Sting has announced that he’ll be retiring his iconic Stinger look and face paint soon after the end of his active wrestling career last year.
The Icon competed in his retirement match at the 2024 Revolution PPV. While having the option of a singles match, the wrestling veteran chose to team up with his protege Darby Allin one last time to defeat The Young Bucks in a tornado tag team match.
Despite hanging his wrestling boots at the March PPV, Sting has continued donning the iconic face paint for various meet & greet events. Though the WCW veteran confirmed that 2025 will be his last year of doing so in a new social media post:
“I have enjoyed meeting fans at events around the world. As much as I have loved interacting with you all in the traditional Stinger war paint, I’ve decided that 2025 will be my last year appearing in full gear. I guess it’s 2025 or never. Wow. Tough to speak that out.”
I have enjoyed meeting fans at events around the world.
As much as I have loved interacting with you all in the traditional Stinger war paint, I’ve decided that 2025 will be my last year appearing in full gear.
Sting made his in-ring debut for Tony Khan’s promotion at the Revolution 2021 event, so his 2024 retirement match brought his run with the company to a full circle. In his 3-year run with the company, the 65-year-old wrestled a total of 29 matches and remained undefeated in the end.
The former world champion has since signed a legends deal with AEW and he also made an appearance at the 2024 All In: London PPV.
Darby Allin intends to climb Mt. Everest later this year in his biggest risk to date, despite Sting trying to talk him out of the idea. Speaking to Denise Salcedo at the AEW All In: Texas tickets launch event, Allin shared that his friend and former tag team partner wanted him to reconsider the incredibly dangerous climb.
“He’s tried but he knows that I really want to do it. He’s like, ‘Alright man, if you’re on a vision quest and you want to do something, go do it.’”
Allin believes the climb will be a “very humbling experience” and will serve as a reminder of what he’s capable of. Allin intends to start his climb in April of this year after plans to climb last year were nixed due to an injury.
“I’m very excited for that opportunity and very grateful that AEW is letting me do this in the middle of my career.”
The 29,000-foot mountain is nothing to take lightly. According to Himalayan databases, over 320 people have died attempting to scale the mountain since records began in 1922. Climbers who perish on the mountain are often left there, due to the risks related to removing the body, a sign of their dedication to climbing, and as a somber reminder to others of the dangers of nature.
One landmark on Everest is ‘Green Boots,’ which is the body of an unidentified climber on the Northeast Ridge route who is noticeable for his brightly colored boots. While never officially identified, it is believed to be the body of Tsewang Paljor, an Indian member of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police expedition who died as part of a 1996 climbing disaster.
Pro wrestling icon Sting recently revealed that he inked a multi-year deal with AEW. Sting hung up his boots at AEW Revolution earlier this year. He teamed up with Darby Allin and defeated The Young Bucks at the show. While he won’t compete inside the ring, he will continue to stay associated with the promotion.
Sting addressed his future with AEW in an interview on Kayfabe Friends at the 58th Annual Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion. ‘The Icon’ opened up on signing a new contract with AEW. He further added that he signed a deal similar to WWE’s Legends Deal. He highlighted that under the contract, he will make appearances from time to time.
“I signed a multi-year deal with AEW, obviously not to wrestle anymore, but it’s like a licensing deal, a legends deal if you want to call it that. So I’ll do appearances with them on and off, depending on what they want and all.”
– Sting
What Sting is doing after Wrestling
In addition to this, he expressed his love for real estate. He said that he was into real estate investments before becoming a pro wrestling. He said:
“I’ve done real estate, I did real estate before I ever was a pro wrestler, so I’ve always loved real estate. A lot of people say, ‘Oh, are you a real estate agent?’ No, I’m not an agent. I’m an investor. I was flipping houses before flipping houses was a term. So I made money in real estate before wrestling, so I’m doing that again, and I love it.”
– Sting
Sting’s latest appearance for AEW took place at the AEW All In: London 2024 pay-per-view back in August. He came to the aid of his former tag-team partner Darby Allin, who was getting set on fire by The Elite.
Former TNT Champion Adam Copeland is confident that wrestling legend Sting’s son Steven Borden could handle the pressure if he entered the pro wrestling business.
Steven and his brother Garrett both appeared during Sting’s retirement match at AEW Revolution earlier this year. Sting teamed up with Darby Allin and defeated The Young Bucks. Steven came out as Wolfpac Sting, and even performed a Stinger Splash that garnered massive praise. Borden has been training with Darby Allin and had a training session with Allin, Copeland, and FTR. There has been speculation that Steven could follow his father’s footsteps.
The Rated R Superstar told Sports Illustrated’sThe Takedown that he feels Steven is eager to be a part of the business, especially after AEW Revolution in Greensboro. He said:
“I think at Revolution there in Greensboro, he got a bit of the itch. He felt what it is. And once you feel that, man, it’s hard to walk away from that. It’s hard to go, ‘Wait, that wasn’t cool.’ You’re going to go, ‘That was really cool and really fun.’”
Copeland praised the 6’3 powerhouse for his physique and believes he has similarities with his legendary father in conducting himself. He added:
“It’s a great gig. So I think he felt that. Also in terms of his physicality, I mean, he’s 6-3. He’s about 230 pounds. He’s probably sitting about eight percent body fat. He looks the part. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, very similar to his dad in how he conducts himself, which is a great thing.”
There have been some second-generation wrestlers who couldn’t live up to the expectations of the fans. On the other hand, some have thrived in the business. The former TNT Champion admitted that there would be a lot of pressure on Steven should he enter the pro wrestling business. However, Copeland reckoned that the former college football player has what it takes to handle it. He said:
“I think now it’s really up to him. What does he want to put into it? Does he want to put in the work that it will take? Because you got to figure it. You might look at it and say, ‘Ok, an easier pathway into the business.’
“But once he’s in the business, there’s going to be a big spotlight on him, and with that comes extra pressures. You’re Sting’s son and trying to break out of that. But, he’s smart. He’s smart, and I think if he wants to do it, he absolutely could do it.”
Adam Copeland is recovering from a fractured leg that he sustained at May’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view. He was stripped of the TNT Championship and he has since been on the sidelines recuperating. While Copeland feels better, a timeline for his return is still not clear.
Adam Copeland is making strides toward his in-ring return following an injury, while Sting’s son, Steve Borden Jr., may be preparing for a debut of his own in the wrestling world.
Copeland, formerly known as Edge, has been sidelined since suffering a broken tibia during his steel cage match against The House of Black at AEW’s Double or Nothing over Memorial Day weekend. However, recent photos suggest the WWE Hall of Famer is back in the gym, training alongside notable names such as FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler), Darby Allin, and Sting’s son, Steve Borden Jr.
The workout session, captured in a photo shared by Harwood with the caption, “Album drops soon,” has sparked intrigue among fans. The sight of Copeland training with such a talented group hints at a potential return to action in the near future, while the presence of Steve Borden Jr. fuels speculation about his future in professional wrestling.
Borden Jr. first caught attention when he appeared dressed as his father, the iconic “Surfer Sting,” during Sting’s retirement match at AEW Revolution. Since then, the former college football player has expressed interest in pursuing a wrestling career. Darby Allin initially revealed this news back in May, adding further excitement about the younger Borden’s potential debut.
Sting himself also acknowledged his son’s aspirations during his speech at the Cauliflower Alley Club Reunion in Las Vegas, where he expressed pride in having both his sons, Garrett and Steve Jr., present for his farewell to the ring.
Sting talks about his special entrance with his sons at the AEW Revolution post-show press conferene
As for Copeland, he reflected on the injury, admitting that his high-risk dive onto Malakai Black during the cage match was a decision he now regrets. Longtime friend Hulk Hogan has echoed this sentiment, noting that Copeland didn’t need to take such a dangerous risk at this stage of his career.
Currently, FTR is involved in a mini-feud with The Grizzled Young Veterans as they build toward AEW All Out. Darby Allin, meanwhile, was last seen in action at AEW All In, where he lost a coffin match to Jack Perry.
Sting and Lex Luger, who were once one of the most impressive tag-teams of their generation, were able to reunite at the 58th annual reunion of the Cauliflower Alley Club. On Twitter, Sting shared a photo of himself and his friend and former tag team partner.
Sting attended the reunion to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, the highest honor awarded by the club. The award is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler. Previous recipients include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE RAW Superstar CM Punk. Several notable names attended this year’s reunion, including ‘Bowl Cut Kid’ from WWF and WCW pay-per-views in the 1990s.
Sting & Lex Luger
Sting and Luger first began teaming in April 1988 when Luger was without a partner for the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. Luger had previously been teaming with Barry Windham, who had betrayed Luger to join the Four Horseman. Despite not being an established team, Sting and Luger would go the distance and defeat Arn and Tully Blanchard in the finals.
The genuine friendship of Sting and Luger was no secret in wrestling, even when the pair found themselves on opposing sides in WCW. In fact, it was a phone call between the two in 1995 that resulted in Luger returning to WCW. Luger made his comeback on the debut edition of WCW Monday Nitro despite being offered much less than what he was making when he previously worked for the promotion.
What is the Cauliflower Alley Club?
Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name.
The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.
Darby Allin has been closely associated with Sting, a WWE Hall of Famer and WCW legend, since the former WCW Champion joined AEW. Their partnership ensured that Darby’s early tenure in the company was a successful one, with Sting acting as a mentor and ally to the young star.
Their bond has not only created iconic moments in wrestling but has also opened doors to new possibilities, including the potential for Allin to team up with Sting’s son, Steven Borden.
Steven Borden, who appeared alongside his father during Sting’s retirement match at AEW Revolution, surprised many when he expressed interest in pursuing a wrestling career.
Despite having a stable job, a wife, and a child, Borden decided to take up the challenge after his cameo at the event, where he Stinger Splashed one of The Young Bucks in the corner.
Darby Allin, who has been instrumental in Borden’s training, shared insights into his journey. According to Allin, Steven initially showed no desire to become a pro wrestler, making his sudden passion for the sport even more remarkable.
At 32 or 33 years old, Steven’s decision to pursue wrestling came as a shock, not only to fans but to Sting himself.
“He’s doing really good. It’s funny because he’s never had any, like, When it comes to wrestling, he’s never had the itch to be like, I want to be a pro wrestler.So he did that spot in the Sting’s Last Match at Revolution where he splashed one of the young bucks in the corner.Then he just said, Dad, I want to do this. He’s got a good job. He’s got a wife. He’s got a kid. At 32 or 33, to get that wrestling, like, ugh, I want to do this. Sting never thought his son was going to do that.”
Allin’s Training Philosophy
Darby Allin has taken Steven Borden under his wing, pushing him to his limits to ensure that he earns his place in the company.
Allin stated in an interview with WFFA that he doesn’t want Steven to receive any special treatment or be seen as someone who got a “handout” because of his father’s legacy.
The rigorous training sessions at Allin’s home, which even include unconventional methods like running while being shot with paintballs, are designed to build both physical and mental toughness.
The Potential Team-Up: A Full Circle Moment
Darby Allin has expressed his excitement at the idea of teaming up with Steven Borden in the future. He described it as a “full circle moment,” where Sting’s legacy could be passed down to the next generation through this unique partnership.
For Allin, teaming with Steven would not only be a tribute to Sting but also a personal milestone in his own career:
“I would love to [team with steven]. It’s like a full circle moment. He didn’t have to team with Darby, but he wanted to. And then just to give sting‘s son what he gave me, that would be kind of a cool moment.“
Sting and Darby Allin’s bond continues even after the Icon’s unforgettable retirement back at AEW Revolution. Sting has kept a low profile since then, but we may not have seen the last of his bloodline.
During a recent interview with Sean Ross Sapp for Fightful Allin said he’s helping Steve Borden Jr. follow in his father’s footsteps. Sting’s son has spent time at his house learning the basics of wrestling and working out in his ring. The full interview drops this Thursday on Fightful’sYouTube.
Sting’s son was so inspired by his father’s match at Revolution that he wanted to begin his own wrestling journey. Allin noted further that Steve had never considered becoming a professional wrestler before Revolution, but that event provided an intense emotional rush for him. When Sting asked if he’d help train his son, he jumped at the chance.
“Do not shame your dad, do not shame your dad, do not shame your dad”
In March, Steve and his brother Garrett participated in an emotional farewell match for their father Sting. Sting and Darby Allin successfully retained the AEW World tag titles against The Young Bucks in a Tornado Tag match. Sting’s career ended with him celebrating as a champion, a final chapter that was worthy of his legacy.
As part of Sting’s entrance, Steve and Garrett dressed as different versions of Sting that fans had seen throughout the years. Garrett played the part of “Surfer Sting”, the babyface star that Sting portrayed in WCW, with Steve embodied “Wolfpack Sting”, when The Icon joined nWo Wolfpack.
Sting and his sons make a grand entrance at AEW Revolution 2024
Sting’s face-painted sons even got physical in the match, hitting The Young Bucks with a flurry of their dad’s infamous Stinger Splash in the corner.
Don’t expect to see Sting back on AEW television anytime soon. As he recently hung up his boots, it seems that there should be some time in between ahead of his return for special appearances.
While his future remains up in the air, an update has emerged on what could the fans expect. PWInsider has reported that he could make special appearances. However, the exact timeline is unknown and he is likely to appear sometime down the road.
Sting had competed in the final match of his decorated career at last month’s AEW Revolution. The veteran had joined forces with Darby Allin and squared off against The Young Bucks with AEW Word Tag Team titles up for grabs. Sting managed to showcase some age-defying moves and had a triumphant outing that night. He finished his AEW run with a flawless record and has since kept his fans waiting about his next move.
It was back in 2015 that Sting suffered a neck injury against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions and it seemed that the injury would end to his career. It was soon labeled his final match. However, after signing with AEW in 2020, things took a turn for him, and ‘The Icon’ has since managed to overcome the barriers and exceeded expectations as his legendary career culminated on his terms.
Tony Khan wanted Sting to extend his career
Sting was offered to work beyond AEW Revolution 2024 by Tony Khan, who was aiming to feature the veteran at AEW All In London 2024. But, the legend was well aware of the physical toll on his body. He made it clear that wouldn’t push his body beyond his capacity and decided to retire.
Now, the latest report is certainly building anticipation for Sting’s return as the speculation about his future continues.
Arn Anderson knows the bumps and bruises that goes with being a pro wrestler, and is happy that Sting got to finish his wrestling career the way he wanted to.
On the latest episode of ARN, ‘The Enforcer’ was covering WCW in November 1994 where the topic of Sting came up, particularly with how all the emphasis was on Hulk Hogan arriving in the promotion at the time. The question was asked if Sting could have been heated up to that level if he had Eric Bischoff and the machine behind him to which Arn firmly believed could have been the case.
That eventually led to co-host Paul Bromwell asking Arn’s thoughts on Sting’s retirement at AEW Revolution, something that Anderson hadn’t talked about since it happened. Arn then gave his thoughts about Sting wrapping it up after four decades of wrestling.
“I think it was what he envisioned. He plugged his two kids in which I thought was innovative and he had earned to have the fact that having his night go to exactly like he imagined it. He’s earned that.
“If you’ve given to this business 40 years of your life and went home and had your wife put you back together any number of times. Help you get up off the couch, and help get out of bed and help you step in the shower. All the things that your family does to support you.
“At 40 years, you should be able to picture your retirement in whatever company you’re working for and thank God he was working for AEW because Tony [Khan] pretty much just said, ‘Hey, how do you see it?’ I’m sure. ‘How do you see it, Sting?’ And Sting told him and he went, ‘That’s what we’ll do,’ and I’m very happy for him. I’m glad.”
Anderson unfortunately had to retire from the ring prematurely back in 1998 after suffering a bad neck injury, but despite that, ‘The Enforcer’, along with The Four Horsemen became one of Stinger’s greatest rivals. Arn is set to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame this summer in Waterloo, Iowa.
Mere weeks after he retired undefeated in AEW, the legendary Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s highest honor in professional wrestling.
Sting is set to receive the Cauliflower Alley Club’s Iron Mike award, it has been announced. The award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a wrestler by the CAC. It is named after ‘Iron’ Mike Mazurki, a founder of the CAC, who was a Ukrainian-American actor and professional wrestler.
The honor celebrates significant achievements across a career. Previous inductees include Alundra ‘Madusa’ Blayze, John ‘Bradshaw’ Layfield, and current WWE Raw Superstar CM Punk.
What is the Cauliflower Alley Club?
Founded in 1965 by Mazurki and Art Abrams, the CAC serves as a fraternal organization that comprises of retired and active wrestlers and boxers. The name itself comes from the term ‘Cauliflower Ear’ which is a disfigurement to the ear suffered by those in combat sports. Trauma to the ear results in permanent swelling in tissue until the organ resembles the misshapen look of a Cauliflower, hence the name.
The CAC is more than just a way for wrestlers and boxers to keep in touch. The organization hosts an annual reunion dinner which has traditionally been attended by celebrities and wrestlers. The evening serves as a fundraiser with the money helping wrestlers and boxers who are struggling.
The 58th Annual CAC Reunion will take place from August 19 to August 21, 2024, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
AEW Hall of Fame?
Sting was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016 when it appeared his days in the ring were over. During a recent interview, Tony Khan said that if AEW was to have a Hall of Fame of its own, then the Icon would be the first name he’d like to see inducted.
AEW has yet to establish its own Hall of Fame, but Tony Khan has a clear image of who he’d like to see be the first two inductees.
While WWE’s Hall of Fame opened its (hypothetical) doors in 1993 with the induction of Andre the Giant, AEW hasn’t created its own way of acknowledging talent of the past. It’s not hard to see why as, at five years old, the promotion is still relatively young.
AEW’s Hall of Fame
Tony Khan addressed the possibility of a recent interview with Comic Book, Tony Khan discussed a possible AEW Hall of Fame. While Khan didn’t confirm that any plans were in place, he did know who he’d like to see inducted.
“Certainly the first two people that come to mind that we would have to honor would be Sting and Mr. Brodie Lee. Two of the greatest champions and two of the greatest people we’ve ever had in AEW, and in very different circumstances.”
Khan added that he’d like to see somebody inducted who never got the chance to compete in an AEW ring, that being Jay Briscoe.
“He was my friend and was friends with a lot of people in the locker room. He was one of the greatest wrestlers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”
We don’t know when (if ever) AEW will set up a Hall of Fame, but WWE will induct it’s 2024 class in just over two weeks. Paul Heyman, the US Express, Bull Nakano, Thunderbolt Patterson, and Muhammad Ali have been announced for this year’s class.
Pro wrestling fans have got to see a lot of dream matches over the years. Sadly, they can’t all happen, and that included Sting vs The Undertaker. Although there was a window of time when the match could have seen the light of day, Vince McMahon simply never booked it.
The Undertaker explained that the match between him and Sting never happened due to Vince McMahon not seeing it as a fit for WWE, despite fan anticipation. By the time Sting arrived, Calaway felt he was nearing the end of his career, and the timing didn’t align for the matchup.
Why Sting vs The Undertaker Never Happened
During his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker opened up a bit about why that legendary dream match against Sting didn’t happen. It seems that it was all Vince McMahon’s call, and he never went that direction.
In discussing why he never faced Sting, Mark Calaway mentioned that the opportunity simply didn’t materialize. Despite the anticipation from fans and artwork depicting the potential matchup, Vince McMahon didn’t see it as a fit for WWE, and Calaway felt it wouldn’t live up to the high expectations. He noted that by the time Sting arrived, he was already nearing the end of his career, and the timing didn’t align for the match to happen.
“It just didn’t work out. He had a short run in WWE and Vince didn’t want it. For whatever reason, I don’t know what it was. He didn’t feel it. Everybody else was clamoring for this match for quite a few years. A year or two into that character change, I mean, people were already sending me artwork with the billboard or the poster. It just never worked out. The match would have been good, but I don’t think it would have lived up to the expectations that people have for it. People always think about things in a certain sense. I think they thought in their mind of Undertaker, 2007 or 2008 versus Sting. It was later on than that. I can say I was way on the backside of what I was going to do when he got there.”
Sting vs The Undertaker in the Future
The Undertaker recently commented on how Sting retiring from in-ring competition “ruined” the idea of him coming back. It seems that a match against the Stinger is the only thing that could get The Phenom to wrestle again.
Only time will tell if Sting and The Undertaker ever share the ring for any reason. It would take a lot, but odds are we are years past the idea of that match ever going down for real.
SEScoops will have more on this story, and so much more. You never know what will happen next in the pro wrestling world, so keep checking back throughout the day for more updates!
Sting recently retired at AEW Revolution, and that was a big moment that is still fresh in our minds. During a recent edition of his podcast, The Undertaker quipped that since Sting is retired, he doesn’t have a reason to wrestle again.
Taker Speaks Candidly
The Undertaker retired from wrestling in 2020 after his final match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 36. However, he recently shared that he had considered a return to the ring if Sting hadn’t also retired recently.
The potential matchup between The Undertaker and Sting is a dream for many wrestling fans, but it has only existed in speculation and imagination.
Although they briefly appeared together in WWE in 2015, they never faced off in a match. This is something that WWE had a window to make happen, but Vince McMahon never booked the match
During a recent Q&A session on his Patreon platform, Undertaker quipped that if Sting hadn’t retired, then he could have another match.
“Well, I mean, if Sting hadn’t retired, maybe. He ruined the whole thing. I got new knees and he went and had to go and retire… Oh my gosh, we’re going to get so much heat for that.”
Of course, Sting retired under the AEW banner with a contract to Tony Khan. So, the idea of Taker wrestling Sting was even more off the table. It’s still nice to know that Taker still thinks of what might have been.
The Undertaker is still Struggling
We previously covered how The Undertaker expressed that he’s still struggling with the decision to retire. Recently, he mentioned to his wife that he was considering a comeback, but he ultimately convinced himself otherwise.
He clarified that there won’t be another match. He explained that after returning from Australia and feeling tired, he briefly entertained the idea, but he wants to make it clear that fans shouldn’t expect it to happen.
SEScoops will have more coverage of The Undertaker, and whatever else he has up next in the pipeline. Keep checking back for more headlines and the coverage you need.
For Sting’s entrance, the legend’s sons Steven and Garrett Borden accompanied their father to the ring. Steven was dressed in the red and black of nWo Wolfpac era Sting while Garrett wore the Surfer Sting attire worn at Great American Bash 1990.
The presence of the brothers made the match extra special but this entrance was nearly different. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Steven explained that he was originally going to portray the black and white ‘Crow Sting’ fans are most accustomed to.
“The plan actually until the very end… was for me to just do Crow Sting. So Garrett was going to be Surfer, I was going to be Crow…. There was never contention over who was going to do what.”
Steven added that it was Darby Allin who pointed out that Sting was already in his black-and-white attire and believed the Revolution show proved the perfect time to mix things up.
“Darby actually made a point to my dad maybe a week or so before the match going, ‘well, you know, don’t you think if Garrett’s going to be Surfer, Steven’s going to be Crow, and then you’re also going to be Crow this is an opportunity to mix it up a little bit?'”
Sting gave everything he could during his last run in AEW. He was already a WWE Hall of Famer, but it seems that the company that owns a majority of the footage with his career wasn’t even asked to contribute.
WWE bought WCW in 2001 for a meager fee. $4.2 million got WCW’s brand, intellectual property, and video library. Arguably, this was an amazing deal for Vince McMahon’s company. Even though WWE owns all that Sting footage, Tony Khan didn’t reach out to inquire about using any of it.
Sting’s Final Match Footage
Before the match started at AEW Revolution, a video featuring Sting aired, depicting him alone in an empty movie theater in full ring gear. The video showcased photos and clips from his career, but they were missing a lot of action. After all, footage from Mid South, Crockett Promotions, WCW, and WWE, mostly owned by WWE, was notably absent.
Sting reacted to the clips, displaying shock at some of the recent stunts he had performed. Then Sting uttered, “It’s Showtime for the last time.”
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that WWE wasn’t asked about using any footage of Sting for AEW Revolution. In the past, AEW has let their talent appear as talking heads for a few WWE things, but Tony Khan’s company apparently didn’t even reach out about using footage of Sting for his retirement match.
Many people wondered, given in the past Khan has allowed his talent to appear on WWE television to honor John Cena and at the Hall of Fame ceremonies, if WWE would reciprocate here. The answer is that we don’t know because WWE was never asked. There was also no TNA footage shown.
The report also noted that, “Most of the footage shown was from New Japan Pro Wrestling, as from AEW and his lone appearance in Pro Wrestling NOAH when he & Allin & Great Muta teamed up in the last match Keiji Muto donned the Muta gimmick. Sting made it clear that would be his last time in the ring in Japan.”
The consensus reaction to AEW Revolution was that it was one of the best shows in the history of the promotion. There’s no question the event’s biggest draw and perhaps most satisfying component was Sting’s last match, a fun spectacle that saw him team up with Darby Allin one last time to successfully defend the Tag Team Championship against The Young Bucks.
Fans were in for a surprise in the post-show media scrum when Sting openly discussed his future with AEW. His comments included that he and Tony Khan had discussed some possibilities, but that he was explicitly not interested in the roles of an on-air manager or a behind-the-scenes trainer or agent. While it’s possible The Icon really will ride off into the sunset or only make the most sporadic appearances, there are some interesting spots he could conceivably still fil for the company.
Sting As A Broadcaster
Tony Schiavone, Jim Ross and Excalibur
One of the most obvious routes for Sting to continue his career in wrestling without working matches would be as a broadcaster. AEW has a track record of casting former wrestlers in commentary roles, including Excalibur, Taz, Mark Henry, and Nigel McGuinness.
Sting doesn’t have much experience on commentary, but he does have a big personality and the credibility only a major star brings to the table. It’s unlikely he’d want to commit to this role full time at this stage of life, but having The Icon work PPVs, Battle of the Belts specials, or occasional TV matches to lend them a slightly different aura has a lot of potential if Sting is interested.
Sting As An Authority figure
AEW has mostly avoided the trap of being overly dependent on on-air authority figures. Nonetheless, The Young Bucks have started to flex their real life EVP status more in kayfabe in recent months, hinting at the potential for this element of wrestling storytelling to take a more prominent role.
By virtue of his longevity and legendary status in wrestling, there’s no question Sting would be credible as an authority figure. Additionally, AEW might benefit from casting a babyface in this role to take the place of Tony Khan, whom fans have grown tired of hearing issue “major announcements” over and over. Khan could reserve his own on-air presence for truly huge news while The Stinger could be strike a balance of being an understated authority and more welcome face to announce significant matches or news.
Sting As An Ambassador
There was a longstanding narrative that Vince McMahon sought to have someone serve as “The Babe Ruth of WWE.” Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart were among the figures purportedly pitched the idea, with The Hitman more specifically getting this overture when he signed his infamous twenty-year deal with WWE in the 1990s, which presumably would have carried well past his days in the ring.
The idea of this position is to be an ambassador for the company, showing up on TV here and there, but more so going out in the community to build good will with his public appearances, help market the company, and lend an extra air of gravitas for the product for having such a legend attached to them in retirement. It’s likely Sting will fill this role to some degree in years to come, as long as he remains on good terms with Tony Khan and AEW, but formalizing the relationship could really benefit the company.
Sting As A Panelist
The presentation of pro wrestling has evolved to feel more and more like legitimate sports on a number of levels and that includes WWE leaning into hosting panel discussions, most notably before PLE events. AEW has dabbled in this arena as well, but Sting represents a particularly appealing cornerstone of this kind of enterprise for this company.
Yes, Sting made his name in WCW and worked with TNA for an extended stretch in addition to getting the most eyes on him in WWE during his 2015-2016 run. He also had a substantial AEW career, though, including him choosing to end his in-ring career in their ring. That makes Sting someone the company can present as not only a venerable figure, but someone whom AEW can claim as their own.
Sting As A Creative Consultant
Can Sting and Darby Allin win gold before Sting retires?
Sting had a long career that spanned decades and major promotions. In addition to his talent and connection with the fans, a defining element of what allowed him to succeed in wrestling for so long was an ability to reinvent himself. More than going with the flow of a promoter’s whims, Sting leaned into distinctive versions of himself.
Most notably Surfer Sting was one of the most over babyface characters in all of wrestling. As the man beneath the gimmick transitioned out of his physical prime, he somehow found even greater success in his Crow gimmick, a darker character that fit the edgier times of the Monday Night War. Combining these presentations with lower-key successes like his Wolfpac variant or the Joker-inspired character he took on in TNA, Sting demonstrated an ability to adapt at a level few wrestlers have ever matched.
This creativity, character work, and mind for the business bespeak some real potential for Sting to thrive as a creative consultant with AEW. He has articulated that he doesn’t want to train talent or help them map out matches but more of a part-time, big picture role helping to shape the direction of the company could be an invaluable complement to Tony Khan. Khan clearly has passion and has demonstrated some good instincts, but many feel has been exposed for his inexperience telling stories in wrestling.
In the end, Sting is in an enviable position. He’s popular with fans, well-respected by his colleagues, and in all likelihood has the money to retire comfortably. As such, there’s no need for him to do anything he doesn’t want to do, and it will be interesting to see if he and AEW arrive a good arrangement for him to remain a part of the company in the days ahead.
Pro wrestling legend Sting recently shared some unforgettable pictures from AEW Revolution 2024 ahead of his final match.
‘The Icon’ recently bid adieu to the squared circle at AEW Revolution 2024 pay-per-view where he competed in his final match, alongside tag team partner Darby Allin. It was nothing but a fitting tribute to his legendary career which spanned decades.
During the match, Sting’s sons also got involved. Pro wrestling legends Ric Flair and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat couldn’t help but involve themselves as well. Ultimately, Sting and Darby Allin were triumphant and with the win, ‘The Icon’ ended his AEW career undefeated.
Sting reflects on the memorable night at AEW Revolution
Taking to Twitter/ X, Sting shared some backstage pictures from the event. He went on to reflect on his final match at AEW Revolution. He claimed that he had hoped that the night would be memorable for the fans it was a night he would never forget. He also thanked the AEW staffs and all the fellow wrestlers. He also thanked the audience.
I had hoped #AEWRevolution would be a memorable night for the fans, but it was a night that I personally will never forget.
Thank you to all the wrestlers. Thank you to all the @AEW staff. Thank you to Greensboro. And thank you to the fans, one and all!
With Sting’s retirement, it’s the end of a memorable chapter in pro wrestling history. His immense contribution to pro wrestling will resonate for the time to come and fans will cherish the beautiful memories ‘The Icon’ has scripted during his decorated career.
Lex Luger was one of several wrestling legends who were able to attend Sting’s final match and had a blast at the event. On a recent edition of the Busted Open Radio podcast, Luger made it clear that WWE had no issue with him attending, as long as he opted to keep off of the show.
“WWE is classy. They said you can go and everything, just don’t be on camera or be a part of the match. It was an incredible evening. A wonderful sendoff.”
“I love him to death but damn, he’s a different animal bro.”
Luger was similarly amazed by the work of the former AEW TNT Champion and said that Allin’s attempt to climb Mt. Everest later this month is “unbelievable.”
With this being Sting’s final match, there were plenty of talks during the planning process, Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated reports. It is noted that everyone involved, including Tony Khan, felt it was very important for Sting to win the match, though the Icon himself disagreed. During the post-show media scrum, Sting admitted that he had some resistance to winning his last match and ending his career as a champion.
Reasons For the Finish
Sting wanted to lose so that he could give the major moment to the Young Bucks, in a sign of selflessness from the notoriously giving Icon. However, Khan and the Bucks believed that Sting deserved to go out on top and everyone agreed that the show called for a happy ending that would be best for AEW.
The report adds that the commentary team was not told what to expect and only a small group knew of the finish to the match in advance.
Sting’s in-ring career may now be in the rearview mirror, but his legacy continues to live on.
On Sunday night, the 64-year-old competed in what would be his final professional wrestling match in the main event of AEW Revolution. There, Sting, along with Darby Allin, successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) in a tornado tag team match.
A Thank You To ‘The Icon’
Following Sting’s victory, several wrestling personalities weighed in on social media to pay homage and share positive memories of “The Icon.” One of those was Sting’s colleague, and former AEW Tag Team Champion, Anthony Bowens.
As evidenced by the throwback photo posted to X (formerly Twitter), Bowens is a long-time fan of “The Icon,’ even going as far as donning Sting-inspired facepaint when he was younger. Bowens also credits Sting with sparking his love for professional wrestling.
“Thank you Sting. My love of this sport started with you,” Bowens wrote. “Your support and confidence in me has meant the world. There’s a saying you should never meet your heroes, but I’m so glad you proved that to be false. You’re the f***ing man. Thank you for everything.”
Thank you Sting. My love of this sport started with you. Your support and confidence in me has meant the world.
There’s a saying you should never meet your heroes, but I’m so glad you proved that to be false. You’re the fucking man.
In addition to sharing a locker room with Sting, Anthony Bowens also received the opportunity to wrestle him. On the January 19, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite, Bowens and Max Caster (together known as The Acclaimed) faced off with Sting and Allin in tag team action.
The ending of the contest saw Allin sidestep while Bowens charged toward a previously exposed turnbuckle. After laying out Bowens with a flipping stunner, Allin then nailed him with a Coffin Drop for the win.
Sting wrestled his final match during AEW Revolution on pay-per-view. He and Darby Allin won the match, and Sting will retire a champion. Now, WWE is speaking out on the matter.
Although WWE remained radio silent about Sting’s retirement, even not allowing AEW to use footage of The Icon that they owned, Michael Cole gave Sting his flowers during the first match on RAW this week.
Sting Gets Love On WWE RAW
During RAW this week, as GUNTHER was gearing up for his match, Michael Cole was able to give Sting some love. He mentioned Sting’s retirement and congratulated him in the process.
“GUNTHER has been a great champion, and I want to send out our congratulations to another great champion, after 40 years, the great Sting has retired from professional wrestling. Thanks for the memories, congratulations to Sting.”
Pat McAfee them chimed in to say, “Absolutely epic match last night.” They did not mention AEW, or AEW Revolution. That being said, everyone know what happened last night on pay-per-view.
WWE referencing not only Sting, but his ‘epic match’ from an AEW pay-per-view, shows just how much respect the icon has earned across all walks of the industry.
Cody Rhodes Also Acknowledges Sting
Cody Rhodes also threw in a little name-drop for Sting during his first promo of the night. This was not lost on fans, either.
In late 2020, Sting made a surprise return to wrestling television, as he officially came aboard All Elite Wrestling and firmly aligned himself with Darby Allin.
While Sting has claimed numerous singles championships over the years, the bookends of his historied career are marked with tag-team gold. On the closing end, Sting boasted an AEW Tag Team Championship reign with the ever-fearless Darby Allin. Looking back on their three-year partnership, Sting believes Allin elevated him just as much as he elevated Allin.
“I hope, for Darby, that he’ll be remembered for being in a tag team with Sting, one of the veterans who pretty much did everything under the sun in wrestling for so many different wrestling organizations. And that was the goal, to try to elevate him, but I’m telling you, he elevated me. It went both ways,” Sting told Pro Wrestling Illustrated. “And I want to be remembered for this time as Darby’s tag team partner, for sure.”
Commonalities
Despite being at different points in their careers, Sting feels he and Allin shared similar backgrounds, especially with the circumstances surrounding their respective starts in professional wrestling. Through these commonalities, Sting and Allin were then able to establish a deep connection both in and outside of the ring.
“I don’t know if we’re kindred spirits, per se, but we have a lot in common in the wrestling world, with how our careers started,” Sting said. “We didn’t have a way to get into wrestling. We didn’t have an uncle or a father or a friend; we both slept in our cars, and that was our address. We both know what it’s like to get the tiny little payoffs and pretty much starve out there while making a name for yourself.”
“And then there’s what we have in common, like the painted face and the willingness to take risks. Darby blows me out of the water, but I was one of the first guys my size to take running dives over the top rope and to the floor.”
Sting and Allin’s journey together culminated at AEW Revolution, as they successfully defended the AEW Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks in a tornado tag team match. This match also served as Sting’s official retirement match.
With Sting hanging up his wrestling boots, AEW President Tony Khan recently announced that new tag team champions will be crowned in an upcoming tournament.
Pro wrestlers, fans, and companies from all over the world sent out tributes to Sting. WWE was not one of the companies that sent out a message, and this was noticed in a big way.
WWE No-Sells Sting’s Retirement
Sting and Darby Allin took on The Young Bucks in the final match of Revolution. That was a brutal glass-filled match, and tons of action went down. In the end, Sting and Darby Allin walked out of the building as champions.
NJPW, NOAH, TNA, and AEW sent out tributes to Sting. Plenty of other pro wrestling fans also sent out their favorite memories from The Icon. WWE was radio silent, as they did not give him any sort of tribute on any platform.
The fact is that WWE owns a majority of Sting’s career. They have the video libraries from practically every company Sting ever traveled through in their database. WWE could have put out a fantastic tribute video, but they decided not to.
Sting said he’s done with in-ring competition, and he doesn’t really have any interest in becoming a coach. We will have to see what he does next, but the 64-year-old legend will get some time to enjoy his retirement now.
We will have to see if Sting gets any flowers at all during WWE RAW this week. Then again, the company is well on the road to WrestleMania 40 at this point, so odds are they are preoccupied and won’t be sending out any tribute for Sting.
SEScoops will have continued coverage of this story, just in case there are more updates. Sting will be missed, but he certainly left it all in the ring as he inspired generations to come.
Sting indeed had a great send-off at AEW Revolution and his final match came off with a victory. This means he and Darby Allin are still the AEW World Tag Team Champions. Now Tony Khan has revealed what the future holds for those titles after Sting’s retirement.
Speaking with the media during the AEW Revolution press conference, Khan noted that after Allin and Sting retained, the Tag Team Titles will be vacated.
Not only that, but Khan noted that a tournament will be held to determine the new champions. The AEW President said that it would all unfold in the month of March, coinciding with NCAA March Madness.
“We are going to vacate the AEW World Tag Team championship. So going forward, there will be a tournament — I’ll talk more about that, there will be more to reveal, a lot of exciting tournaments, there will be more than one bracket to fill out in March”
Sting & Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks rightfully closed out the evening in the main event spot in Greensboro, NC, but the fans were also treated with another tag bout earlier on that had a lot of ties to the location.
FTR, two talents from North Carolina, took on Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli, who happened to pay homage to the legendary Road Warriors by coming out in spiked shoulder pads. Moxley and Castagnoli will likely receive a top seed in the tournament considering they got the victory over Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler.
As for Sting and Allin, their tornado tag battle with The Young Bucks created a lot of buzz, not just because of the significance of the match but because of how brutal the fight itself was.
All men in the bout took some significant bumps. The most notable of it came from Allin who leapt from a massive ladder only to come crashing down on a pane of glass. The spot brutally cut up his back, requiring him to receive several stitches. Though despite this spot, Darby has confirmed that he will be taking a break from AEW for a significant undertaking later this month.