AEW All In 2023 Is The Best Place For Sting To Retire From Wrestling
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Somehow, against all odds, Sting is still wrestling at the age of 64. These aren't embarrassing matches in some bingo hall either. He's still in phenomenal shape, keeping up with younger stars on the huge stage of AEW. It's not just his age that makes this achievement impressive. Several years ago, after suffering a neck injury during a match in WWE, Sting's career looked to be over. Instead, he got a surprising last act. The Icon has mentioned in interviews many times, and even recently in an AEW promo, that his career is almost over. What better way for one of wrestling's all-time greats to leave the sport than in front of potentially 90,000 fans at All In this August in Wembley Stadium.
Sting's Time In WWE Came To A Scary End
Ever since WWE purchased WCW in 2001, fans dreamed of seeing Sting in WWE. A fantasy match with The Undertaker was what we wanted most. Even Sting wanted it. Instead, Sting went to TNA. It wasn't until Survivor Series 2014, in a goose bump inducing debut, that he finally arrived in WWE.
WWE didn't know what to do with the legend. In his one and only WrestleMania match the next year, he shockingly took a loss to Triple H. After that, WWE finally started pushing him, even giving him a WWE Championship match against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions. The lead up to it was fun. Sting looked to be having the time of his life and he got a great reaction from fans. Then came the match itself. In a buckle bomb spot gone wrong, Sting's neck snapped back hard and his whole body went numb. He stumbled around the ring, struggling to move his limbs and stay upright. The match went to a quick finish, with Sting losing. He'd never wrestle in WWE again. For years, it looked as if his career was over. The legend would have to retire due to injury rather than going out on his own terms.
RELATED: Why Triple H Beat Sting At WrestleMania 31, Explained
Sting's Union With Darby Allin In AEW Has Rejuvenated His Career
In December 2020, the seemingly impossible happened. At Dynamite's Winter Is Coming episode, Sting debuted for AEW. Though, due to the pandemic, there weren't many fans there to appreciate the moment, it was still a major feat. Sting was back! He quickly aligned himself with Darby Allin, a dark character in face paint who reminded many of Sting's gimmick. For over two years, Sting has been by his side as Allin grew into one of AEW's top stars.
AEW has used Sting wisely for the most part. Though he doesn't get much talking time, which is a shame, as he is one of wrestling's best talkers, he wrestles from time to time, without overdoing it and putting him in spots that will expose his age. His time in the ring has been limited to tag team matches. That doesn't mean that he takes it easy though. Sting has been shown diving off stairs and through tables several times. While he's not the Sting of the 90s, he still has gas left in the tank.
RELATED: 5 Best Moments Of Sting’s AEW Career (& 5 Worst)
Sting Plans On Retiring From Wrestling Soon
All good things must come to an end, however. Sting know his time as wrestler is coming to a close. Last week he told MJF that showtime is almost over. In an interview with D Magazine in January, he told them that his AEW deal ends this year (he wouldn't tell them when), and that when it does, his career will be done.
Last December, when speaking to The Ringer, Sting said of his last match, “Well, I know Darby is going to be a part of it for sure. I won’t have a singles match at this point. Darby will be along with me and I’ll be along with him and we can add more to it as far as I’m concerned. But I have a few people [in mind] and I really don’t want to say now.”
So we know that Sting's last match will be a tag match with Darby Allin. There's only one stage for such an event. An episode of Dynamite obviously isn't enough. Neither is your standard pay-per-view. It has to be something and somewhere monumental. Outside of WrestleMania, which Sting has already done, there's nothing much bigger than All In at Wembley Stadium. The only question is, what should Sting's last match be?
Sting could look to put over younger talent, or he could go out with a win. There are a plethora of teams he and Allin could face, from legends like The Young Bucks to some up-and-comers. What if, however, Darby is still part of the match, but on a team opposite Sting, which would give him the chance to face his hero? There are so many options. The only certainty is where it needs to happen. On August 27th, in London, Sting and AEW need to go all in at giving The Franchise a fitting sendoff.
