AEW Unrestricted with Sting FULL RECAP
During the latest episode of the AEW Unrestricted podcast, Sting joins Tony Schiavone and Aubrey Edwards to share details on his AEW debut, memories of WCW, his relationship with Dusty Rhodes and being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Read the full recap below.
Sting has been humbled by the response from the talent and from the fans.
While Tony Schiavone had heard some rumblings, it was Cody who said, "your buddy's here" as Jim Ross, Tony and Excalibur were introduced to Sting in his trailer while being hidden from the talent.
Sting first chatted with Tony Khan over 5 years ago who wanted him to sign a baseball bat and present it to the Jacksonville Jaguars. His second-oldest son actually tried out with four different teams with the Jaguars being one of them.
Tony would text Sting again about a year ago, but he was still locked in a WWE Legend's deal. Two months ago, Sting reached out and said, "Hey, are you still willing to talk?" As we know, Tony was more than willing.
Tony Schiavone noted that the roster adores Sting, so he wishes that instead of being on commentary, he could have watched their reaction as he walked to Gorilla. Apparently, Marq Quen of Private Party would always approach Tony during every television taping and say, "IT'S STINNNNNG!"
Tony received texts from his two sons, his daughter and Britt Baker, who wishes she could have been there.
Sting brought up all the good things he's heard about Tony Khan, both from people working at the company and even those outside of AEW. Not one bad word about him.
Sting noted how the sort of unity he's experienced in AEW, he felt back in WCW, but only during the first 18 months of the Monday Night Wars. It feels healthy to him right now.
Aubrey also confirmed how everyone works towards the same goal and it truly feels like a family in AEW.
Tony brought up the great video and the snow falling down during the pandemic and asked how the moment felt. Sting noted that it felt good despite the smaller crowd. Regarding the snow, he's made every kind of entrance under the sun except for being shot out of a cannon, but the snow is a first. That said, he's received many compliments from fans about the new entrance. Sting joked, “what are we going to do in summer? That’s what I’m worried about.”
Aubrey asked about working with Cody and Dustin since Sting was so close with Dusty. Sting mentioned being so proud of both of them and that their success couldn’t happen to two better guys. Sting mentioned how he considers Dusty to be the most charismatic superstar of all time, so the shoes are quite large to fill, but they both have the work ethic and passion to find the diamond in the rough.
Throughout all the Q&A’s over the past 20 years, he’s been constantly asked “what would it take for another WCW?” He explained that it would need to take a billionaire who is all in.
Tony asked about Sting first starting out with Jim Helwig (Ultimate Warrior) and asked how he first came to the conclusion on wanting to become a professional wrestler. Rick Bassman first approached Sting while he co-owned a Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, California. Rick was hoping to recruit a fourth guy, who ended up being Steve Borden aka Sting. At the time, Sting was bouncing and unsuccessfully trying out for movies. Sting was first introduced to wrestling by attending a live show featuring Hulk Hogan, Big John Studd, Andre the Giant, The British Bulldogs etc and fully bought into the pandemonium.
Jim Helwig and Steve Borden stood out among the four individuals that Rick Bassman brought in. The two were tag-teaming and sent out press kits to promoters across American and even Japan. The only response came from Jerry Jarrett. They drove out to Nashville and started out on Thanksgiving Day 1985. The two only teamed together for about 12 months in total with Jerry Jarrett and in the UWF with Bill Watts. Helwig would eventually join WCCW as the Dingo Warrior while Sting eventually ended up with NWA and WCW.
Sting noted how Ric Flair was the one who put him on the map and that he learned more from the Nature Boy in the first 6 months of wrestling him than he did in the first two years. Ric was a mentor to Sting. Aside from his matches with Ric, Sting loved his matches with Vader, Rick Rude and The Great Muta.
Sting brought up how the first Clash of the Champions against Ric really put him on the map. Plus, their 45-minute match aired commercial-free and drew a huge rating.
Aubrey asked Sting about working with the Four Horsemen, who Sting noted were some of the best in the business. Not only did he learn from Ric, but also Arn and Tully. He was all ears with them in an effort to absorb knowledge.
Sting specifically pointed out a big moment for him was coming across Andre the Giant at an airport in Pittsburgh and saying hello while Andre would respond with, “Sting! How ya doing, boss?” That was big for him since Andre recognized him.
Tony brought up Sting’s knee injury in February of 1990 in Corpus Christi while climbing the cage. He made a reference to Nancy Carrigan since he immediately thought a fan whacked his knee since that’s what it felt like. By July, he was already back, but it was the old school mentality where you feared losing your spot.
Starrcade 1997 is brought up by Aubrey. What Sting does remember is that the event was the highest-grossing PPV in the history of PPV’s at the time. At the time, WCW was breaking attendance records all throughout North America.
By 1997, Sting reached a level of maturity where he was truly in his prime.
Tony brings up how there are essentially two versions of Sting. The Beach Sting with the blonde hair and vibrant colours and the Crow Sting. During his transition to Sting in the rafters, it became the number one angle in WCW history.
Sting put over how Nash, Hall, Hogan and the entire package added to the box office appeal too since everyone marched to the beat of the same drum.
The angle was also an example of less is more since he didn’t talk while also taking risks from going from charismatic to stoic.
Tony brings up WCW along with the final episode of Nitro in Panama City. Sting called the final episode surreal and felt as though WCW were second-class citizens compared to WWE. At one point, they actually threatened WWE’s spot, but ultimately lost the war and compared it to chaos with the enemy winning the war.
Regarding Ted Turner, Sting brought up how he told the talent how much he loved wrestling and despite the suited businessmen not enjoying the fact WCW was in the red, Ted had deep pockets. Sadly, Ted didn’t even know what was going on by the time they were put on the chopping block and sold for next to nothing. During the whole run towards the buyout, Sting noted how the uncertainly wore him down. Tony agreed.
Sting’s contract still had another 18 months left on his contract, so sat out to collect money since his tour of duty was completed.
Aubrey asked if Sting had an opportunity to work for Vince after WCW was purchased. Sting noted how the two sides never had a discussion until about 2002. Chatting with Vince was always positive, but when both sides of the attornies would attempt to do business, the talks would collapse.
Long story short, Sting wasn’t willing to make the commitment that Vince was asking for. There was much more to it than that, but it was a major sticking point.
Sting was called by Jeff Jarrett to gauge interest in participating in a show. Sting would perform on one show then after another, it took some twisting of his arm to eventually sign a deal. During this period, Vince was in the picture again. Sting was on the phone was Vince told him, “Vince, I’m gonna to go to TNA.” Vince said, “The thought of you and the legacy that you leave behind and you going to TNA is just blahhhh.” Yes, Vince literally said, blahhh.
Tony asked if it was exciting for Sting to receive his WrestleMania moment, which he noted that it was. He didn’t know how the guys and the fans would take to him following the Monday Night War, but he was embraced. It was a similar deal to AEW where he was snuck around the locker room.
Sting had fun with WWE but was reluctant to participate in the WWE Hall of Fame. He was still scheduled to work and wrestle, but Triple H noted that just because you’re being inducted doesn’t officially mean you’re retired.
Sting notes how it’s been 33 years since his debut. Here we are. Specifically, Sting praised Tony and how he still looks and sounds the same while seeing him over camera brings back good memories.
“This is the true full circle” notes Sting. Even behind the scenes, there are many of the same personnel from WCW such as Keith Mitchell.
Tony brought up how one of Sting’s responsibilities in AEW is to provide advice to the younger generation and wondered if some of the younger talents have asked him for some. Sting noted that he’s had some talent ask if he could watch them and provide any advice for improvement, which he was impressed by.
Sting pointed out how many of the matches he has seen are some of the most incredible, athletic, high-paced affairs that he has ever witnessed. Specifically, he brought up Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, the Young Bucks and Darby as being ultra-talented. When Sting started out, he wanted to stand out and be different from the generation before him. He sees this generation doing the same thing as they have changed the way stories are told while being innovative and living/breathing this business.
Aubrey asked what is the biggest thing Sting is hoping to get at AEW.
“It’s going to be a combination of getting and giving. Getting is just, how do I put this, I didn’t want to just disappear with my tail between my legs. Here recently, I didn’t want to just end the way it ended. I was pushing to get a cinema-style match with Taker. Probably, for a litany of different reasons, it just wasn’t going to happen. So, when Tony called and you know, spoke with me, he said, are you interested in doing cinema-style matches, I said, yeah, I am. I thought I’d like to come back and do that and not disappear again with the tail between my legs. I’d love to be able to go out, you know, I don’t have to go out on top, I’m just saying to go out in a positive light. As far as giving, I would like to mentor some of these guys and be of any kind of help that I possibly can. Even though it has changed, I still get it and I’d like to be a part of helping some of these guys get better.”
In closing, Sting and his family are healthy and happy.
As a massive Sting fan and historian of his entire career, there’s arguably no one more likeable or personable than Steve Borden.
