Tag: sting

Sting remembers Hulk Hogan: He brought me up to ‘new levels’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Over the weekend, Sting remembered his late friend Hulk Hogan while making an appearance for Big Time Wrestling in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sting signed autographs and took photos with fans at Truist Field in Charlotte on Friday night. He also took a moment to pay tribute to Hogan, who passed away of cardiac arrest the day prior after experiencing weeks of complications from neck surgery.

“I loved Hulk Hogan. I still love him. I’m going to miss him,” Sting said at the Big Time Wrestling event. “He was a contributor to the wrestling industry as a whole like no one else. He brought everyone else up to new levels, he brought Sting up to new levels. Sting-Hogan, we broke attendance records all over the United States, here in Charlotte. We had buyrate, pay-per-view rates, record-breaking there with pay-per-views. Nintendo games, remember those, right? Nintendo 64, unbelievable.”

Sting and Hogan were rivals following Hogan’s 1996 heel turn, and they headlined Starrcade 1997 against each other in a match that both exemplified the highs of WCW and why the promotion ultimately lost the Monday Night War. Sting recalled that, when Hogan was first brought into WCW, there were people who asked him if he felt like management was having him step aside so Hogan could take the spotlight.

“I said, ‘No, I don’t feel like that at all. I feel like we have the king of kings here. I mean, Hulk Hogan, he is going to help put butts in seats, we’re all going to make more money, we’re all going to get better ratings. It’s going to be good all the way around.’ You look at what he did, he transcended wrestling,” Sting said. “No one else ever did. He was the first.”

Hogan has left behind a legacy of extreme highs and lows, including a racism scandal that saw him removed from the WWE Hall of Fame from 2015-2018. Sting did not address that but — from their personal interactions — remembered Hogan as a person who cared about people.

“He really did care for others. He cared for me,” Sting said. “He lifted me up, he lifted WCW up. I’m grateful to have known him. And I just couldn’t not acknowledge Hulk Hogan tonight in Charlotte, North Carolina.”

Sting, who remains under a licensing contract with AEW, retired from the ring in March 2024 and is currently on a “2025 or Never” tour of convention appearances that will last through the end of the year. He will still make appearances after 2025 but will no longer be doing so in the full Sting costume.

DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show: Why 1992 was the best-ish & worst-ish of times

Posted on by Karl Stern

As Karl Stern continues his look back at the 1990s in pro wrestling, he makes a stop in one of the strangest eras of pro wrestling history: 1992.

At that point, the pro wrestling business had cratered. Ticket sales were terrible, PPV was struggling, TV ratings were nothing impressive, and the business was scandal-ridden.

However, there were still plenty of great wrestlers. WCW, in particular, had many pieces to a great puzzle but no one to put it together. The NWA was still around for some reason.

This week, I look back at the WCW Great American Bash 1992 and how it represents just how bad, yet also good, things were then.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

Sting staying busy in post-wrestling life: ‘It’s all good’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

He’s been retired for more than a year now, but Sting is still keeping busy in his post-wrestling life.

The 66-year-old legend is currently on his “2025 or Never” tour of convention appearances. While at WrestleVerse Fest in Kansas City over the weekend, he spoke with Denise Salcedo and was asked how he’s enjoying retirement so far.

“I’m retired, but I’m on airplanes like multiple times a month, especially 2025. I’m blowing it out here,” Sting said. “I’ve always loved real estate, so I’m still dabbling in real estate. And I’m going to get more serious about that coming up here soon, probably 2026 when I’m not traveling so much. And it’s good because my body is healing up and I’m getting to spend more time with family and friends. And, yeah, it’s all good.”

These “2025 or Never” tour dates are the last time Sting will be appearing in full costume at conventions. He is not stepping away from convention bookings entirely but will no longer be appearing in full Sting makeup.

Sting had his final match at AEW Revolution in March 2024, teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks. Sting told Salcedo that he has not watched the PPV broadcast of that match yet — but that’s because he almost never watches his matches back.

“I see certain things, you know, fans or family members or friends will send a video, a 2-3 minute clip of something. I watch stuff like that. And I’m not saying I haven’t seen like a whole match of mine, but it’s rare,” Sting said. “It is so rare. When I’m done, I take that hat off and go on with the next part of my life.”

Sting is still under a licensing contract with AEW. He lives in Texas and will be in town for AEW All In 2025 in Arlington next month, where he’s been announced for an appearance at the Starrcast convention.

Sting to appear at Starrcast during AEW All In week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Sting is set for a convention appearance in Texas during AEW All In week.

It was announced today that Sting will be appearing at Starrcast Texas, which is taking place at the Sheraton Arlington Hotel on Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12. Starrcast is organized by podcast host Conrad Thompson, who is collaborating with AEW as the official convention partner of All In 2025.

Sting lives in Texas and is expected to be in attendance at the All In pay-per-view. Though he retired from the ring in 2024, the 66-year-old Sting remains with AEW on a licensing contract.

This appearance is part of Sting’s “2025 or Never” convention tour. While he’ll still be taking convention bookings after this year, he has announced that he’ll no longer be appearing in the full Sting costume and makeup once 2025 is over.

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, Swerve Strickland, Mina Shirakawa, Bryan Danielson, The Opps, The Hurt Syndicate, and Ric Flair are also among the first slate of names announced for Starrcast Texas.

Moxley and Storm already have title defenses booked for All In, facing off against Hangman Page and Mercedes Mone in those respective matches. The PPV is taking place at Globe Life Field in Arlington on the afternoon of July 12.

Also today, AEW announced a new event for All In week where fans can sing karaoke with wrestlers from the promotion. Thunder Rosa, Konosuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, Big Bill, Bryan Keith, and The Outrunners are advertised. The Champions Ballroom inside the Sheraton Arlington Hotel is hosting the karaoke event on Thursday, July 10.

Lex Luger hasn’t heard back about Sting inducting him into WWE Hall of Fame

Posted on by Ian Carey

Lex Luger hasn’t heard back from WWE regarding having Sting induct him into its Hall of Fame.

Speaking to Bill Apter, Luger said he asked about having both Sting and Diamond Dallas Page on stage with him at the April 18 ceremony.

“I ran it by WWE guys, Triple H’s right-hand man,” Luger said. “He goes, ‘I know what you’re going to ask. I’ll have to run that up the flagpole, but man, I don’t know.’ And I haven’t had an answer back on that, but obviously, maybe selfishly—somewhat selfishly—I think it’d be great for the fans too.”

Sting, who is under contract to AEW, would need Tony Khan’s permission to join Luger and DDP on stage.

“WWE may allow him up there, but he would also have to have permission from Tony Khan and AEW. So there’s a lot of moving parts there. But ideally, obviously, I would love to see both those guys up there with me. That would be huge for me and I think it’d be special for the fans too.”

Luger’s conversation with Apter is available below:

The 2025 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place on Friday, April 18 at the BleauLive Theater inside the Fontainebleau Las Vegas. The event begins after SmackDown, which will be held nearby at the T-Mobile Arena. In addition to Luger, this year’s Hall of Fame class includes Paul “Triple H” Levesque, Michelle McCool, and The Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon). Additionally, Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin from WrestleMania 13 will be the first “Immortal Moment” to be inducted, with both Hart and Austin expected to appear at the ceremony.

Tony Khan: Sting & I haven’t spoken about Lex Luger WWE Hall of Fame induction

Posted on by Josh Nason

To this point, AEW head Tony Khan said he and Sting haven’t spoken regarding inducting Lex Luger into the WWE Hall of Fame.

News emerged in March that Luger and those close to him made WWE aware that his longtime ally and friend was his preferred choice to induct him during WrestleMania 41 weekend in Las Vegas.

Khan was asked about the situation during a media call on Thursday. He said he talked to Sting before March’s Revolution and caught up on some “great memories,” but the possible induction never came up.

“The last time I talked to Sting, that didn’t come up. I would have to talk to him about that,” he said.

Sting is currently under an AEW contract and given the relationship between WWE and AEW, it’s unclear what it would take for Khan to grant him permission.

Luger, who is under a WWE Legends deal, was allowed at Sting’s retirement match at 2024’s Revolution, but WWE mandated he not appear on camera. AEW allowed Billy Gunn to appear at the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame ceremony when DX was inducted, but Paul “Triple H” Levesque infamously joked during the ceremony that Vince McMahon would buy that “little pissant company” just to fire Gunn again.

This year’s ceremony will take place at 1 AM Eastern/10 AM Pacific on Friday, April 18th.

Tony Khan AEW media call notes: Bandido, Sting & Lex Luger, spiked bat spot, Max viewership

Posted on by Josh Nason

Ahead of this Sunday’s AEW Dynasty pay-per-view in Philadelphia, AEW head Tony Khan held his usual pre-PPV media call was asked and answered questions about the Bandido/Chris Jericho match, Sting and the WWE Hall of Fame, the Max viewership report and more.

The full audio from the call can be heard below.

Bandido vs. Chris Jericho

Khan was asked if the match was off for Sunday since it’s disappeared from the website and wasn’t mentioned during the Dynamite rundown. Khan said there’s still one more TV show to go before Dynasty, but also said Bandido never formally accepted the mask vs. title challenge. He said he never confirmed the match for “good reasons” and then mentioned a reason being “the availability of Bandido to do the match and have the match play out safely for him and for us” which he didn’t clarify what that meant.

Sting and the WWE Hall of Fame

Asked about the potential of Sting inducting Lex Luger into the WWE Hall of Fame, Khan said he caught up with Sting in March but that topic didn’t come up and still hasn’t.

Max viewership

Khan didn’t deny anything written in the much-discussed BJ Bethel report this week about AEW viewership numbers on Max, but said he still he doesn’t get weekly reports like he does from Nielsen. He said he was excited about that report and that he does know AEW is one of the top sports events on Max week in and out, but not much else.

Moxley, Cope and Spike

Asked about some of the negative blowback online to the spiked bat to the back spot in the Jon Moxley vs. Cope match recently, Khan said it was a “hardcore moment,” put over how tough both guys were, and noted Moxley was able to wrestle this week. Khan overall didn’t sound like he put much weight in the negative comments.

For the full hour-long call, listen here.

Sting announces new dates for ‘2025 or Never’ convention tour

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Pro wrestling legend Sting has added some new dates to his 2025 convention tour.

Near the start of this year, Sting revealed that — after 2025 — he will no longer be appearing in face paint and full wrestling gear at conventions. He will still be making appearances in the years to come but will not be doing so in the full Sting costume.

“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,” he wrote in January. “I guess it’s 2025 or never. Wow. Tough to speak that out.”

Today, Sting made a social media post listing his updated schedule of appearances. He currently has more than 20 dates remaining before the end of the year:

  • April 5: Astronomicon in Ypsilanti, Michigan
  • April 6: SC Comic Con in Greenville, South Carolina
  • April 19-20: WrestleCon in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • April 27: Huntsville Expo in Huntsville, Alabama
  • May 3: Heart of Texas Comic Con in Waco, Texas
  • May 4: Pandora’s Box in Lafayette, New Jersey
  • May 24: GalaxyCon OKC in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • May 31: Arizona Collectors Expo in Phoenix, Arizona
  • June 28: WrestleVerse Fest in Kansas City, Missouri
  • July 25: Big Time Wrestling in Charlotte, North Carolina
  • August 2: WrestleCon in East Rutherford, New Jersey
  • August 9: Madison Comic Expo in Madison, Wisconsin
  • August 15: Monster-Mania Con in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
  • August 30: Wrestleverse Fest in Chattanooga, Tennessee
  • September 13: HorrorHound Weekend in Cincinnati, Ohio
  • September 20: Houston Celebrity Comic Con in Houston, Texas
  • October 4: Spookala in Tampa, Florida
  • October 11: Comic Con Scotland in Edinburgh, Scotland
  • November 8: Twin Cities Con in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • November 9: Rhode Island Comic Con in Providence, Rhode Island
  • December 20: Wrestleverse Fest in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Sting ended his in-ring career in triumphant fashion in March 2024, teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view. Sting retired as AEW Tag Team Champion and is still under a licensing deal with the promotion.

Lex Luger has requested for Sting to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame next month, but whether AEW will allow that remains to be seen. Sting will be in Las Vegas during WrestleMania weekend for his appearance at WrestleCon.

WOL: Chris Bey, Homicide, Dynamite, Sting and Luger

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including whether Sting should be allowed to induct Lex Luger into the Hall of Fame, AEW Dynamite from Wednesday night, Chris Bey and Homicide health updates, and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOR: AEW & NXT recaps, Sting & Luger WWE HOF talk, Cena & Cody

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Image: NWA

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including Lex Luger and Sting and whether Tony Khan should allow Sting to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame, Cody and Cena and The Rock, New Japan Cup, Goldberg returning soon, Homicide is retiring and why, AEW and NXT TV reports, Collision spoilers and tons more.

A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Margie Laszlo passes away
3:44: Lex Luger requests Sting for WWE Hall of Fame, Cody Rhodes and John Cena’s promo didn’t mention The Rock, NJPW Cup notes, Goldberg on Ariel Helwani
14:11: WWE announces European tour for this summer, Homicide retiring on Thursday
19:50: Ratings
33:03: AEW Dynamite recap
48:47: WWE NXT recap
1:00:11: AEW Collision spoilers

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Lex Luger informed WWE that Sting is preferred choice for Hall of Fame induction

Posted on by Josh Nason

Lex Luger would like Sting to induct him into the WWE Hall of Fame next month, but that’s far from a guarantee to happen.

Reported by Fightful Select on Wednesday, Luger and those close to him informed WWE that his longtime tag team partner would be his “preferred choice” to induct him during WrestleMania 41 weekend in Las Vegas. Sting will be in Las Vegas to take part in various non-WWE festivities and events during the week.

However, Sting is still under contract with AEW in some form and it’s assumed they would have to clear the appearance. It’s unknown if they have been contacted by WWE to do just that, but Fightful Select also noted “WWE was planning to make overtures if they hadn’t already about making that happen.”

Sting retired a champion at March 2024’s Revolution after he and Darby Allin successfully defended the AEW Tag Team titles against the Young Bucks. Luger was in attendance, but was asked by WWE to not be shown on camera which he agreed to. The 66-year-old is under a WWE Legends deal.

Friends and rivals throughout their careers, Luger and Sting held the WCW World Tag Team titles for 156 days in 1996. The last time they shared a ring together was at a 2003 TNA pay-per-view on opposite sides of a tag team match.

Sting was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2016.

Luger, Triple H and Michelle McCool have been officially announced for the ceremony which will take place on Friday, April 18th at 1 AM Eastern/10 PM Pacific at the BleauLive Theater in Las Vegas.

Sting announces ‘2025 or Never’ convention tour

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It’s now or never for fans wanting to meet Sting in full costume.

Last week, Sting announced that 2025 would be the last year he appears in full gear at conventions. He followed up on that today by sharing a list of appearances that he has scheduled for this year. There are 13 conventions currently listed with more dates set to be added soon. He is billing it as the “2025 or Never” tour.

Here is the current list of dates:

  • January 31: WrestleCon in Indianapolis, Indiana
  • February 8: MEGACON in Orlando, Florida
  • February 15: For the Love of Wrestling in Manchester, England
  • March 8: Lexington Comic & Toy Con in Lexington, Kentucky
  • March 15: Permian Basin Comic Con in Midland, Texas
  • April 5: Astronomicon in Ypsilanti, Michigan
  • April 20: WrestleCon in Las Vegas, Nevada
  • May 3: Heart of Texas Comic Con in Waco, Texas
  • May 24: GalaxyCon OKC in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
  • June 28: WrestleVerse Fest in Kansas City, Missouri
  • September 20: Houston Celebrity Comic Con in Houston, Texas
  • November 8: Twin Cities Con in Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • November 9: Rhode Island Comic Con in Providence, Rhode Island

Sting will still be taking convention bookings after 2025 but will not be appearing in his full costume.

In March 2024, Sting retired from the ring with his final match taking place at AEW Revolution. He went out with a victory, teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks. Sting still remains part of AEW despite his time in the ring being over. He has signed a multi-year licensing deal with the promotion.

Sting — who lives in Texas — is expected to be in attendance at AEW’s All In pay-per-view this July. The show is being held at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Sting makes announcement regarding future convention appearances

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After this year, Sting is making a change to how he conducts personal appearances.

The 65-year-old wrestling legend posted a message to his social media accounts today announcing that 2025 will be the last year he appears in full gear at conventions. He will still be making appearances after that but will not be dressing in the full Sting costume.

“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 wrote. “I guess it’s 2025 or never. Wow. Tough to speak that out.”

Sting retired from the ring with his final match taking place at AEW Revolution in Greensboro, North Carolina in March 2024. He was victorious in his last match, teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks.

Still part of AEW with a multi-year licensing deal, it’s expected that Sting — who lives in Texas — will be in attendance at All In 2025 on Saturday, July 12. The pay-per-view is taking place from Globe Life Field in Arlington.

JNPO wrestling year in review series: Out with the Sting & in with the Mone

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: JJ Williams

My 2024 pro wrestling year in review series rolls on with a stop in March which was a big one for AEW which saw the retirement of Sting and the welcome mat rolled out for free agent signings Mercedes Mone and Kazuchika Okada.

Joining me is returning guest Jesse Collings of Voices of Wrestling and the Gentlemen’s Wrestling Podcast.

Some of the other topics we hit on:

  • Thoughts on the final run of Sting and how successful Revolution did
  • Whether Mone and Okada have worked for AEW or not
  • The final build toward WWE WrestleMania 40 and how The Rock was part of seemingly everything
  • All the big happenings in WWE, AEW, TNA, NJPW and the rest of the non-organizational news (deaths, marriages, kids, etc).

Click here to listen

Steven Borden gives update on wrestling training, ‘tough conversation’ with father Sting

Posted on by Joseph Currier

It was a “tough conversation” when Steven Borden told his father Sting that he had aspirations of becoming a professional wrestler.

While appearing on The Von Erichs podcast this week, Borden said he had hardly ever stepped into a wrestling ring before being part of Sting’s retirement tour in AEW. Borden has since trained with Darby Allin, Adam Copeland, and FTR in preparation for an in-ring career.

Borden told Marshall & Ross Von Erich that he got a lecture from his legendary father after telling him that he wanted to be a wrestler.

“When I told him I wanted to wrestle? Uh, no, that was a tough conversation [laughs],” Borden said. “I was dreading it. You guys probably got a similar lecture [from Kevin Von Erich].”

Borden said he trains as often as he can and has been flying back and forth from California for his training with Copeland and FTR in North Carolina. Borden hopes that will be a more long-term thing at some point soon. He also credited Allin and Beth Phoenix for helping him.

A former college football player, Borden played tight end for the University of Kentucky and attempted to make it onto an NFL roster post-college.

Sting’s sons Steven and Garrett Borden both appeared for AEW during the final stages of their father’s in-ring career, including being involved in his retirement match. Sting retired at Revolution this March, teaming with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks. Sting has signed a multi-year licensing deal with AEW following his retirement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_I-I12eli0