Well yes, I was only half-joking when I said it was a credit to RVD's zen.
Gunner took away months of his career, and yet upon return he A.) had his priorities straight and didn't let a thirst for vengeance override his focus on a title opportunity granted him by Hogan, and B.) once the title opportunities faded and getting payback from Gunner now became a reasonable top priority, he didn't escalate the war, or show any belief in "eye for an eye" or anything like that. He instead took greatest satisfaction in proving that he was a better professional wrestler than Gunner (who most likely would have disagreed), and to me that's the sign of a mature and grounded individual.
Now apply that same sort of mindset to Sting vs. Roode. CLEARLY Bobby Roode values his status as World Champion above all else. He defines himself by his title reign. And yet here we have Sting, his enemy, consistently trying to place value in just beating Roode up in situations where the title isn't on the line. Roode doesn't care! You're not going to beat respect into Bobby Roode. If you really hate him that much, then the Hogan method is actually better: keep putting Roode's reign in jeopardy.
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Thank you, Eddie Guerrero.
http://www.wwe.com/f/styles/photo_large/public/photo/image/2012/04/33_Moscow_04112012jg_02128.jpg