Sting's advice? Don't take his WWE wins and losses personally

With the announcement of his retirement at the 2016 Hall of Fame induction ceremony, a lot of us lamented Sting's WWE run. Some because it didn't include his dream match against Undertaker, but more because it was highlighted by two pay-per-view (PPV) losses.

The Icon himself has heard your frustration - especially about his WrestleMania defeat at the hands of Triple H, a move many saw as WWE again celebrating their victory over WCW. In his first interview since becoming a Hall of Famer, Sting told SI.com's Justin Barrasso his experience in the business taught him he couldn't look at it that way:

People took the loss personally, but in this business, you have to learn real quick not to take anything that personally.

For me, it was a memory just being in Levi Stadium in California, my home state, with that crowd there.

He's right, of course. It's a scripted exhibition, and who pins or who submits who only matters in the confines of the story being told. And that's a tale over which any of us have very little control.

It's interesting, though, that Sting doesn't deny the outcome had to do with Vince, or Hunter's, ego. Just that, for him, he couldn't look at it that way. He chooses to focus on the experience he shared with colleagues and fans.

Can we?

Maybe we should all just remember that magical September night when the Stinger was 2 - 0 on Raw...