These Legendary Matches Made Sting the Icon

The WWE tenure of Sting’s career felt like the biggest disappointment. Sting didn’t join WWE until 2014 and only had two PPV matches in losing efforts. The shocking move to join AEW came when Sting wanted to end his career on his own terms and not WWE’s.

Revolution 2021 featured the cinematic match return of Sting teaming with Darby Allin against Team Taz’s Brian Cage and Ricky Starks. The match was a huge success and gave Sting confidence to keep doing more matches, including more in front of live audiences.

With Lex Luger Vs The Steiner Brothers (WCW SuperBrawl 1991)

Another great tag team run for Sting saw him working alongside best friend Lex Luger in the 1990s. SuperBrawl 1991 gave us a dream match of the four WCW foundation pieces. The Steiner Brothers defeated Luger and Sting in an exciting match.

WCW booking a rare match of all babyfaces showed strong action with everyone hitting exciting moves. Not even the disappointing finish of Nikita Koloff costing Sting the match could take away from all the excitement that happened in this classic.

Kurt Angle (TNA Bound For Glory 2007)

TNA made a huge move by signing Sting to a contract for his first full-time run after WCW ended many years later in 2006. Sting became one of the faces of TNA and got to mix it up against some new opponents in dream matches.

Kurt Angle led Sting to his best overall TNA match at Bound for Glory 2007 in the company’s biggest show’s main event. Fans rallied behind Sting to get the dream moment of Sting winning the TNA World Championship over a dominant heel in a great match.

Cactus Jack (WCW Beach Blast 1992)

Hardcore wrestling was not prominent in the United States until Mick Foley started using it for his Cactus Jack character. WCW allowed Foley and Sting to use weapons for a rare Falls Count Anywhere match at Beach Blast 1992.

Sting showed a tougher side by using weapons and taking vicious hits in the innovative match for the era. The exciting match ended with Sting coming out on top and getting past one of his most underrated WCW rivals.

Vader (WCW Starrcade 1992)

The rivalry between Sting and Vader helped carry WCW through a tough time after losing Ric Flair and Lex Luger. Sting remained as the beloved face of the company, but Vader stepped up to become his perfect feud partner as a dominant monster heel.

Their best match of many great outings came in the main event of Starrcade 1992. Both men worked earlier in the night to advance to the finals of the BattleBowl tournament. Vader scored the victory over Sting to keep his dominant run going and extend the feud into 1993.

Diamond Dallas Page (WCW Monday Nitro)

WCW found magic during a random episode of Nitro in 1999 after Diamond Dallas Page won the WCW Championship as a heel. Sting received a surprising title shot on free television to challenge Page earlier in the episode than expected.

DDP and Sting had incredible chemistry for arguably the best overall match to ever take place on Monday Nitro. Sting won the WCW Championship with fans reacting strongly to the moment, but he lost it later that night in a multi-man match for Page to win it back.

With Darby Allin Vs The Young Bucks (AEW Revolution 2024)

The final match of Sting’s career was treated like a massive deal by Tony Khan and AEW. Sting and Darby Allin won the AEW Tag Team Championship just weeks ahead of the legend’s final match to put their undefeated streak on the line.

The Young Bucks targeting Sting led to a great retirement bout at Revolution 2024. Sting’s sons even got involved during the bloody hardcore match. AEW gave fans the ultimate feel-good of Sting and Darby retaining for Sting to retire undefeated in the promotion.

Ric Flair (NWA Clash of the Champions 1)

The historic feud between Ric Flair and Sting helped them both become icons. Sting had greater pressure in the rivalry since he was the breakout star challenging the top heel Flair for the NWA Heavyweight Championship.

The first Clash of the Champions event featured Sting holding his own against the top star and pushing Flair to a 45-minute time-limit draw. Sting didn’t even have to win the match for fans to start treating him like the next top name after his star-making performance.