Will this be the year that the WWE finally lands former WCW and TNA icon Sting? It has been reported over the past few weeks that the WWE has been in talks with him and while there have been conflicting reports over whether or not a deal has been signed to bring the wrestling legend to the WWE for the first time in history, the latest reports indicate that nothing has been signed but he's close to jumping ship to the WWE.

According to Wrestlingheadlines.com, the WWE has been kicking around ideas and concepts for Sting t-shirts and other memorabilia under the moniker "A Man Called Sting" which was coined by WCW but is licensed by the WWE after the company took over WCW's intellectual properties back in 2001.

The report indicates that a memo came through to WWE's merchandise department last week to start working on ideas for Sting, which means the WWE feels pretty good about the chances of Sting jumping over to the company.

According to the report, as of Monday Sting hasn't signed anything but is reportedly close to signing. Word also indicates that the WWE isn't treating a Sting signing as that high of a priority when compared to their deals with Hulk Hogan, Brock Lesnar, Batista or The Rock.

It was rumored that Sting would wrestle The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXX on April 6 in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, but it seems the WWE is going to go through with the rumored match pitting The Undertaker vs. Brock Lesnar, and Sting may either make an appearance at the event or be shown in a vignette.

It was reported earlier this week that the WWE wanted to have a Sting decision within the next two weeks, and it looks as though he is ready to come aboard. The WWE has tried for years to bring him over and have been close in the past, though they never were able to get him to cross over.

The WWE will also use Sting's WCW popularity to help them launch the WWE Network, which will have a lot of WCW content on it. There have also been rumors of Sting being inducted into the Hall of Fame either in 2014 or 2015.

It appears almost certain that Sting will appear in the WWE for the first time ever in 2014.