They could've leaned in so much more to Sting just turning into a deeply fucked up lunatic who happened to be against the biggest heel in the world.
In retrospect, it's pretty dumb for JJ Dillon to come out several weeks in a row and offer Sting matches with Syxx and whoever else and act befuddled when Sting rebuked him. Gee, I wonder who he wants to face.
Although, kayfabe wise, Sting should have been salty at Luger, etc for not trusting him during the Fake Sting saga. I don't recall if there was a proper payoff to Savage turning on Sting when they were briefly both emo in early 1997.
Sting doesn't go full confirmed Pro WCW until Uncensored IIRC.