About Sting
Full Name:
Steve Borden
Ring Name(s):
- Sting
- The Franchise
- The Icon
- Crow Sting
- Surfer Sting
- Joker Sting (TNA era)
Date of Birth:
March 20, 1959
Place of Birth:
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Height:
6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight:
250 lb (113 kg)
Early Life and Background:
Steve Borden grew up in Southern California and played basketball and football in high school and junior college. He was not a wrestling fan growing up, but after meeting wrestlers like Hulk Hogan and the Road Warriors at a gym, he decided to enter the wrestling business.
He trained under Red Bastien and Rick Bassman, making his debut in the mid-1980s alongside Jim Hellwig (later known as The Ultimate Warrior) as part of a tag team called The Blade Runners.
Professional Wrestling Debut:
1985
Major Promotions:
- Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF)
- Jim Crockett Promotions / WCW
- TNA / IMPACT Wrestling
- WWE (2014–2015)
- AEW (2020–2024)
WCW Career: 1987–2001
Sting is considered “The Franchise of WCW”, the company’s most consistent and loyal star from the late 1980s until it folded in 2001. His popularity endured despite constant backstage politics, management changes, and rival promotions.
Early Persona – “Surfer Sting”:
- Bright face paint, colorful tights, spiked blonde hair
- Youthful, energetic babyface
- Known for high-flying moves and intensity
- Became a fan favorite almost immediately
Rivalry with Ric Flair:
- Sting’s breakout moment was a 45-minute time-limit draw against Ric Flair at Clash of the Champions I (1988).
- Captured his first WCW World Heavyweight Championship by defeating Flair at The Great American Bash (1990).
- Flair and Sting had a storied rivalry and mutual respect spanning decades.
The Crow Transformation (1996–1997):
In response to the rising popularity of darker characters and the NWO storyline:
- Sting transformed into a silent, mysterious vigilante with black-and-white face paint, a trench coat, and a baseball bat.
- Inspired by the 1994 film The Crow.
- Didn’t speak or wrestle for over a year, building suspense.
- Watched from the rafters as WCW descended into NWO chaos.
- Finally returned at Starrcade 1997 to face Hollywood Hogan in a match that drew one of WCW’s largest buyrates.
Championships in WCW:
- 6× WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 2× WCW International World Heavyweight Champion
- 2× WCW United States Heavyweight Champion
- 3× WCW World Tag Team Champion
- 1× NWA World Heavyweight Champion (in the JCP era)
Key Feuds in WCW:
- Ric Flair – Long-term on-and-off rivals
- Hollywood Hogan & the NWO – Central to the Monday Night Wars
- Vader – Brutal and athletic battles in the early ’90s
- Lex Luger – Teammate, rival, and complex frenemy
- The Great Muta – International rivalry that blended athleticism with storytelling
Post-WCW Career:
TNA / IMPACT Wrestling (2003–2014):
- Became a cornerstone of the company, helping TNA establish itself as WWE’s top competitor during the 2000s.
- Multiple-time NWA/TNA World Champion.
- Reinvented himself several times, including:
- Joker Sting – A chaotic, unpredictable persona reminiscent of Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight.
- Worked with and elevated stars like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle, and Jeff Jarrett.
WWE Career (2014–2015):
- Long-anticipated debut at Survivor Series 2014, helping Team Cena defeat The Authority.
- First WWE match: Lost to Triple H at WrestleMania 31.
- Challenged Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship at Night of Champions 2015, but suffered a legitimate neck injury during the match.
- Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016.
- Many felt his WWE run was short and unfulfilled due to injury and booking choices.
AEW Career (2020–2024):
- Returned to wrestling at age 61 in All Elite Wrestling.
- Formed a mentor/protégé partnership with Darby Allin.
- Participated in cinematic and tag matches, preserving his health while staying active.
- Wrestled his final match at AEW Revolution 2024, retiring undefeated in AEW.
In-Ring Style:
- Blended power, speed, and charisma in his early years
- Later adopted a more psychological, methodical style during “Crow” and TNA eras
- Known for being safe and adaptable
- Signature moves:
- Scorpion Deathlock (Sharpshooter variant)
- Scorpion Death Drop (inverted DDT)
- Stinger Splash (corner splash)
- Military press slam (early career)
Character Traits:
- Crow Sting: Silent guardian, mysterious presence
- Surfer Sting: Energetic, enthusiastic, pure babyface
- Joker Sting: Unhinged, psychologically complex wild card
- Sting excelled at adapting to the times while maintaining his moral center and fan connection.
Championship Summary (Major Titles):
- 6× WCW World Heavyweight Champion
- 1× NWA World Heavyweight Champion
- 4× TNA World Heavyweight Champion
- 2× WCW United States Champion
- 3× WCW Tag Team Champion
- 1× NWA Tag Team Champion (TNA)
- 1× TNA World Tag Team Champion
Awards and Honors:
- WWE Hall of Fame (2016)
- TNA Hall of Fame (2012) – First inductee
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) Match of the Year (1991, 1992)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1991, 1992, 1994)
- WCW’s Franchise Player for nearly two decades
Legacy:
Sting is one of the few megastars to have never jumped ship to WWE during the Monday Night Wars, remaining loyal to WCW. He is often praised for:
- His reinvention across eras
- Being a consistent fan favorite in every promotion
- Helping build and elevate multiple companies (WCW, TNA, AEW)
- Maintaining integrity in and out of the ring
Sting is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers never to win a WWE Championship, though his influence and legend remain undisputed.
Personal Life:
- Converted to Christianity in the late 1990s and credits it for helping him overcome substance issues.
- Married with children.
- Occasionally appears at conventions, fan events, and speaking engagements.
Nickname:
“The Icon”
“The Franchise of WCW”
Famous Quote:
“The only thing that’s for sure about Sting… is nothing’s for sure.”
