Sting is one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Not just because he was an icon, but because he was never afraid to change.
The WCW, TNA and AEW icon wrestled the last match of his storied, five decade career at AEW’s Revolution pay-per-view event. It was pure spectacle, a main event befitting a legend from the moment the 64-year-old wrestler walked onto the ramp to the guitar riff of his first entrance song; Metallica’s Seek and Destroy.
What followed was a match replete with Sting tributes — including from his sons decked out in different eras of Sting fear, wrestling legends like Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat and a litany of broken glass and shattered tables.
It’s showtime.
For the last time.Order #AEWRevolution on PPV right now!
🇺🇸: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
🌐: https://t.co/Bc4ZSSvvNC@Sting | @DarbyAllin pic.twitter.com/d7U8ZvlzH2— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 4, 2024
The match was unrecognizable from the ones Sting put on in the 80s or 90s. It was unfathomable to dream up when he appeared to be winding down his career in the 2000s. But there he was, in his 60s, crashing through pressed wood and panes of glass.
Sting is 64 years old and still taking bumps like this 😭😭 #AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/mQ9JkEjl6T
— Public Enemies Podcast (@TheEnemiesPE3) March 4, 2024
This wasn’t a man who coasted to his finish. He kept his foot on the gas, evolving with the game and leaving as one of the most compelling figures in the sport. In the end, Sting and Darby Allin retained their world tag team championship over the Young Bucks, surviving some truly absurd bumps on Allin’s part and an extended two-on-one beatdown from the AEW executive vice presidents on the sextagenarian opposite them.
STING IS BEAST #ThankYouSting #AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/rWXWhj8j58
— The Real One ☄️ (@WWEREALONE) March 4, 2024
A scorpion deathlock iced the deal, but the crowd watching at home was treated to one last touching throwback. In true WCW fashion, the pay-per-view broadcast cut off exactly at midnight ET as Sting was still winding down his retirement speech. For the former face of the company that mastered the “folks, we’re out of time” finish on Monday Nitro and who once had to re-air a pay-per-view headliner on cable TV the next day after running long, it was a fitting inconvenience.
Fortunately for us, one fan at ringside captured his full monologue:
Full after #AEWRevolution segment with Sting Darby Allin and Tony Khan thanking the crowd.
We love you, Sting!#aew #ThankYouSting pic.twitter.com/C6W0ZklKzg
— Christine (@ShiningPolaris) March 4, 2024
Sting can always return on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite for a proper goodbye alongside a Darby Allin who, at least theoretically, will have fewer open wounds. But if he doesn’t, fans took to Twitter to express their appreciate for a man who spent nearly 40 years in the ring before going out on top.
Across The Stingerverse. pic.twitter.com/ZsEzQVo8E8
— Meelz 💪🏾 (@MeelzTV) March 4, 2024
My favorite Sting moment was when he beat the crap out of a kid in that hilarious Sprite commercial in 1999. #AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/LxA8T0BEzY
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 4, 2024
Yeah, put the titles on Stinger sons 😂#AEWRevolutionpic.twitter.com/ewMJJaMZbi
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) March 4, 2024
Best entrance ever! This is so special!#AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/oPN5REWg0J
— LIGERBOMB (@LigerBombPro) March 4, 2024
Many claim to be an icon, only one is The Icon. #ThankYouSting @Sting pic.twitter.com/792OpJj63c
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) March 4, 2024
“It was an honor!” #ThankYouSting #AEWRevolution #StingLastMatch pic.twitter.com/IG5DXiQPKA
— Elijah Burke (@DaBlackPope) March 4, 2024
Felt like a kid again… #ThankYouSting pic.twitter.com/Bv9HuPZbBG
— Scott Fishman (@smFISHMAN) March 4, 2024
That was incredible. Perfect retirement match. Sting looked incredible, everyone bumped their asses off, just absolutely insane stuff all around. #ThankYouSting #AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/BPnjaFbW7q
— JCP⭐️Designs 👺🍥 (@JCPxDESIGNS) March 4, 2024
It’s an honor to witness this live. #ThankYouSting 🥹🦂 pic.twitter.com/5SOUmL5mlO
— Lyric ✨ (@LyricWrestling) March 4, 2024
WHAT A CAREER #ThankYouSting #AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/CNcLiLPfa2
— . (@glamb777) March 4, 2024
I’m so happy Sting gets to go out on his own terms. And he did it the only way he knows how 🦂
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) March 4, 2024
#ThankYouSting ❤️ pic.twitter.com/L8TWMjBn9F
— Sportskeeda Wrestling (@SKWrestling_) March 4, 2024
THANK YOU STING!
– From the entire wrestling world.Order #AEWRevolution on PPV right now!
🇺🇸: https://t.co/MpmTCyHt8n
🌐: https://t.co/Bc4ZSSvvNC@Sting | @DarbyAllin pic.twitter.com/szQgeEaONp— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 4, 2024
Going out a champion. What an incredible career. Thank you Steve Borden aka Sting. Enjoy retirement #ThankYouSting pic.twitter.com/WV6svn2vjE
— Cory (@Cory_Hays407) March 4, 2024
It's crazy to see and end to an era that started when you were young. At every juncture, crossroads, move, adventure, up and down, the Stinger has been there. Fitting that it would go out with broken bodies, glass, a wooo & people on their feet!#ThankYouSting #AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/uaxE2XP3YD
— Adrian Torres (@YoAdrianTorres) March 4, 2024