During a recent interview with the Daily Star, TNA champion Sting made his first public comments about the 90-second match he had with Jeff Hardy at Victory Road. There were widespread reports that the match was cut short at the last minute because Jeff Hardy was “in no condition” to perform that night. Sting said:
“I love Jeff Hardy. I don’t want to do anything to harm him. He has personal issues, everyone knows that. But some things are true and some are not. What is true is that it all came to a head that week and hit really big that night. I hated what happened because I wanted to give fans a great match. But I realize it had to happen the way it did.”
After the match was over, Sting says he was very concerned about Hardy’s condition:
“And after all was said and done I came to the back and made sure he was OK. He is OK and he’s been talking to people close to him a lot. Jeff is getting stronger. He’s riding 10 miles a day on his mountain bike to get in condition, I hear! Good luck to him.”
Sting revealed in an interview with Daily Star that World Wrestling Entertainment officials approached and offered him a match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVII, as well as induction into the WWE Hall of Fame.
He declined their offer.
“I wouldn’t say it was utter nonsense, that’s not true!” laughs Sting. “It’s a dream match that fans would want to see. It was close. I’m glad things turned out the way they did.
“There are so many variables. Let’s just say that I turned it down for the same reasons I always have. Something in me never trusted what would happen up there, based entirely on the track record with other WCW guys and everything that went on after Vince bought WCW.
“I wont be watching but I’ll be asking what happened between Undertaker and Triple H.”
— TNA World Heavyweight Champion Sting is featured on the promotional poster for the TNA Sacrifice pay-per-view event, which takes place May 15, 2011 at the Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida.
The poster features an image of Sting’s face, with the tagline reading: “Will one man’s legacy fulfill another man’s dream?” To see it, click here.
— TNAWrestling.com has released the following preview for this week’s episode of TNA iMPACT! (to be taped Monday in Orlando, Florida):
* How far will Hulk Hogan go to get Sting’s TNA World Title back under Immortal’s control?
* Plus, now that Kurt Angle has signed to wrestle Jeff Jarrett at Lockdown, will Kurt Angle seek further revenge?
— TNA Wrestling President Dixie Carter wrote “I am” on her Twitter account before deleting the message a short while later. It was her first tweet since March 2.
— It is believed that Mickie James suffered a slightly separated shoulder during a match against Madison Rayne at Friday’s TNA Wrestling live event in Jacksonville, Florida. According to an observer, Rayne botched a spot, which led to the injury.
James appeared at last night’s show in Savannah, Georgia with her shoulder in a sling. She acknowledged the injury on her Twitter account today, writing, “In a one wing sling and still kicking doing the damn thing! Lol. =)”
— Hulk Hogan thanked fans for last Thursday’s iMPACT! again drawing ‘great numbers’.
“Thank you TNAMANIACS for the great numbers again this week.slowly but surely were gettin bigger,” he wrote on Twitter. “Much love HH”
— TNA World Heavyweight Champion Sting celebrates his 52nd birthday today.
It was announced on iMPACT! that Sting would defend the TNA World Heavyweight Championship at next month’s Lockdown pay-per-view against a challenger to be determined. A No. 1 Contender’s Match between AJ Styles, Bully Ray, Mr. Anderson and Rob Van Dam to determine who would face Sting at the pay-per-view event resulted in a No Decision.
Earlier in the show, Madison Rayne said she would defend the TNA Women’s Knockouts Championship against Mickie James on the condition that James put her hair on the line. The multi-time WWE Women’s Champion accepted the challenge.
Also announced was a Lockdown Cage Match between Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett.
Lockdown Cage Match – TNA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Sting (c) vs. (challenger to be determined)
Lockdown Cage Match
Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett
Lockdown Cage Match – TNA Women’s Knockout Championship Match
Madison Rayne (c) vs. Mickie James (James’ hair is on the line)
At Monday’s TNA iMPACT! tapings (airing this Thursday), Sting came out with a new TNA championship belt. That’s right, Jeff Hardy’s custom purple belt is no more.. Check out this picture of Sting with the new TNA belt:
Posted March 15th, 2011 in News, TNA. Tagged: Sting.
At TNA Victory Road, the main event between Sting and Jeff Hardy for the TNA championship lasted a mere 1 minute and 28 seconds before Sting got the quick pinfall.
According to numerous sources in the TNA locker room, the main event was cut short because of major concern about Jeff Hardy’s “state of mind” backstage. Other speculation is that Sting wouldn’t agree to wrestling a long match with Hardy if he was in bad condition.
After the show event, fans in the Impact Zone chanted “Bulls***” while security walked Jeff Hardy to the back. Sting was visibly upset over the awkward finish to the main event.
Jeff Hardy is back in court next Monday 3/21 for his pending drug charges.
— Multiple TNA sources indicate there were no real discussions between Steve “Sting” Borden and WWE. Any talk of Sting being tied to the ‘2-21-11’ vignettes are false, although some within TNA insist company president Dixie Carter is or was convinced that to be the case. People within TNA were predicting that he wouldn’t join WWE due to the comfort level he has with the Nashville based organization and wrestlers he counts on to carry him in the ring.
— MAIN EVENT, Australia’s pay-per-view event channel, has released the promotional poster for WWE Extreme Rules.
The third annual WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view event takes place Sunday, May 1 at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida.
On Thursday’s episode of TNA iMPACT!, the meaning behind “3/3/11” was revealed to be STING, who recently re-signed with the company after much speculation that he was WWE bound to wrestle the Undertaker at WrestleMania.
Sting returned as the challenger to Jeff Hardy’s TNA World title and made quite the iMPACT! in his first match back:
Posted March 4th, 2011 in News, TNA. Tagged: Sting.
TNA after hyping the “most shocking moment of the year” at the end of Thursday’s episode of TNA iMPACT!, fans got a video hypgin “3/3/11” – a clear ripoff of the 2/21/11 videos that aired on WWE television in recent weeks.
At Thursday’s TNA iMPACT! tapings from North Carolina, the surprise was revealed to be the return of Sting – and TNA fans are not happy about it.
Below, check out the 3/3/11 video that TNA hyped as the”most shocking moment of the year” and below that – Twitter feedback from TNA fans – who sound pissed off about how the whole thing was handled.
Tweets from TNA fans lashing out against TNA president Dixie Carter:
cherberrie: @tnadixie I caught the last five minute of your programming and it blows.. It is terrible… You will never be WWE. stop trying to be!
canadianbulldog: Dear @TNADixie – Nice “Surprise”. Maybe next time you can surprise us with a wrestling promotion that doesn’t absolutely f***ing suck.
JAVincen: @TNAwrestling @TNADixie Wow…The big surprise ending is a rip off of WWE’s Undertaker promo for Sting…. Disappointing……
trtx84: Oh lord. Really @TNADixie? We’re just gonna straight up copy WWE wholesale now? Embarrassing… #3311
TweepzMostLuvd: @TNADixie anything to keep them away from #1 huh? That’s why this cpmpany will go down. What a let down.
jakeblckmn: @TNADixie could you please be more original, 3-3-11 really? and you wonder why your company sucks and is in the gutter, get new writers
WrestleWrestle: Y’know @TNADixie , if you’re that driven to flush money down the toilet, you could just send it to me and save everyone a lot of pain.
MrGamer2558 : @TNADixie a mock video of WWE’s 2-21-11 for Sting is your big surprise? you’re kidding? this is a f***ing joke right?
thedylan2296: @tnadixie tna is officially dead… dixie… why? at victory have someone squash sting very quick… i wont care as long as sting looses
PocketVolcano: @TNADixie Seriously, just close up the company. Your talent is severely underpaid (esp the women) and you keep rehashing WCW stuff. Stop.
AreYouHie: @TNADixie when can i take over creative control of TNA? im pretty sure i’d bring in more viewers with much better “surprises”
bookerg: Only 1/2 an hour to go till @TNAwrestling & @tnadixie disappoint me with another overhyped “shocking surprise”! Who-hoo!
Lamou420: @TNADixie enough with the surprises already. We all know you can’t deliver. Every time #tna announce a “big surprise” it’s a let down.
Morris272: Sting in WWE would of been great in TNA its boring and predictable.
CdnOtakuGamer: Actually, the big surprise is that @TNADixie brought a big cake for everyone… But Matt Hardy ate it all backstage.
GrappleKingdom: Dear @TNADixie and @TNAwrestling – see how @WWE announced Sin Cara? THAT is how you make an impact in the wrestling world.
xthegunshow: @TNADixie Oh wow Sting vs Jeff Hardy…you really know how to keep those viewing figures down.
EmJayEch: The WWE is horrible & they lost me as a fan years ago, TNA is my CHOICE but TNA has opportunity and they BLOW IT BIG TIME. F-THIS @tnadixie
NotTripleH: Are we sure that TNA has the real Sting backstage, or the NWO Sting? Because I doubt @TNADixie knows the difference. #VintageDixie.
xthegunshow: @TNADixie No one gives a f*** that Sting is at tonights Impact Taping, people want him in WWE. You use him horribly.
XDustinEFLX: @TNADixie: Instead of paying your wrestlers more,you’re wasting more money on a second Jersey Shore ‘star’? Are you stupid?
gersfan22331: @TNADixie wow dixie the big suprise was sting wow the old man chose to stay with the 5TH rate trash that is tna
awesome_since88: @TNADixie OMG I wonder who 3-3-11 is??? This is going to change pro wrestling forever!! If I can only control myself for a whole week #TNA
EdgeUniversity: @TNADIxie so…your huge surprise for Impact was that you can copy a promo video that @WWE has been doing for the past month? GREAT JOB!
james_donald: YAY FOR COPYING WWE!!!! f*** you you dumbass bitch @TNADixie.
bookerg: I’M OFFICIALLY DONE WITH TNA. Don’t say “SHOCKING SURPRISE” and not deliver. @TNAwrestling and @tnadixie. You just lost a viewer. FU.
Joerrd: @TNADixie LOL. That little 3-3-11 promo? That’s the reason nobody takes your bingo hall company seriously.
The_Kliq_Army: @TNADixie so #TNA just basically stole the #WWE #Taker22111 promo lame
divalover159: @TNADixie learn to be original and never EVER copycat. if you want to be taken very seriously and not as a joke that you just made yourselfs tonight. learn to be original or your nothing more but a joke. just saying.
wmkrow: wow, @tnadixie, good job ripping off WWE and their 2-21-11 bit. Same font and everything.
Relentless_J: Lmfaoooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!! TNA really copied WWE by making a 3-3-11 video??? @TNADixie can’t use ORIGINALITY!?!?!?
JeebusOMalley: @TNADixie Seriously? Not even gonna pretend to have an original thought huh? Unbelievable. Impact is garbage.
PhantomLordNYC: @TNADixie Jesus Christ can’t you people come up with anything original at all???
DarkMatchRaslin: @TNADixie we liked the Sting promo the first time we saw it…when it was for Undertaker in WWE a month ago…seriously, even the numbers?
J712v2: A mock 2/21/11 video? Really TNA? Really? Dear Spike: Take TNA off TV, and put ROH on instead!
1ISchmo: Wow. Creative means being creative, not copying something from another show. The shits beyond. @TNADixie, enjoy the final year.
* Warning: The following contains spoilers for the March 3rd episode of TNA iMPACT!:
Sting, wearing new ring attire, returned to TNA at tonight’s iMPACT tapings in Fayetteville, North Carolina and defeated Jeff Hardy to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion.
As noted earlier, our sources told us that Sting has signed a new one-year deal with TNA.
Playing up the “2/21/11” videos that WWE aired for several weeks, TNA aired a 3/3/11 video on Thursday’s iMPACT!, a clear jab at WWE and the Undertaker.
Check out this picture of our new TNA Champion, Sting:
Posted February 26th, 2011 in News, TNA. Tagged: Sting.
TNA’s advertised “most shocking event of the year” was revealed at the end of Thursday’s iMPACT! – and it was vignette hyping “3/3/11” and the return of Sting.
The 3/3/11 video is clearly a knock on WWE’s 2/21/11 videos, which led to the Undertaker’s debut.
There had been a great deal of speculation that 2/21/11 meant Sting’s WWE debut, however WWE never mentioned Sting at all, so TNA celebrating that WWE failed to deliver on something they never promised doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. But hey, it’s TNA.
Here’s the video:
Posted February 25th, 2011 in News, TNA. Tagged: Sting.
One TNA wrestler is ‘highly skeptical’ about the possibility of Sting joining World Wrestling Entertainment since the multi-time wrestling champion has openly expressed mistrust when it comes to working for Vince McMahon. Sting feels he has to be carried through matches, and he’s developed a level of trust with several TNA wrestlers.
Many people within the industry consider Sting to be absent minded in the squared circle. Wrestlers who have worked with him over the years have stated that he often forgets spots and has to be carried by his opponents.
TNA Wrestling officials have been quiet regarding Sting’s status. People often in the know of TNA’s wheelings and dealings say they are unaware of Sting re-signing with the company. However, it’s considered possible that he has re-signed with TNA since company president Dixie Carter is the main reason he has re-signed with the organization in the past. It’s become an annual joke within TNA that creative will be told to work on Sting’s retirement angle only to have Carter inform them that she signed him to a new one-year contract.
source: Pro Wrestling Torch
Posted February 10th, 2011 in News, TNA, WWE. Tagged: Sting.
— Sources within TNA Wrestling believe that Steve “Sting” Borden is very close to reaching a new deal with the organization, reports f4wonline.com this morning.
His profile was removed from the company website last night.
As of the middle of last week, WWE officials had not contacted Borden regarding an appearance at WrestleMania XXVII.
— WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy Hart has been added back to the TNA website’s roster page. He has been removed from the page three times within the past three weeks.
— TNA iMPACT! returns tonight to U.K. airwaves at 10 p.m. on Challenge TV. It is followed by TNA Xplosion at midnight.
— Following a successful World Heavyweight Title defense over Dolph Ziggler Saturday night in Toronto, Ontario, Edge announced to the audience, “I might only have a couple more of these visits left in me, and I want to end my career in Toronto. Maybe if Mania is here.”
— Jim Ross followed up on comments made last week regarding rumors of Sting wrestling The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVII, saying he doesn’t see the former wrestling champion appearing “in WWE any time soon.”
He wrote in the Q&A section of his official website: “Will Sting ever come to WWE? Does a 51-year-old guy want to engage in an ambitious, road schedule or any schedule? Could a deal be done and all the pieces be put in place before WM27? Is Sting even remotely interested in re-entering the squared circle on any level? I don’t know the answers to these questions nor, would I suggest, does anyone but Sting himself.”
— Percy Watson is once again traveling with the SmackDown crew this week. He participated in a battle royal Saturday night at the Richo Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, which was ultimately won by Kane.
— Wrestling Observer editor Dave Meltzer stated during yesterday’s episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that there has been absolutely no contact between Steve “Sting” Borden and World Wrestling Entertainment officials.
— John Morrison noted today on Twitter that he plans on releasing his own workout DVD, Out of Your Mind Fitness. The Raw Superstar said he will be filming it soon.
— Kent State alum Dolph Ziggler appears next Friday at 7:00 p.m. at Kent State University at the Mac Center in Kent, Ohio. He will be participating in an autograph signing following the wrestling meet.
Former WWE writer Dave Lagana has updated his blog at iwantwrestling.com with some thoughts about the recent buzz about Sting possibly heading to WWE. Lagana hypes the idea of a potential Sting vs. Undertaker dream match and reveals that Sting was actually very close to signing with WWE to wrestle at WrestleMania 18. Here are some highlights of what Lagana wrote about:
“Wrestlemania 27 is in Atlanta, GA; the former home of Ted Turner’s WCW. Could Sting be another name to go along with Shawn Michaels into the Hall of Fame? Is there money in Sting wrestling at Wrestlemania for the very first time? Is Sting vs. Undertaker the kind of attraction that will excite fans just like the idea of Lesnar vs. Undertaker?”
“Sting at Wrestlemania almost happened nine years ago. Wrestlemania 18 will always be remembered for the memorable Hogan vs. Rock battle in Toronto. That event also featured Triple H winning the undisputed World Title from Chris Jericho and Steve Austin facing NWO Scott Hall (w/Kevin Nash). Sting was approached that year to make his WWE debut and wrestle on the big event. Once he was introduced to the brand, it was pitched that at Wrestlemania 18 Sting would face Kurt Angle. If you remember, Kurt was eventually thrown into a match with Kane with little setup. The deal apparently fell apart as Sting wasn’t willing to work the full WWE schedule. Now nine years later, we might finally get to see Sting in WWE.”
I’m the biggest proponent of pushing new talent in high profile positions. I see Wade Barrett as one of the shining stars of WWE in 2010. The table is set very nicely for new talents to be featured in main events of Wrestlemania this year with Alberto Del Rio and Miz. But what is lacking that “big fight dream match” to attracts casual fans. Last year we had Vince McMahon vs. Bret Hart and Undertaker vs. HBK “Streak vs. Career”; previous years featured Floyd Mayweather vs. Big Show, and Trump vs. McMahon. Based on the buzz off this simple 45-second video, the fans are voicing their opinion on what they want out of Wrestlemania 27. I don’t have any answers but we will all find out on 2/21/11. Ask yourself – is Sting vs. Undertaker the dream match you want for this year’s Wrestlemania?”
So – is this a match you guys wanna see? COMMENT BELOW and tell us what you think.
Posted February 3rd, 2011 in News, WWE. Tagged: Sting.
— Sources within World Wrestling Entertainment do not believe Steve Borden (a/k/a Sting )has signed with the organization. That, however, doesn’t mean Borden won’t join WWE at some point, but it does not appear that he is currently signed.
Borden is still listed on the TNA Wrestling website roster page, however, those in the know are not aware of him re-signing with the company. Thus, it is believed that he is a free agent.
— WWE Hall of Famer Greg “The Hammer” Valentine said during an interview published in the latest issue of Inside Wrestling that he recently reached a new merchandising agreement with World Wrestling Entertainment. He noted that WWE plans on releasing a book and DVD chronicling his lengthy wrestling career, as well as a Mattel action figure.
— WWE United States Champion Daniel Bryan appears from 11:00 to noon on Monday, February 21 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his blog, which you can read in its entirety at JRsBarBQ.com. Here are some highlights of what JR said about:
Kevin Nash & Booker T Returning To WWE: “Good to see that Kevin Nash might be working out something to remain associated with WWE to some undetermined degree. Nash is a good talker, a smart guy, and has name identity that can be utilized in a variety of marketing ventures within the company. As I previously wrote, Kevin Nash can help WWE in many ways even if he never wrestles again.”
“Booker T, who has talked of becoming a TV broadcaster in WWE for quite some time, would be potentially good in that role if he can master the skills that it takes at the ringside announce desk. The job is daunting but doable and Booker is a witty, glib guy who understands the business. At this stage of the game I see Booker T’s long term tenure with WWE as a ‘talker’ of which can take many forms and not as a full time wrestler.”
“Nonetheless I’m happy that apparently both Nash and Booker might wrap up their respective careers in WWE which seems to be fitting. Obviously any thing can happen that might alter that speculation but hopefully both men can return to the WWE fold and help the company in the aforementioned variety of ways.”
Sting To WWE? “Amazing that some fans actually swear that there is going to be an Undertaker vs. Sting match this year at Wrestlemania 27 in Atlanta. I would be shocked if that occurred but at the same time everyone has the right to fantasize about dream matches that they personally want to see. I still say that there would likely be a large part of the WWE TV audience that only watches WWE that would have to become familiar with the Stinger’s body of work. Not that it couldn’t be done, it could, but that matter would have to be addressed.”
“Cutting to the chase, I don’t see Sting in WWE any time soon and especially not in the ring vs. the Undertaker in the Georgia Dome. I do think that Sting would be well served to explore potential marketing opportunities with WWE especially considering that all his ‘greatest hits’ which were in WCW are now owned by WWE.”
— According to sources within World Wrestling Entertainment, organization officials’ top priority heading into 2011 was signing multi-time champion Steve Borden (a/k/a Sting) to a contract.
As reported earlier, TNA Wrestling sources indicate that Borden did not sign a new deal for 2011. The majority feeling within the Nashville based organization is that he is bound for World Wrestling Entertainment, although nobody knows that as a fact.
The New York Daily News notes in today’s edition that Borden has ‘reportedly’ signed a one-year contract with WWE. The reported signing, however, has yet to be confirmed elsewhere.
— WWE began running vignettes last night on Raw teasing the return or debut of a mysterious figure wearing a black trench coat on “2 21 11.” Original plans called for the video to air once, but Vince McMahon called an audible during the broadcast to play it again.
The New York Daily News newspaper is reporting today that wrestling icon Sting has signed a one-year contract with WWE.
Sting, arguably the biggest wrestling star of the past 20 years to never work for WWE, is reportedly a free agent and had not signed another 1-year contract extension with TNA, as he’s done in recent years.
WWE has been interested in working with Sting several times in the past, but the two were never able to come to terms on the specifics (money, schedule, etc.). Additionally, Sting was outspoken about the adult-themed content on WWE television in previous years, but the current PG-era has cleared that hurdle.
After checking with our sources, we are still unable to confirm this story, so for now take this as a rumor – but it’s a major story if this one pans out.
If true, he would almost certainly be working a match at WrestleMania, which takes place from Atlanta, Georgia, the former home of the company Sting had his biggest run in, WCW. Sting vs. The Undertaker has been talked about for years as one of the last big WrestleMania dream matches out there.
We’ll be sure to follow up on this story when new details become available.
Here’s the report from the NY Daily News:
Posted February 1st, 2011 in News, WWE. Tagged: Sting.
— Former TNA Wrestling production manager Randy Ricci noted on his blog that a ‘reliable source’ informed him that top brass such as Dixie Carter, Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff are very hopeful that the “They” storyline “saves the company.”
Ricci adds that the storyline is being built off Karen and Jeff Jarrett’s ‘real live heat’ with Kurt Angle and that any employee against the angle is considered to be working against the company and thus may be terminated.
— Sting, who is rumored to be returning to TNA Wrestling, is not scheduled for this week’s iMPACT tapings.
— Booker T and Kevin Nash were in negotiations to return to TNA Wrestling as late as last week, but both grapplers instead opted to return to World Wrestling Entertainment. Booker T personally informed company president Dixie Carter that he had declined TNA’s offer. Nash, however, did not. He verbally agreed to return to TNA and was slated to sign a contract this week. Carter discovered Nash bolting for WWE when the news broke online.
Last Thursday on TNA iMPACT!, Amazing Red’s “little” brother (officially known as “Crimson”) put Abyss in a chokehold backstage and delivered a cryptic message to him: “They are coming.”
“They” will mark the return of the Main Event Mafia and will consist of Kurt Angle and Scott Steiner, and possibly Sting, Kevin Nash and Booker T.
Steiner returned to TNA at last Wednesday’s iMPACT! taping and participated in a cliff hanger ending. He donned a suit reminiscent of his time in the Main Event Mafia. Angle is penciled in for the group, and many within the organization expect Sting to be too.
Many in TNA presume that Nash is on board for the group. However, he adamantly said last week on Twitter that he is not because he is retired. Internally, many believe Nash is kayfabing his absence from TNA, but those close to him indicate he’s legitimately retired.
Booker T’s status remains unknown at this point, other than he wasn’t believed to have signed as of last week. Some were pleased with his departure from the organization in October 2009 as there were complaints about his performance, attitude, refusal to put over Matt Morgan in a match, and his own admission that he was using the company as a way to audition for acting roles.
Bobby Lashley has been mentioned by those in TNA as a possible member of the group. However, those affiliated with the mixed martial artist don’t believe he’s returning to the wrestling organization. Lashley is currently a free agent as his contract with Strikeforce expired following his loss to Chad Griggs in August. The only thing of note he has done since then is work a wrestling match for the Japanese promotion Inoki Genome Federation (IGF) in September. He is not tentatively not scheduled for any upcoming shows.
“They” would initially feud with Immortal and Fortune. The angle begins on the Feb. 3 iMPACT!.
