on Feb. 21, and his reported Wrestlemania 27 match with Wade Barrett is officially off the table.

Though the site could not provide many more specifics, it is noted that the WWE plans on going in a completely different direction with 'Taker in an angle that will "steal the show" and involve the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels in a non-wrestling role.

That's fine by me.

Though I felt like an Undertaker/Barrett match would have been a decent bout, the potential for another confrontation between 'Taker and Michaels is just too good to pass up.

The best possible booking I could see for this scenario would be to have 'Taker return at the end of Monday's Raw show, and just as the show seems to be ending, out comes...Triple H.

The Game would return looking for revenge on the Undertaker for ending the career of his best friend, HBK.

Not only would this make for an epic ending to Raw, but it would set the stage for a Wrestlemania 27 match between Triple H and the Undertaker with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee.

You wanna generate pay-per-view buys, Vince? That's how you do it.

What's The Latest Update on The Possibility Of Sting To The WWE?

Sting to WWE Still in the Cards Despite a Lack of Discussion

The ongoing free agency of wrestling icon Sting has captured the attention of wrestling fans for the last several weeks, and the more time that passes by, the more complicated the situation gets.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there had been no formal discussion between Sting and the WWE as of late last week. But there is said to be interest on both sides about the possibility of Sting working for the company.

In fact, the WON reports that the chances of Sting-to-WWE are greater now than they have been or will ever be.

How many times have we heard something like this before?

Sting is indeed the most talked about man in wrestling in the last three or four years, and this saga seems to be never-ending.

My feeling at this point, however, is that 2-21-11 can't come soon enough.

If that day comes and Sting appears, then I'd absolutely be a lot more excited about the current WWE product.

But if that day comes and Sting doesn't appear on Raw, then it may be time to finally put the Sting-to-WWE rumors to rest.

Yes, I wanna see him the WWE. And yes, most of you do, too.

But the reports out there on his current free agent status, or lack thereof, are so contradictory that I'm not getting my hopes up until something happens.

Update On Why Triple H's WWE Return Has Been Delayed

Triple H Scheduled to Return Soon...But When the Moment's Right

Triple H has been out of action for nearly a year, but it's only a matter of time before we see him back in a WWE ring.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the Game is scheduled to return within the next two or three weeks and is considered lock for a match at Wrestlemania 27.

However, his return has been delayed because he is not scheduled to win either Elimination Chamber match, so the creative team felt it would be pointless to bring him back before then.

Allow me and the creative team to agree to disagree.

I still believe that having Triple H return as R-Truth's replacement in Raw's EC match, eliminate Sheamus and get quickly eliminated himself would be a good way to bring The Game back.

Of course, this would only work if the WWE plans on having a Sheamus/Triple H grudge match at this year's Wrestlemania.

If not, I think the next best option is to have Triple H return for a feud against The Undertaker that involves Shawn Michaels in a non-wrestling role.

Not only would it be a huge draw considering the star power of those three wrestlers, but it would be the ten-year anniversary of The Undertaker defeating Triple H at Wrestlemania X-Seven.

Call me crazy here, but Triple H vs. The Undertaker with Shawn Michaels as the special guest referee makes almost too much sense.

What do you guys think? Would you like to see that match, and could it actually happen?

WWE Pay-Per-View Buy Rates Take a Huge Tumble In Fourth Quarter of 2010

WWE PPV Buyrates are a Cause for Concern 

The WWE's corporate website (corporate.wwe.com) has released the company's financial results for the Fourth Quarter (October-December) of 2010, and the results are downright alarming.

Pay-per-view buyrates were down a whopping 23 percent from the same period in 2009, and PPV revenue was at $13.8 million, down from $16.3 million in 2009.

Here's a look at the buyrates for the WWE PPVs during that period:

October's Hell in a Cell: 210,000 buys, down from 283,000 buys in 2009

October's Bragging Rights: 137,000 buys, down from 181,000 in 2009

November's Survivor Series: 244,000 buys, up from 235,000 in 2009

December's TLC: 195,000 buys, down from 228,000 in 2009

The WWE did have one bright spot (Survivor Series), but PPV buys were still shockingly low across the board.

Why? In my humble opinion, there are three reasons.

One, due to the losses of Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Batista, The Undertaker and Chris Jericho, the WWE doesn't have enough star power.

Two, the price of PPVs ($50 for standard broadcast and $55 for HD) are ridiculously high and should be lowered by at least $10 per show.

Three, the WWE flatout just has too many PPVs--they had 13 in 2010--and needs to seriously considering cutting down to 8-10 shows per year.

I'm sure Vince McMahon is in a foul mood today, but much of the WWE's problems have been brought upon the company by its money-hungry attitude.

Trust me, lowering the PPV prices and/or decreasing the number of PPVs would make me (and others) a lot more likely to actually buy each and every PPV.

Edge Pitches Wrestlemania 27 Feud With Christian But Gets Turned Down

Edge Wanted a Match With Christian at Wrestlemania 27, So Why Didn't He Get It?

One of the matches that the IWC is begging to see at Wrestlemania 27 is Edge taking on his former tag team partner Christian, so why isn't the WWE considering making it happen?

Well, according to wrestlenewz.com, Edge reportedly requested a Wrestlemania feud with Christian at the end of 2010, but the idea was turned down, despite the fact that the WWE is well aware that 2011 may be Edge's final full year as an in-ring competitor.

Plain and simple, this is just a load of crap.

The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels chose to work with each other for two straight Wrestlemanias, 'Taker reportedly chose Wade Barrett as someone he wanted to feud with at this year's show, and Rey Mysterio was allowed to handpick Cody Rhodes as his opponent for the granddaddy of them all.

So why give Edge--one of the best overall wrestlers of the last 20 years--the stepchild treatment?

I understand that Vince McMahon is not and has never been a fan of Christian and doesn't see him as a main eventer.

But Edge has busted his ass for the WWE since 1998, and McMahon can't even give him the courtesy of letting him choose one Wrestlemania match?

I mean, the WWE Chairman may not see Christian as a huge draw, but 80 percent of the people reading this see Edge/Christian is a huge attraction at Wrestlemania.

Some will argue that the younger audience wouldn't appreciate an Edge/Christian match, but—correct me if I'm wrong here—I think Christian gets a nice face pop from the crowd.

So saying the crowd wouldn't care for an Edge/Christian match is absolutely asinine.

But not letting Edge choose his Wrestlemania opponent is even worse.

Who Does Vince McMahon View As "The Next John Cena"?

Vince McMahon Names Multiples Superstars as "The Next John Cena"

Earlier today, WWE CEO Vince McMahon held a conference call with investors to discuss the company's financial results and the future of the product.

During the Q&A section of the call, he was asked who would be the company's "next John Cena."

After joking that he didn't want to upset any wrestlers who might be listening to the call, McMahon responded (via PWTorch.com):

"The Miz certainly is coming on very, very strong," McMahon said. "He fought his way up to the top. With others, the character is there and the public latches on right away. More than any others, it's Miz, Randy Orton, Alberto Del Rio."

It's an interesting question to think about, especially when you consider that the three wrestlers McMahon identified have spent the majority of (or their entire) careers as heels.

But as much as he may think that Orton, Miz or Del Rio is the "next Cena," I don't think there's anyone currently in the company who will ever be on Cena's level.

Cena is, by far, the company's No. 1 merchandise seller, and Rey Mysterio is believed to be a very distant second.

Those guys sell shirts, masks and armbands like George Foreman sells grills, but who else is going to be anywhere close to them?

Maybe DX, which is still a popular group even though Triple H and Shawn Michaels have been off of WWE TV for a year.

Probably not, though.

The majority of fans buy the merchandise of faces, not heels, so the list of candidates is pretty slim.

Kofi Kingston? No. John Morrison? No. Edge? No.

So as much as McMahon may want to think he has the "next Cena" already under contract, five years from now I think he'll realize just how wrong he was.