Although Shawn Michaels has remained steadfast in his refusal to come back for one more match, it is believed that there are those within WWE who are actively trying to get him to come back to work WrestleMania 30. Some believe he will, some believe he won't. If he does, it will be Michaels vs. Daniel Bryan in a match that would almost surely steal the show and quite possibly be one of the best matches in the history of the event.

If you've noticed that John Cena has been mentioning Hulk Hogan's name quite a bit lately, both on television and off, it's because WWE wants him to do just that. It's no accident that Cena is the guy who is largely being tasked with getting the fans ready for "The Hulkster" to return. There was talk for a while of doing a tag team match with the two aligning against a heel duo at WrestleMania 30 but it's looking more and more like Hogan won't get clearance and he'll have to simply have someone run into his punches in a pre-planned spot to get a big pop on his name. Hogan is reportedly pushing for more, but there's only so much give and take here. If Hogan somehow convinces the powers that be to let him work a match, it will be in a tag team to protect him, that much is certain.

While advertisements leaked word early on Batista's return, it's now being said that WWE had always planned to announce the date he's coming back (Jan. 20, 2014) on this past Monday night's episode of Raw. The leak was unfortunate, but it was apparently already set that the video that aired this week would do so.

Sting is now being advertised to work some house shows for TNA in early January. His contract expires that very month, so it's unclear what this means, if anything, but considering how many big names the company has let go or failed to re-sign in the past year, it wouldn't be a surprise if he was the latest to bail. For his part, Sting has been wanting to get out of the business for years now and this might be the perfect time to do it. There's still talk of Sting at WrestleMania 30, but who knows on that.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

It's too late for Sting to make an impact, don't bother. Hard to give legend status to guy who was most over when he didn't wrestle and didn't talk.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

The WWE can make good promos for anyone, they could make better ones for plenty of people not named Sting. Especially because Sting can't cut them very well himself. The Hogan runup was exactly my point though, it was a big run where he didn't wrestle and didn't talk. When he finally did wrestle Hogan it was completely anticlimactic and that program was ended as fast as they could.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Sting beating Hogan clean at Starrcade should have been the end of the NWO, but Hogan and Nash were running the booking committee and WCW couldn't quit that sweet, sweet NWO crack, so it just went out with a whimper years later as a stable consisting of, like, Scott Norton and Brian Adams. The Wolfpack thing was such a slog.

But yeah, Sting as WCW's Face of the Franchise was one of those things that didn't really mean anything to me because I didn't watch WCW before the NWO. I always considered Ric Flair to be that, to be honest.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

On a side note, what has happened to this section? No Raw threads or news threads anymore, and not much MMA talk anymore.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

I am not a legal expert, how many times do I have to say it?

The chance of Sting making any kind of big "splash" ended up over 5 years ago. The guy can work a match about as well as Hogan or Flair at this point. No thanks. Him never crossing over to WWE after the buyout was one of the worst career decisions I have ever seen made. Guy probably could have continued to make top money for another decade and supported his family for the rest of their lives.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

All that time Sting spent not saying anything and then when he finally did it was just like "Hogan, hope you like gettin' stung, cuz it's Stinger time, baby!", or something that even by the standards of professional wrestling was astoundingly vacuous and inane.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

This is the wrestling section, save the big words for the B&B section.

Criticizing Sting for not talking during that run just does not make a lot of sense IMO. It goes against the entire character they created. It would have probably been better if they kept him completely silent.

When a man's heart is full of deceit, it burns up, dies, and a dark shadow falls over his soul.
From the ashes of a once great man has risen a curse.
A wrong that must be righted.
We look to the skies for a vindicator.
Someone to strike fear into the black hearts of the same men who created him.
The battle between good and evil has begun.
Against an army of shadows comes a dark warrior.
The purveyor of good with the voice of silence and a mission of justice.
THIS IS STING.

The future holds the possibility to be great or terrible, and since it has not yet occurred it remains simultaneously both.

I would love to see
Sting vs. Rock
Undertaker vs. Orton.
Lesnar vs. Cena

They need to bring in the big guns!

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

RFCD we get it, you do like Sting.

It's cool.

You are wrong. But it is cool.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Yep I do like him. But I think I am being pretty objective about who he was and what he could do. He was not the best talker in the world. But he could go in the ring and he was the top baby face in the NWA/WCW for several years. When Ric Flair left he basically carried the company. That is undisputed. He is the greatest wrestler of all time? No, not even in the top 10. But his place in wrestling history is solid and him coming to the WWE even at this point in his career would bring with it numbers and money.

You on the other hand just pretty much come with he was bad/average.

If you cannot see the big picture, that is fine with me.

Sting is a wrestling legend. Case closed.

Carried the company? WCW was almost dead when he was "carrying it." Why do you think they sold their soul to Hogan and gave him creative control? His place in wrestling history is solid, the case that he's a wrestling legend isn't. Charter member of the Hall of Very Good. He's WCW's Edge. Not sure why you think a guy that was at it his peak in 1997 and has never wrestled a single match in the WWE would bring in numbers and money, especially any more than anyone else the WWE devoted their resources to pumping up.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.

Speculating on the rumors surrounding pro wrestling is a favored pastime of many fans, perhaps second only to actually watching the matches. In this daily column, we take a look at the latest rumors being churned out by the pro wrestling rumor mill.

Important reminder: Rumors are just that -- rumors. None of this has been confirmed as legitimate news or fact; so remember to take it all with a grain of salt.
Errrrrrrrrrrrrr.

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming for a special edition of the Rumor Roundup focused solely on WrestleMania 30 and the match card as it currently stands. There are quite a few bouts now on the table for the big event, and it's worth breaking it down.

So let's get to it:

- John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt

Yes, folks, if you can believe it, this match has been discussed for the show. Not only that, but it would be the main event, according to the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required), namely because Vince McMahon has literally stated that Cena is the man who feeds everyone at WWE, so he's the headliner and that's that. However, this would be assuming Hulk Hogan doesn't work a match on the show. If he does, Cena will be involved in that, and that's still entirely possible. If not, a freshly turned heel Sheamus is an option.

- Batista vs. Randy Orton

If Orton is going to remain WWE champion through WrestleMania season, that almost surely means Batista will win the Royal Rumble match to earn the title shot. It's possible that won't happen and the program won't involve the belt, but as of now that's the idea.

- Triple H vs. CM Punk

As has been alluded to recent in storyline, Punk has taken the spot Big Show was in as chief rival of The Authority. It now appears he's the guy being positioned as the man to bring the evil corporate overlords to their knees. In an interesting twist, Roman Reigns has been discussed as a potential back up for Punk. If that was done, it would obviously mean turning him babyface and giving him a huge push.

- Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar

This one has been on the books for a long time now. In fact, the only thing that seems to be threatening this match happening is Sting signing with WWE. If he does, they almost have to do Sting vs. 'Taker at 'Mania but it's looking more and more likely that that's not something anyone will have to worry about.

- Daniel Bryan vs. Shawn Michaels

This is an interesting one if only because everyone and their mother continues insisting Michaels won't return for another match, instead honoring the retirement stipulation attached to his WrestleMania 26 match with Undertaker. But there's an easy fix to that (having 'Taker give his blessing, both to Bryan as a huge star and Michaels to come back to battle him to prove Michaels can't beat him) and a belief that if Michaels comes back, it would be for a match with Bryan. If this doesn't happen, there's no telling where Bryan ends up on the card.

- Goldberg vs. Ryback

There are still efforts being made to put this match together but it's looking like it won't happen. Goldberg is driving a hard bargain and if everything else on the card shapes up the way it could, he won't be worth the asking price anyway. The problem is WWE booked Ryback so poorly over the past year it gave Goldberg negotiating power. If they want him to come back just to job to a glorified jobber, they're going to have to pay up.

- Cody Rhodes vs. Goldust

These two have been trying to work a match at WrestleMania for some time now, years even, and they may finally get their wish. It would almost be a shame, though, considering how great they've been as a tag team and how expendable Goldust will be once it goes away.

- Rey Mysterio vs. Sin Cara

Yes, there are those who still want to put this match together and it's hard to argue against the idea. These two, despite all their problems, move a ton of merchandise, specifically how it relates to their masks. That's an angle WWE feels it can exploit, and would be able to do so easily in New Orleans. So don't be surprised if this happens for just that reason.

This leaves a lot of mid-card wrestlers unaccounted for. Perhaps a Big E. Langston vs. Dean Ambrose match to unify the Intercontinental and United States titles could be thrown in with a battle royal to determine the next number one contender for the newly unified belt also on the show. That would be a fine way to fit more talent on the card, especially names like Mark Henry, Big Show, and a host of others.

Remember, none of this is official -- obviously -- and these are just rumors for the time being. Everything is subject to change in WWE, and it often does. So don't take this as fact, simply a look at what's on the table at this time.

I have MANY years of experience in trying to appreciate steaming piles of dogshit.