Before it comes to an end, Darby Allin took some time to reflect on his AEW tag team run with Sting.
Sting will have the final match of his career when he retires at AEW Revolution this Sunday (March 3). Sting & Allin are defending their AEW Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks in a tornado tag match at the pay-per-view.
The Players’ Tribune published an article on Tuesday where Allin wrote about how much working with Sting has meant to him. Allin wrote that “don’t meet your heroes” is a saying that’s often true in the wrestling business. Allin believes there’s a cycle where the industry brings out the worst in some people, especially when they’re on their way out. But that hasn’t been true for Sting.
Allin didn’t know what to expect when he and Sting were paired together, but — from the first interaction they had — Sting was so nice. Allin described meeting Sting before Winter is Coming 2020:
An hour before the show, Cody pulled me aside. He was like, ‘Alright. Sting’s here. I want you to meet him before you go out there.’ Then he walked me over to Sting’s trailer. It happened so fast, I barely had time to remember how nervous I was. But there was nothing to be nervous about. We started talking through the segment, and it was actually wild: there was no ego from him, no big-timing, no This is how it’s gonna happen, kid. None of that. If anything, it was the other way around. He was asking me how it’s gonna happen, and if I was OK with this, this and this, and if everything was cool. We’re talking about a guy who’s headlined some of the biggest shows ever, made sh*tloads of money, been on top longer than I’ve been alive. He’s showing up for this massive return. And his main concern is that I’m feeling comfortable. A 27-year-old nobody who he’s probably thinking jacked half his look. I was just like, WHAT IS HAPPENING. THIS IS INSANE. HOW IS STING SO NICE.
Allin called that interaction the start of an amazing ride. “And now that the ride’s almost over, I can tell you for sure: Sting really is that dude,” he wrote.
Allin said he’s so glad this retirement match is happening. Before the match, Allin is going to remind Sting to have fun. After it’s over, he’s going to tell Sting “thank you.”
Man, I know it’s such a small part of Sting’s career in the big picture, this one match, but I’m so glad it’s happening. So many guys end their careers on the worst possible note. Either the business embarrasses them, or they embarrass it, or both. It’s depressing. Like I said — wrestling can be a sh*tty cycle. And if there’s one last chapter of Sting’s legacy that gets written, I hope it’s this: Cycles can be broken. The wrestling business, it actually can treat older wrestlers with respect, and not spit on them on their way out. And older wrestlers, they actually can give instead of take. They can go out with grace and not like a bitch.
Before the match, I’m going to tell Sting the same thing I’ve been telling him this whole time — which is HAVE FUN. That’s it. That’s the one rule. Nothing else matters.
After the match, I’m going to tell him the only thing there’s left to say: Thank you.
I didn’t just get to meet a hero, I got to find out he’s a hero worth having.
It was an honor, truly. It’s been the time of my life.
Sting & Allin won the AEW Tag Team titles from Ricky Starks & Big Bill on the February 7 episode of Dynamite.
As part of the final build to Revolution, Sting & Allin will appear together on Dynamite this Wednesday. It’s Sting’s final Dynamite as an active wrestler.
As Sting’s wrestling career enters its final days, Paul Wight has plenty of good things to say about his long-time friend and former in-ring rival.
Wight recently spoke to Sports Illustrated about Sting’s upcoming retirement. During the interview, Wight explained how important of an influence Sting was on him early in his career:
Somebody has to cook and somebody has to eat, and Sting taught me that core philosophy. I learned that my first job in a match is to get my opponent over, then get the match over. That’s Point A and Point B. If you do that right, you’ll automatically get yourself over. That’s not, ‘You do your stuff, I’ll do my stuff.’
It’s bigger than you. Some guys only take care of themselves, and good for them. But the guys I respect most are the ones who make people better in the ring. That’s someone like Ric Flair, he has to be mentioned. So does Sting. I couldn’t have asked for a better influence early in my career.
Wight said that, when he was inexperienced starting out in WCW, a lot of people didn’t know how to work with him. But Sting loved the story of being the underdog and trying to chop down a giant.
I used to think wrestling was so hard. It’s not when you know your character and know your opponent. Sting is a master at that.
My role was to be the monster that the knight needed to slay. Sting knew that the more he fought from underneath, the better the story would be. He had great timing and patience, which let the crowd really get behind him–then he fed off that energy. He had a way of showing that, the more you cheered for him, the stronger he would be.
Wight believes that the pro wrestling industry wouldn’t be where it is today without Sting’s contributions:
Sting made towns for WCW and became a household name. If you booked Sting in Tupelo, Mississippi on a Saturday night, Sting would show up and do it. He put in the work and became their franchise guy. He became a legend in Japan, too. He’s now an incredible asset for AEW. Sting is a guy who understood what it is like to work against guys who were really good, but the wrestling world didn’t know them yet. He did that for Crockett Promotions, WCW, TNA, and now again in AEW.
Sting’s the guy that always understood what this is about. Whether he was getting his shoulders pinned, or getting his arm raised, he made sure the crowd enjoyed the hell out of a match. He never got involved in the locker room drama. When there were problems, he worked through them. For him, this was never about ego.
I wouldn’t be where I am without him, and wrestling wouldn’t be where it is, either.
Sting’s retirement match headlines AEW Revolution in Greensboro, North Carolina this Sunday (March 3). At the pay-per-view, Sting & Darby Allin are defending their AEW Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks in a tornado tag bout.
Before Revolution, Sting is set to appear on Dynamite this Wednesday. It will be Sting’s final appearance on TBS as an active wrestler.
The 52-year-old Wight is signed to AEW and works as part of their community outreach program. He still occasionally competes in the ring, most recently wrestling for AEW in an eight-man tag team street fight last November.
Despite their involvement in a recent AEW angle, it doesn’t look like we’ll ever see Sting’s sons Garrett and Steven Jr. compete in the ring.
Darby Allin told Digital Spy that the two Borden sons aren’t interested in becoming wrestlers. Allin said he’s asked Sting if Garrett and Steven have ever tried wrestling, but Sting said it’s just not something they’ve wanted to do:
They’re not interested at all. I’ve asked [Sting] I was like, ‘I’m just curious, I really want to know have your sons ever tried this?’ And he said, ‘No, they’re not interested.’
It just wasn’t a thing that they wanted to do, but I was curious because they’re pretty big dudes. They should get together, become a tag team – that would be cool.
Garrett and Steven were sitting in the front row when Sting & Allin won the AEW Tag Team titles earlier this month. They celebrated the victory with their father, but The Young Bucks then attacked Sting, Allin, Garrett, and Steven with baseball bats.
Garrett and Steven both played football in college.
Sting’s daughter-in-law Katelyn, who is married to Garrett, works as AEW’s director of community engagement and wrestles on the indies as Jael. She’s been trained by Dustin Rhodes at the Rhodes Wrestling Academy.
Sting’s retirement match will headline AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view in Greensboro, North Carolina on Sunday, March 3. Sting & Allin are defending their AEW Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks in the match.
Allin spoke to Digital Spy about winning the Tag Team titles with Sting:
It was so important and to share that with him because he’ll stop at nothing and I’ll stop at nothing to make sure that his career ends on a high note.
He’s not one of these guys that’s just going to ride off in the sunset and phone it in and take it easy. Talk about a dude who’s still jumping off balconies and going crazy.
So it was just awesome that we had this moment after all the craziness we’ve done in AEW. That was like the perfect ending.
On Dynamite next Wednesday (February 28), Sting will make his final appearance on the show before retirement. It’s Dynamite’s go-home episode for Revolution.
Before he retires, Sting is set to make one more AEW Dynamite appearance.
Tony Khan has announced that Sting will appear on Wednesday night’s Dynamite episode from Huntsville, Alabama. It’s the go-home show for Revolution, where Sting will have the final match of his career. Sting & Darby Allin are defending their AEW Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks at the March 3 pay-per-view.
Khan clarified that Sting may show up on AEW programming in the future to say hello to the fans, but this will be Sting’s final appearance on TBS as a pro wrestler:
This Wednesday, co-holder of the @AEW World Tag Team Championship @Sting makes his final appearance on TBS after 36 iconic years on top!
He may stop by in the future to say hello to the @AEW fans from time to time, but after next week, we all have to face the reality, it’s over, Sting is retiring after #AEWRevolution and his last ever appearance as a professional wrestler on TBS is this Wednesday in Huntsville.
A promo with Sting & Allin sending a message to The Young Bucks aired on Dynamite earlier this week:
Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center is hosting Wednesday’s Dynamite. Here’s what’s been announced for the show so far:
AEW Dynamite (Wednesday, February 28) —
Sting makes his final Dynamite appearance before retirement
Kevin Nash says Sting asked him to be there for his final match.
Nash and Sting worked together frequently throughout their careers, beginning in 1991 when Nash was wrestling as Oz in Jim Herd-era WCW. They would later team together as members of the NWO Wolfpac, The Millionaires Club, and then as part of The Main Event Mafia in TNA.
On a recent episode of his Kliq This podcast, Nash revealed that he is not able to attend AEW Revolution.
Nash said:
(Sting) asked me to be a part of it, and I just said that because of my positioning with the company, with WWE, I couldn’t even be there if I went in the crowd.
When asked what Sting wanted him to do for his last match, Nash responded:
I just think he wanted me to be there because I was just one of the guys that (was) with him the whole run.
He continued to say Sting was disappointed that Nash will not be there.
Yeah, I think he was disappointed. I mean, I was disappointed, but I just knew. I asked. You know when you ask, and there’s that three, four-second pause and it’s just like, okay.
Sting’s final match is set for AEW Revolution on Saturday, March 3 at The Greensboro Coliseum. He is set to team with Darby Allin to defend the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Young Bucks.
He and Darby Allin will defend the AEW Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks on March 3 at the Greensboro Coliseum in North Carolina. Allin accepted the challenge on behalf of Sting after he made the save for Tony Schiavone on Wednesday’s Dynamite, right as Nicholas and Matthew were about to attack.
Allin told The Young Bucks that their original mission statement when founding AEW was about changing the world, but after they re-signed with AEW, all they talked about was how the money and travel schedule were right. He said The Young Bucks had no idea what they were getting into, as Sting is someone that has nothing to lose.
Last month, The Young Bucks returned after taking a leave of absence and have since emphasized their roles as EVPs of AEW, preferring to go by their full names of Nicholas and Matthew Jackson. On last week’s Dynamite, they brutally attacked Sting and Darby Allin, leaving them a bloody mess. On this week’s show, they continued to wear their blood-soaked suits as they defeated Top Flight.
Here is the updated lineup for Revolution:
Sting’s retirement match: Sting & Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks
AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe defends against Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy defends against Roderick Strong
AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm vs. Deonna Purrazzo
AEW Continental Crown Championship: Eddie Kingston defends against Bryan Danielson
After Thursday night, Cody Rhodes is officially back in the WrestleMania main event game, but was he ever really out?
On this week’s Wrestling Weekly, Les Thatcher and I discuss this as well as the excellent confrontation between Rhodes, The Rock, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins at the WrestleMania press conference, the Young Bucks’ attack on new AEW Tag Team champions Sting & Darby Allin, and the firing of Scott D’Amore from TNA.
Sting & Darby Allin are the new AEW Tag Team Champions.
The two defeated Big Bill & Ricky Starks to win the titles for the first time on Wednesday, continuing Sting’s undefeated streak and their own undefeated streak as a tag team. The finish came when Allin managed to put both himself and Bill through a table. In the ring, Starks escaped from the scorpion deathlock, but Sting then hit the scorpion death drop for the win.
As Sting & Allin were celebrating, The Young Bucks suddenly entered the ring and attacked both with baseball bats. They had previously expressed interest in facing Sting & Allin ever since they made their return to the company in January, now going by their given names Nicholas and Matthew. After bloodying both men, they briefly held the tag titles before dropping them on top of the new champions.
Bill & Starks had held the titles for 123 days, defeating FTR on the October 7 edition of Collision. Back on the January 24 edition of Dynamite, Allin asked Sting if they wanted to challenge for the Tag Team titles. Sting agreed, and the champions later accepted their challenge backstage.
Sting & Darby Allin challenge for the Tag Team titles, plus Tony Khan will have a big announcement on tonight’s AEW Dynamite.
Ricky Starks & Big Bill defending the Tag titles against Sting & Allin in a tornado tag match is the headline bout for tonight’s show, as Sting will have the chance to add one more championship to his resume before his retirement match next month.
AEW owner Tony Khan has also promised a big announcement on tonight’s episode.
Also on the card, Samoa Joe’s World title challenger for Revolution will be decided when Swerve Strickland & Hangman Page go one-on-one.
Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will face Red Velvet in a title eliminator match with top contender Deonna Purrazzo on commentary.
Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli will take on CMLL’s Mascara Dorada, Volador Jr. & Hechicero in a trios bout.
Chris Jericho vs. Konosuke Takeshita is also set for tonight’s show.
AEW Dynamite comes on the air with Excalibur welcoming us alongside Tony Schiavone and Taz as we immediately go to big fight entrances for our opening contest to see who will get the AEW World Title shot at Revolution against Samoa Joe.
Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) vs. Hangman Adam Page ended in a Time Limit Draw
(A whole heck of a lot happened here folks, as this was one of the best Dynamite openers in a very long time. The pace was slow to start, but it really built up over time and the crowd only got more and more into it. I’m glad they only mentioned the time limit once and didn’t do any countdowns, as the finish felt like it came out of nowhere. Post match really made Page feel like the heel, trying to weasel his way out of having to go any longer than he needed. I don’t know why he was ranked ahead of Strickland to begin with, seeing as Strickland has more wins over him, but that’s a whole other Rankings argument I’ll leave others to have. Regardless, it’s the finish we all expected and Revolution should be one hell of a World Title match.)
With the intense history these two have had, I was surprised by the standard lock ups that started this match. Strickland shot a double leg and both men spilled to the floor and over the barricade. Back in the ring, Page briefly controlled with strikes until Strickland delivered a big boot to gain the advantage. Page answered with a fall away slam and kip up, taking in more jeers than cheers from the crowd as he delivered ground and pound. Strickland bit at the thumb and applied an Octopus Hold, tried to snap the arm back, but Page escaped and hit a springboard lariat to the neck on the apron. Page slowly picked apart Strickland both outside and back in the ring, as finally Strickland fought back with corner chops until a gut punch and low dropkick got Page a two. Page wanted his top rope moonsault to the floor, but Strickland moved, Page landed on his feet and ran into a rolling Flatliner from Strickland. After a head of steam, Strickland hit a leaping back flip dive over the top to the floor, as back inside, Strickland delivered an uppercut to the spine.
House Call connected, but Page kicked out, as both men fought into the corner, with Page trying a sunset flip powerbomb, but Strickland backflipped out, landing right on his head in the process and hit a spin kick to the head. Strickland wanted a JML Driver, but Page spun out into a Liger Bomb for two. Page, getting booed loudly now, tried a Buckshot, but Strickland dodged and hit a Buckshot of his own, followed by a Swerve Stomp for a close two. Page rolled outside and ate a Strickland pump kick, as Strickland wanted a piledriver while balancing on the guard rail, but Page countered into a DDT on the barricade to head to picture in picture.
During break, Page set up a table ringside and things returned to both men trading big boots before crumbling simultaneously. After laughing in Page’s face from the strikes thrown, Strickland answered with a back breaker and hung up Page in a Tree of Woe facing the outside of the ring. Strickland delivered a Swerve Stomp, as Page rolled to the table, which collapsed, so Strickland went and set up another. Strickland tried a 450 back inside, but Page got the knees up, as Justin Roberts announced 5 minutes remaining. Page skinned the cat and leveled Strickland with a lariat before a Buckshot turned Strickland inside out, but a foot on the rope broke the pin. Page connected with Dead Eye on the apron and told Paul Turner to count Strickland out. Knowing that he was asked not to get involved, Prince Nana just started dancing frantically and this seemed to help Strickland break the count at 9.
Page hit a baseball slide, grabbed a chair and screamed at Strickland to stay down, but decked Nana instead. The attention turned allowed Strickland to capitalize and hit the Swerve Stomp flush, but clutched his ankle in the process. Strickland tried a JML Driver, but Page rolled out and wrenched at the ankle. Both fought to the apron again and this time, Strickland hit Dead Eye through the table. Somehow both made it back in the ring, as Strickland wanted a third Swerve Stomp, but Page moved and Strickland collapsed. Page wanted a Buckshot, but Strickland dodged and hit the JML Driver, but the time limit expired right at the two count. The fans couldn’t believe it, they were furious. Strickland took the mic and demanded 5 more minutes, as Page was laughing, saying it was Strickland who needed to beat him to become number one contender, but didn’t do it. Page said Strickland won’t become World Champion. Tony Schiavone stood up and said he received word from Tony Khan that there are 2 Number One Contenders and it’ll be a Triple Threat at Revolution for the AEW World Title. Page was furious and stormed to the back, while Strickland smiled.
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-Renee Paquette was backstage with Samoa Joe, asking for his thoughts on what just happened. Joe said acted happy at first, but was furious that this happened, saying both men will suffer because of this.
Timeless Toni Storm (w/Luther & Mariah May) defeated Red Velvet
(This was a pretty basic match, as Storm sent a message to her Revolution challenger that her submission game can’t be counted out.)
Deonna Purrazzo joined commentary for this contest, as Velvet tried a fast start, connecting on a leg lariat and chops in the corner. Velvet opted to play to the crowd and Storm answered with a Thesz Press and Sky High for two. Mariah May admired Storm keeping Velvet grounded throughout the entire commercial break. Velvet mounted her comeback with corner strikes and another leg lariat before a cazadora bulldog led to double knees to the back in the ropes. Velvet tried a corner charge, but Storm swept the leg, sending Velvet face first into the buckle. Storm followed with a violent Sweet Cheek Music and DDT, but Velvet kicked out. Slow to follow, Storm nearly got rolled up for two, as Velvet missed a corkscrew kick and Storm sank in an ankle lock, while staring down Purrazzo. Velvet tapped, as Storm refused to let the hold go, causing Purrazzo to leave commentary to have a face off. Storm kissed Purrazzo on the cheek before Luther stepped in between and ushered Storm to the back with May.
-Renee Paquette is backstage with Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero, asking Cassidy about wrestling Tomohiro Ishii on Collision after having a 6 Man Tag on Rampage. Cassidy said he’ll be fine, as Paquette asked about how Chuck Taylor is doing, with Cassidy saying Chuckie T is there tonight, he’s getting checked on by doctors. Paquette requested they all bring it in for a handshake and everyone awkwardly obliged and left the shot. This was the exact kind of awkwardness you’d expect from a Cassidy promo.
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Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli defeated Mascara Dorada, Volador Jr. & Hechicero
(I really enjoyed this clash of styles and by the looks of it; this is just the start of the BCC vs. CMLL feud. I liked how into this match the crowd was as well. The finish certainly builds to a rematch or series of matches, as Castagnoli got the win, by any means necessary.)
Mistico is seated in the front row along with Star Jr. & Esfinge, as Danielson & Hechicero picked up where they left off on Collision. Hechicero applied a rolling bow and arrow, Danielson escaped and Hechicero got a rolling cradle for two. Castagnoli & Dorada tagged in and had a face off that showed off Castagnoli’s size advantage, which Dorada didn’t care about, as he threw fastball chops. After trying to use his speed, Castagnoli was sent outside with an impressive head scissors, but stepped aside before Dorada could even attempt a dive. Moxley & Volador came in and immediately slugged it out, before each connected on a Tope. After each connected on the move, they had boots put to them by the others teammates as things went to commercial.
When things returned, Castagnoli had Volador in a Giant Swing before Moxley made the tag and got a quick two count. Moxley poured on the offense before Volador dodged a lariat and hit a thrust kick to make the hot tag to Dorada. After getting hung up in the ropes, Dorada hit a double arm drag on Moxley & Danielson before launching off Moxley’s back to drop Danielson with a head scissors. An incredible spinning head scissors sent Castagnoli out to the floor with his teammates, as Hechicero & Volador hit stereo Topes before Dorada followed with a Shooting Star off the middle rope. Hechicero dropped Danielson with the spinning hammerlock into the back breaker, as Dorado followed with a 450 for two. Moxley & Castagnoli returned to clean house, but Dorada hit a wild up and over Code Red on Castagnoli for two as well.
Volador dropped Moxley with a thrust kick and backstabber, but Danielson was there to follow with a Busaiku Knee. Hechicero flew in with a diving lariat before a chop battle with Castagnoli ensued. Cazadora was blocked, but Hechicero hit a spinning leg submission, which Danielson broke up. Hechicero tried to wrap up Danielson with a Stretch Muffler, but Moxley made the save. The match continued to break down until Hechicero hit a spinning guillotine legdrop on Castagnoli for two. Castagnoli sent Hechicero into the ref and it allowed Castagnoli to hit a low blow and get the roll up for the win.
Post match, Mistico, Star Jr. & Esfinge came in the ring for a face off, but with BCC outnumbered, Matt Sydal, Christopher Daniels, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker ran out to even the odds with all 12 men staring each other down.
-We go backstage to Chuck Taylor being laid out by The Undisputed Kingdom, as Adam Cole said “Get Well Soon, Chuck.” Clearly Cole still holds a grudge over Taylor making fun of him all those years on PWG commentary. If I were Excalibur, I’d be scared he’s next.
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Tony Khan’s Big Announcement
Khan is backstage and said fans might have heard earlier today that AEW Dynamite is coming to the TD Garden in Boston on March 13. On that important night, it will be AEW Big Business. It will be one of the most important nights in AEW history and one the entire pro wrestling industry will remember. Tickets go on sale this Saturday.
Konosuke Takeshita (w/Don Callis & Powerhouse Hobbs) submitted Chris Jericho
(Some of the bumps in this match were rough, as there were times Jericho’s head really snapped or bounced off the mat. It’s a big win for Takeshita, as I have no idea where Jericho goes from here in his feud with Callis, as it’s Guevara who is set up to face Hobbs next. Speaking of, Hobbs’ back is so large; why Guevara needed a chair shot to the head in this one instead of just multiple shots to the back is beyond me. It even got a groan from Tony Schiavone on commentary.)
After trading shoulder tackles, Jericho connected on a stiff forearm, clotheslining Takeshita to the floor. Callis, showing tough love, slapped Takeshita to wake him up, as Jericho flew in on the attack. Takeshita promptly turned the tables and was relentless, dropping Jericho with a brainbuster on the floor. The crowd cheered Takeshita, who hit a second rope senton back inside, following it with a Takeshita-line. Jericho went up and over in the corner and connected on a double axe handle, but Hobbs tripped the leg, allowing Takeshtia to regain control. Hobbs was then cracked with a chair in the back by Sammy Guevara, no selling it, as Guevara hit a Cutter off the apron. Hobbs stumbled around and Guevara decked him with a brutal unprotected chair shot to the head and both fought through the crowd to the back. Jericho sent Takeshita to the floor and put on the Demon mask that Takeshita wears before trying a dive. Problem was, Jericho couldn’t see where Takeshita was and just barely clipped him.
Back from break, Takeshtia delivered a sit out F-5 and violent running boot that sent Jericho’s head snapping against the ropes. Takeshita followed with an over the top dive outside before back inside, Takeshita wanted a top rope senton, but Jericho got the knees up. Jericho wanted the Lionsault, but Takeshita got knees up of his own. Forearm battle ensued, as Jericho attempted the Walls of Jericho, which Takeshita rolled through, tried a Crunchy, but mistimed it and both landed awkwardly. Thankfully, the follow up wheelbarrow German landed flush. Takeshita-line was countered into a Code Breaker, as Jericho hit the bulldog, but Takeshita countered a Lionsault into the Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Both men blocked home run shots until Jericho tried a corner hurricanrana, which Takeshita slipped out of and hit an Avalanche Blue Thunder Bomb for a close two. Jericho’s head really bounced off the apron.
Takeshita hit the Power Drive knee and tried another, but Jericho blocked it into the Walls of Jericho. Callis threw a chair in the ring to distract the ref, as with the attention turned, Callis popped Jericho with the screwdriver. Takeshita locked in the Walls of Jericho and Jericho almost faded with the arm dropping twice, so Takeshita switched to a Lion Tamer and Jericho immediately tapped.
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Sting & Darby Allin defeated Ricky Starks & Big Bill to win the AEW Tag Team Titles in a Tornado Tag
(This was exactly what you’d expect from a Sting & Allin Tornado Tag, as we got insane Allin bumps, the age defying dive from Sting and the crowd were into it every step of the way. The story here was Starks had a brief moment of respect for Sting at the absolute worst time, as the hesitation cost he & Bill the titles. I’m not sure where they go from here, but I really enjoyed their work as a tag team and hope this isn’t the end for them. As for the post match, the idea to have The Bucks wear white suits and Allin’s blood cover it to end the show was a perfect visual for the heels. Sting will be hell bent for revenge not just for Allin, but for The Bucks attacking his sons as well.)
Sting hugged his children that are seated in the front row for the upcoming main event. Bell sounded and Bill immediately slammed Allin into the guard rail in front of Sting’s family, while Sting & Starks brawled into the crowd, but Sting disappeared after some time. As Bill & Starks beat up Allin, we saw Sting appear in the balcony and did what’s become his signature dive onto the pile. At 64 years old, Sting was up first as things went to picture in picture.
When things returned, Sting hit a Stinger Splash against the barricade on Bill, who no sold and just ran through Sting. Allin tried a Tope on Bill, who caught Allin in mid air with a Boss Man Slam, which looked visually incredible. Back in the ring, Bill lifted Allin up in a choke before just slamming him down, bouncing Allin’s head off the mat like a ball until throwing Allin clear over his head. Bill & Starks set up a table ringside, as Starks called for Bill to press slam Allin through it, but Sting made the save, fighting off both men. Sting ran wild, ultimately dodging a Bill big boot, crotching the big man in the process. Starks snuck up from behind and laid out Sting with a Scorpion Death Drop, as Allin broke up the pin. Allin & Starks slugged it out before Starks backflipped out of the corner and tweaked his ankle.
Sting & Allin traded Stinger & Coffin Splashes on Bill in the corner before a Code Red and follow up Coffin Drop to the floor by Allin connected on Bill. Starks missed an enzugiri on Sting, who locked in the Scorpion Death Lock, but Bill appeared in the frame, with Allin on his back in a sleeper. Bill made it to the apron before Allin spun around, gouged the eyes and both fell through the set up table. Starks got the ropes, but Tornado Tag means no breaks, as Sting still let the hold go. Sting tried a Stinger Splash, but Starks moved and Sting hit the exposed buckle. Starks briefly hesitated, as Sting fired up and Starks hit the Spear for a close two. Starks tried another Spear, but ran into a Scorpion Death Drop and Sting got the win.
Post match, Sting’s sons hop the rail and celebrate with their father on the apron, as Starks is looking very dejected. Taz asks what this means, as Sting is set to retire next month as confetti rains down until Matthew & Nicholas Jackson appear in white suits and matching baseball bats. The Young Bucks laid out Sting, Allin and both of Sting’s sons, as Allin is split opened and the blood is all over The Bucks suits as they hit a BTE Trigger, which has been renamed to EVP Trigger. After more bat shots to the ribs of Sting, The Bucks stood tall, as commentary said no one came out to help since The Bucks are EVPs and they must fear for their jobs. The Bucks hold up the AEW Tag Team Titles in their blood covered suits to end the show. Excalibur told us The Bucks’ reputation is officially destroyed.
AEW Rampage 2/9/24
· Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta & Rocky Romero take on Roderick Strong, Matt Taven & Mike Bennett
AEW Collision 2/10/24
· Orange Cassidy defends the AEW International Title against Tomohiro Ishii
· Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli take on CMLL’s Star Jr. & Esfinge
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including more on Vince McMahon and Janel Grant, Shawn Michaels’ reaction when asked at the NXT press conference, Vengeance Day line-up, thoughts on Dynamite and who should win the Sting & Darby title match next week, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
As his career winds down, Sting will get an opportunity to challenge for the AEW Tag Team titles.
He and Darby Allin will face current champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks on the Wednesday, February 7th edition of AEW Dynamite in Phoenix, Arizona.
In a promo on Wednesday’s show, Allin pointed out how they were undefeated as a team in AEW which he felt put them in line for a title shot. Allin asked him, “You still got it?” Sting then replied, “I’m all in.”
Sting and Darby Allin address the #AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill and Ricky Starks!
Sting will be looking for his first AEW title of any kind while Allin is a former two-time TNT titleholder. Sting hasn’t lost in any match he’s been part of since making his debut in March 2021.
Starks & Bill have successfully defended their titles three times since winning them from FTR in October 2023.
Sting’s final match will come at March’s Revolution pay-per-view in Greensboro, North Carolina, as he teams with Allin to take on the Young Bucks.
Sting believes Konosuke Takeshita has all of the tools needed to be a star in AEW.
In the main event of Dynamite this week, Sting & Darby Allin defeated Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs in a tornado tag match. It was the second time that Sting and Takeshita have faced each other. They were also on opposite sides of an eight-man tag match at AEW’s Worlds End pay-per-view in December.
The 28-year-old Takeshita posted a tweet on Thursday reflecting on how special it was to share the ring with Sting. Takeshita wrote that watching Sting and The Great Muta’s rivalry had a huge impact on him when he was younger:
To be honest, it was very special to be able to fight against Sting. Sting vs Great Muta VHS had a huge impact on me as a kid. Thanks. Then…Who should I target next?
Another Great Muta in the making. He has all the tools, for sure.
In September 2022, Sting and Muta reunited on AEW Rampage, which led to Sting and Allin teaming with Keiji Muto in Pro Wrestling NOAH for Muto’s last-ever match as The Great Muta character.
Sting has less than two months left before the end of his in-ring career. Sting’s retirement match will be at AEW Revolution in Greensboro, North Carolina on Sunday, March 3. At the end of Dynamite this week, it was set up that Sting & Allin will be facing The Young Bucks at Revolution.
In the new edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer explained how The Young Bucks were chosen for Sting’s final match.
This week’s episode of Dynamite ended with it being revealed that The Young Bucks will be part of Sting’s retirement match. It was set up that Sting & Darby Allin will be facing Matt & Nick Jackson at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view this March.
The Young Bucks made their return to AEW television for Wednesday’s angle. Meltzer notes that The Young Bucks were originally supposed to have more time off, but Sting asked them to be his retirement match opponents. Part of the reason for that choice is because Sting loved working with The Young Bucks in the trios match they had at Forbidden Door 2022.
Tony Khan was going to give Sting the option to pick whoever he wanted to face, and that would include pretty much anyone on the AEW roster or most other rosters besides WWE since Khan would have given him any match he wanted that involved talent he could have access to. When he was asked who he wanted to face, they were his choice, as he loved doing the Forbidden Door 2022 match in Chicago (Sting & Allin & Shingo Takagi vs. Bucks & El Phantasmo).
The Young Bucks were originally going to take more time off before returning but Sting asked them and they weren’t about to turn that down.
The Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina is hosting Revolution on Sunday, March 3. Sting’s retirement match is the main focus of the PPV.
John LaRocca and I are back with another episode of The Fight Game Podcast.
We kicked things off by talking about the live wrestling we will get to see on Saturday night at the old San Jose Civic Auditorium with NJPW Battle in the Valley.
We then got to the rest of our Top 5 which included:
Positives & negatives to the Young Bucks being Sting’s opponents for his last match at March’s AEW Revolution
The reason why Roman Reigns’ WWE Royal Rumble title match is a four-way
The build to Samoa Joe vs. Hook
The situation between Joe, Hangman Page, and Swerve
