wrestling / Video Reviews
Tremendous Tirades: Sting: Return of an ICON
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The Return:
For over a decade, the man they called Sting dominated the sport of professional wrestling as one of its most popular and successful stars. He was a multi-time world champion for the NWA and WCW… A household name around the world… And a major catalyst for the wrestling boom of the 1990’s. When WCW ended in 2001, it appeared the final chapter had been written in Sting’s career, Steve Borden, the man behind the face pain quietly stepped away from the spotlight. For nearly four-years, millions of fans would ask when the man in black would return to the ring. At the December 2005, “Turning Point: PPV event, the world got their answer. This is the story of the return of an Icon to professional wrestling… This is the return of the man they call Sting!
-We begin with a bloody Jarrett defeating Rhino at Turning Point 2005. He celebrates with the title and the lights go out, and when the spotlight is shown, Sting’s Scorpion Symbol and gear debuts!
-December 31st 2005, the first Impact of 2006. Christian and Tenay are in the ring and they are set for the announcement. Tenay says this IS what we have been waiting for. The face of TNA changes forever tonight, the newest member of the TNA roster is Sting’s Gear and Sting himself! Cage says Tenay is smart. Cage says he isn’t one to one up someone, but at Final Resolution it will be Monty and JJ vs. Cage and STING in the main event!
They popped HUGE for Sting. Welcome back chants for him as well.
Cage and Monty to start. Lock up and a headlock by Monty. Off the ropes and a shoulder block by Monty. Take down and roll up for 1 by Cage. Cage rammed to the corner and a tag to JJ. Rights to Cage, off the ropes and Cage stops, and mocks JJ with the FARGO STRUT~! Arm bar and a tag to Sting. JJ runs away and back to his corner. Lock up and a headlock by Sting. Off the ropes and a shoulder block by Sting. Hip toss by Sting and then a standing dropkick. JJ to the floor and the crowd chants, “you still got it!” Boots by JJ and then a knee. Rams him to the corner and then Sting stops him. Chops, off the ropes and a boot, face jam to JJ. Off the ropes and a boot and face jam to Monty. Cage tags in, STINGER SPLASHES BY CAGE TO BOTH! LOW blow by JJ and JJ tosses him over the top to the floor. Gail snaps off a RANA on Cage! Monty hot shots Cage off of the steel guardrail. Back in the ring and a dropkick by JJ. Tag to Monty and Cage battles back. Side back breaker by Monty…EXPLODER to Cage. “Are you not…entertained?” Cover for 2. JJ works over Cage, gets crotched though and Monty takes down Cage. Front facelock by JJ on Cage now. Cage tries for a tag…gets it but the ref didn’t see it! Double gut buster suplex by JJ and Monty gets 2 on Cage. Monty chokes out Cage now. Monty continues to work over Cage, they go up top…Cage fights…Cage bites Monty! He falls! Cage up top…FROG SPLASH! He covers 1…2…NO! Monty grabs Cage’s leg and JJ to the floor, pulls Sting off the apron and Cage could get a tag but Sting is chasing JJ! Sting back to his corner but Cage can’t do it. JJ and Monty try a conchairto and miss! DOUBLE DDT BY CAGE! TAG TO STING! Rights and boots to all! Clotheslines to JJ and Monty! Stinger splash on JJ. The ref is down, he tosses Monty and gets an atomic drop on JJ. SCORPION DEATHLOCK ON JJ! No ref. Gail wants JJ to get the ropes, Monty is and Cage stops him. Monty with a fall away slam to Cage and he nails Sting! Sting and Cage argue. OH NOES! Monty is with the NWA title, Cage pulls Sting out of the way. Sting has the title and Cage thinks he was going to hit him! They regroup and ram Monty into JJ’s nads! They toss Monty to the floor. TEAM CANADA IS OUT! Stereo Scorpion death drops! Cage up top…CROSS BODY TO MONTY ON THE FLOOR! Gail up top, JJ has the title and nails Sting! 1…2…NO! Monty tosses Cage back in and they beat them down. Sting is feeling the little Stingers! Sting fires back on JJ! Stereo stinger splashes MISS! JJ had the guitar, Sting breaks it with the bat! Scorpion death drop to JJ and that’s all!
Winners: Christian Cage and Sting @ 14:40 via pin
A nice way for Sting to make his return debut with TNA. His action was limited so not to expose his age/lack of conditioning, but he did enough to make the crowd about wet themselves. Everyone else worked hard, good match here.***
-Sting retires, January 28th, 2006: STING: “Stizzinger in the house! **Sting chants** I have something I have to get off my chest. In March of 2001 I wrestled my last match, I believed against Ric Flair. As I wrestled that match, my who career went before my eyes, and I had memories of Baltimore and my first title win over Flair. I remembered the first Clash of the Champions against Flair. I remember repelling down in Chicago, out of a helicopter, all of those memories went before my eyes…but most importantly I remember the fans. The roars of the crowd. The one thing that didn’t happen that night, is that I wasn’t able to say goodbye. A lot of fans said they never had the chance to say goodbye. I missed the smell of the arenas and the roar of the crowds. When TNA called and said that they had SPIKE TV, they asked if I wanted to be a part of it. I tuned in and say AJ Styles, Abyss, Samoa Joe and they are the future champions. I said to myself, TNA is my brand. I agree, I agree, TNA is awesome. So when I had the offer, I couldn’t refuse. I came here and wrestled at Final Resolution. When I came through the tunnel and heard **you still got it chants** when I heard that, I mean, the blood cells were moving like never before. Nothing over the years matched up to that over the years. I mean these words I say. One thing that was missing was that I couldn’t say goodbye. Final Resolution was just that, my Final Resolution. I want to say thank you to TNA management, to Dixie Carter and her family. Most of all, and I mean this, I want to thank you. I want to say thank you to you. **thank you Sting chants** I gotta do this, it was a memory that I do not want to forget or taint. For you fans, for you out there in TV Land, I want to say goodbye. **Please don’t go chants** Thank you, I, I love you guys, I mean I love you guys. Thanks for the memories, I love each and every one of you and I am saying goodbye. Sting lays his bat in the ring and leaves. AJ, Sabin and Dutt are out to thank and shake hands. Cage is out now and tries to tell him he still has it, Sting says he loves him like a brother and thanks him and leaves.
-STING IS GONE: We see clips of Jarrett sending out Alex Shelley to get video of Sting’s personal life, in a way to convince Eric Young and everyone else that Sting is a quitter.
-Paparazzi Productions #1 on Sting – We see the video now of Sting picking up the little kids at school. Dude has an Excursion. Shelley follows him to his house, which is nice as hell. Shelley’s commentary is hilarious here. We see Mrs. Sting in the backyard. Shelley is then on Sting’s property and We see Sting and the kids playing basketball. Shelley then drives up next to him on the freeway and Sting doesn’t even notice him! Next is Sting at the Gym.
-Paparazzi Productions #2 on Sting – He follows Sting, and Shelley says he will take his time. We see Sting at kids football practice, Shelley says he isn’t afraid. Then walking with his daughter and Shelley is all like, “Isn’t that cute…walking with his daughter… there’s a lot of weirdo’s out there…” and then the rest of the kids with a Beatles reference. Sting golf’s! Shelley keeps cracking on him. Shelley thinks Sting saw him and is now more afraid. Sting sees him! Sting tells him to get a life and JJ is out of his mind. You do not film my personal life, you stepped over the line. I WILL BE AT THE NEXT PPV! This isn’t a joke…he never should have gotten me started, and tell him Sting isn’t coming to the PPV…STEVE BORDEN is coming to the next PPV.
-Sting joins us. He did what he wanted to at Final Resolution, HIS Final Resolution. Years earlier it all ended, but to be back was an amazing feeling and he didn’t want to taint that. JJ stepped over the line, his family was filmed and that was sacred to him. It went way to far and he can’t describe how it felt.
-Destination-X 2006 “Steve Borden” came, and JJ had Scott Steiner waiting for him. He decided then the cancer, JJ, had to be cut out of TNA. He got reinstated, and part of that was the Lethal Lockdown match. He thought back to times past, and when he wanted revenge, he did it in War Games. He came up with the Lethal Lockdown match with the ceiling, because he knew JJ would try and run. JJ can have his army, and he will have his. Steve Borden won’t return, Sting will.
Young dips as the bell rings and is afraid! D’Amore pep talks him and here we go. Sting stays still, Young circles him and runs! Alex Shelley is here with his camera to watch the match. Sting stalks Young, Irish whip and a chop by Young. Sting no sells and Sting yells and Young is freaked! Young tossed to the floor and tales a sick bump! Sting with a PLANCHA onto Alex and Young! Sting rams Young to the steel railing and then rams Alex to the steel. Stinger splash MISSES Young and Sting eats the steel railing as we head to a commercial @ 2:10.
Back @ 5:35 and Young is in control with boots. He chokes Sting out on the ropes, then slams him. Elbow drop by Young gets 2. Rights by Young, picks Sting up and more rights. Sting fires back but Young with an eye rake. To the corner and an Irish whip. Young tries a Stinger splash but misses. Crotched on the ropes and Sting shakes then. STINGER SPLASH gets Young and D’Amore who got on the apron. Sting nails Shelley and a scorpion death drop later and Sting wins.
Winner: Sting @ 7:45 via Pin
Fun just because I got to see Eric Young afraid of Sting.*
Match actually clipped to 1-minute before Sting makes his entrance.
5-minutes for the first 2-men, 2-minutes for the other intervals. When all 8-men are in, the ceiling with weapons will drop and it will be Lethal Lockdown Time! Chris Harris and AJ Styles will begin, wise choices. Earl Hebner is special referee.
Harris with lefts to beat down AJ. He talks shit as they chant pussycat at him. He tries to toss AJ to the cage, but AJ gets a wristlock. Headlock counter by Harris, off the ropes and AJ misses a dropkick. Harris celebrates, tosses AJ off the ropes and eats a dropkick by AJ. Harris is able to reverse a toss and ram AJ into the cage. Again he tosses AJ back first into the cage. AJ escapes a powerslam, takes Harris down and gets a knee drop to Harris. AJ rams Harris to the corner, sets Harris up top…AJ follows…they brawl up top…kicks by AJ and Harris falls to the apron. AJ charges with a Stinger type splash to Harris who is caught in between the cage and ropes. Another and then rams Harris into the cage. AJ slams him into the cage yet again and then delivers rights. AJ with another corner splash. Tries another… Harris snatches him…CATATONIC to AJ! Harris is bleeding, tries another Catatonic but AJ gets a reversal and a Styles Clash.
5-minutes is over and James Storm is next out for Team JJ. AJ dropkicks the door and Storm ducks and it NAILS GAIL KIM! Storm in and takes control on AJ. Powerbomb try, no, whirly bird by Storm! AJ is bleeding now as Storm rakes his face off of the cage. AMW double teams AJ, he battles back but they get the HART ATTACK. They just beat him down as the time runs down and it is…
RHINO! They try to double team Rhino right away, but he cleans house and rams Storm into the cage! Spine buster to Harris! MISSES a GORE on Storm and Rhino rams himself into the cage. Lariat to AJ by Harris. Basement dropkick onto Rhino. Storm chokes out Rhino as Harris chokes out AJ. Time runs down and…
JJ is out. Rhino leaves the cage and attacks JJ on the ramp! AJ is out as well and we have wild brawling on the floor! They toss him in and all of them are in the cage again. AMW and JJ take control and toss AJ into the cage. Then Rhino and Team JJ is in control. Gail Kim is back up and totally no selling that cage door shot. Bitch. Rhino and AJ are bleeding as are both AMW. Time runs down and we have…
Ron Killings into the battle! He tries to fight them all off. Spinning forearm to JJ. Leg lariat on Storm! Harris nails him, tries a suplex but Killings gets a stunner! AJ climbs all the way up top…Storm is over to stop him. JJ up as well…Killings and Rhino over…Harris now…SUPER TOWER OF DOOM! Time is up and…
Match actually starts here on the DVD, it is the only clipped match. Scott Steiner is out. He cleans house with belly to bellies. Lawn darts AJ into the cage. Sets Killings up top…Top Rope Samoan drop! Team JJ is in control and time runs down until Sting hits the ring. Pump handle slam by Steiner onto AJ.
HERE IS STING! Sting is here and makes his way in! They all attack but he tries to fight them off. Tosses them into the cage and the roof lowers. Rights to Steiner. Atomic drop on Steiner and rams him and AMW in one corner. Then JJ! STINGER SPLASH ONTO ALL 4! AGAIN! We have pyro on the weapons roof. It is locked down! Sting has a bat and Rhino with a kendo stick. Steiner and Rhino pair off while AJ nails random people with the trashcan lid. Storm goes all the way up and makes his way onto the VERY TOP of the cage! AJ is up there as well! They brawl and there is a ladder up there and some other shit. Gail climbs up top now. AJ steps on her hand and Jackie rips her skirt off. Storm superkicks AJ and he sets up a table that is up there! Everyone else is brawling in the ring as AJ gets a PELE on Storm. JJ has a guitar and so does Sting. AJ and Storm battle up top as Sting breaks the guitar with a bat. He has a guitar now and Steiner LOW BLOWS Sting! AJ sets up the ladder on top of the cage! WTF IS HE DOING? HE climbs! Onto the light rigging! SPLASH ONTO STORM THROUGH THE TABLE ON TOP OF THE CAGE FOR GODS SAKE! BAH GAWD! AJ and Storm are dead.
Back to the ring, JJ gets the stroke to Killing onto a chair. GORE by Rhino onto JJ, Steiner lays him out. Steiner recliner on Rhino, Sting gets the death drop on Steiner! Harris nails Sting with brass knux and locks in the scorpion death lock on Sting! Sting fights…and COUNTERS IT! HARRIS TAPS!
Winners: Team Sting @ 23:51 via Submission
The whole match is actually a really good deal. ***½
They stand off and jaw for a bit. JJ and Sting to begin. Lock up and Sting tosses JJ to the mat. Lock up again and JJ tossed down again. JJ slaps Sting, then rights to Sting. Knees and Sting growls and fires back on JJ and beats him down. Face slams to the mat and JJ to the floor and up the ramp. JJ and Steiner talk, and then Steiner tags in. Lock up and a knee by Steiner. Chops to Sting, Irish whip and a boot by Sting. Sting with a splash on Steiner. Sting nails JJ. Sting up top and a top rope clothesline to both men! JJ and Steiner bail. Sting looks to Joe and goes and tags him in. Joe and Steiner stare down as the crowd chants, “Joe’s gonna kill you!’ Steiner flexes and Joe slaps him! Steiner rams Joe to the corner and chops away at him. Clubbing shots by Steiner but Joe fights back with jabs! Off the ropes and a belly-to-belly overhead suplex by Steiner! Joe looks pissed and they lock up. Knees by Steiner and then chops. Joe back with forearms and chops! Off the ropes and a clothesline by Steiner and a cover for 2, and then the pushups. They slap each other and Joe JACKS Steiner with a leaping Enziguri! JJ knees Joe and Steiner with an overhead belly to belly again! Steiner tosses Joe to the floor. Joe back in and Steiner covers for 2. JJ tags in and gets a sweet dropkick to Joe. Irish whip by JJ and a clothesline by JJ. JJ struts and another Irish whip and STJOE BY JOE! Joe tags Sting and he takes care of JJ. Steiner breaks up a pin. Sting takes down JJ and Steiner. Scorpion deathlock on Steiner, but JJ nails Sting. DDT by JJ on Sting. Steiner over and covers Sting for 2. Belly to belly on Sting by Steiner gets 2. Tag to JJ and he boots away at Sting. Rights to Sting and a front face lock by JJ. Sting fights and tags Joe! The ref didn’t see it though and Steiner in and he and Sting collide. Sting falls and head butts Steiner’s crotch. Ouch. They crawl for tags…JJ tagged in and Joe is as well! They stare down and Joe lights him up! RUNNIGN KNEE OF DOOM TO JJ! Eye poke by JJ, but Joe gets the snap powerslam for 2. Steiner in…Atomic drop to Steiner and a clothesline. Running senton and Joe poses! JJ back but Joe takes them both down. Sting in as well and Joe whips Sting, reversal and the running corner knee! Stinger splash! Sting slingshots onto JJ on the floor. Powerslam by Joe on JJ and he gets the ropes with Gail’s help. LOW BLOW by JJ on Joe. Stroke! 1…2…NO! Joe kicks out! Sting and Steiner brawl on the floor. JJ tries another stroke…No JJ sets Joe up top…JJ up top as well…Joe counters, rolls off and leaps with an ENZIGURI TO JJ! MUSCLE BUSTA TO JJ! 1…2…3!
Winners: Samoa Joe and Sting @ 14:30 via pin
Damn fine match here, and in all reality more of a showcase/coming out for Joe in the main event scene than about Sting, but the man in the pain worked hard and sold well.***½
Steiner poses and Sting seems to not care. Lock up to begin things and Steiner takes him to the corner. Rights and chops to Sting, but boots back by Sting. More boots and a back elbow by Sting. Steiner begs off, but Sting tosses him to the floor. Steiner is rammed to the railing, Sting gets a chair and nails him. He lays the chair on the announce table and rams Steiner face first onto the chair. Back in the ring now and Steiner with a mule kick and Sting is down as we head to a commercial @ 2:25.
Back from commercial @ 5:40 with Steiner in control. Clothesline by Steiner, elbow drop and push-ups! Belly to belly by Steiner gets 2. Almost a cross face by Steiner now, now it IS a crossface! Sting battles to his feet but Steiner kicks away at him. Overhead northern lights by Steiner, and more push-ups. Steiner sets Sting on the top rope, follows him up…Sting fights him off and bites him! Shoves him off and then gets a flying clothesline! They exchange rights now, Sting in control, and gets a clothesline. Dropkick by Sting. Slam on Steiner and the Vader like corner splash for 2. Atomic drop on Steiner…STINGER SPLASH but he gets the ref too! Gail is in and Sting slams her down. JJ is out and gets the stroke on Sting! Steiner covers Sting…Slick Johnson is out and counts 2. Suplex by Steiner, tries another but Sting gets the Scorpion Death Drop for 2 as JJ pulls out Slick and knocks him out. Steiner now accidentally hits Steiner, Sting rolls up Steiner and gets 2 as JJ is in and the bell rings. DQ on Steiner, that sucks.
Winner: Sting via DQ @ 11:08
Until the DQ this was actually a good TV match, both guys have worked hard in TNA upon their return.*¾
They begin brawling on the floor. Sting and Steiner pair off as Cage tosses JJ onto the announce table. Sting has Steiner’s chain mail and put s it on and hits Steiner to mock him. In the ring and a back elbow by Sting on Steiner. Boot to Steiner and a dropkick by Sting. Clothesline and a tag to Cage. Boot to Steiner by Cage. Double elbow off the ropes to Steiner and a cover for 2 by Cage. Knees by Steiner now and a tag to JJ. To the corner goes Cage, whip and a back elbow to JJ. Sunset flip gets 2 for Cage. Sit out powerbomb by Cage to counter a RANA gets 2. Corner punches by Cage, but JJ tosses him over the top to the floor and we head to a commercial @ 2:45.
Back from commercial @ 6:15 as JJ nails Cage with a chair shot to the back. In the ring, JJ gets the choke on the 2nd rope and charge. Tag to Steiner, off the ropes and a clothesline, elbow drop and pushups by Steiner. Flex. Steroid chant for Steiner. Suplex and a cover for 2 by Steiner. Tag to JJ and off the ropes and a sleeper on Cage. Cage escapes and gets a sleeper to JJ, but he gets a back suplex and BOTH men are down! Tag to Steiner and he cuts off Cage from getting a tag. Hard rights by Steiner, tag to JJ and Cage escapes a double suplex and gets a double reverse DDT! TAG to Sting! He starts to take JJ and Steiner down. Stinger splash on JJ. Whips Steiner into JJ. Stinger splash on both! Scorpion death lock try on JJ….and he has it but Steiner breaks it up. Sting dumps Steiner to the floor. Low blow by JJ, STROKE! 1…2…Cage pulls out the ref! He and Steiner brawl on the floor now and Cage slams Steiner to the ring post. Cage up top, JJ up as well…Cage bites JJ and tosses him off Scorpion death drop by Sting. FROGSPLASH on JJ by Cage and that is all!
Winners: Sting and Christian Cage via pin @ 10:47
Everyone worked hard, no complaints there but just an average at best TV main event.*¾
Sting and Joe go at it to begin as Cage and Steiner pair off. Stinger Splash to Joe! Tries it again and Joe levels Sting. Knees to Sting, but Sting with a knee breaker. Kicks to the leg and Sting gets the Scorpion deathlock and Steiner breaks that up. T-Bone by Steiner to Sting. Steiner tosses him and then Cage tosses Steiner. Joe back in and they stare down. They slap each other and brawl! Rights by Cage, off the ropes and a back elbow by Cage. Leaping Enziguri by Joe! Sting slams Steiner to the wall by the ramp. Face wash by Joe on Cage…Sting nails Steiner with a chair and Joe with the running boot of doom to Cage! Cage trips up Joe and Joe kicks at Cage. Sting and Steiner back in now, clothesline by Sting. Joe and Cage into the crowd. Backslide try by Steiner, a cameraman is in the ring and sprays Sting in the eyes with gasoline! It was that dastardly JJ! Slick Johnson is out to put water in Sting’s eyes to help, but they have to take Sting to the back. Down to three men now as Steiner nails Joe with a clothesline. Steiner tosses Joe back into the ring. He nails Cage and turns his attention to Joe. Chops to Joe, off the ropes and a clothesline, elbow drop and pushups by Steiner. We see JJ being escorted out by Security. Knee drop by Joe as we are back to the match. Cage back and a SPEAR to Joe for 2. Chops by Joe, sets Cage up top…Muscle Buster countered and an Unprettier try…countered again. Cage beats down Joe. Face wash by Cage now. Off the ropes and Steiner pulls Cage to the floor and gets a suplex. They brawl, Joe is up and gets the ELBOW SUICIDA onto both men! Joe tosses Steiner back into the ring, and then gets an STJOE to Cage on the floor. Joe gets a table now and sets it up. Joe and Steiner battle on the apron, they battle for position and Steiner DDT’s Joe onto the ring apron. Steiner lays him on the table now…to the apron…ELBOW DROP ONTO JOE THROUGH THE TABLE! Cage grabs Steiner and tosses him back in, cover for 2. Rights by Cage, and then he lays the boots to Steiner. Off the ropes and a powerslam by Steiner gets 2. Steiner sets Cage up top…climbs…Samoan Drop, with a bad landing for Cage. Joe covers Steiner for 2, and then Cage for 2. Slam by Joe, drop toehold by Cage to Joe. Cage up top…FROG SPLASH MISSES! Clotheslines by Steiner and Joe then levels Steiner. Jabs by Joe to Cage drops him. Joe up top with Cage, Cage fights and chops away. He slams Steiner into Joe, who falls to the floor and Cage covers Steiner for 2. Unprettier countered and a belly to belly on Cage. Steiner recliner on Cage! Joe in with the CLUTCH on Steiner! Cage up top…Joe over with a thrust…Joe up to pas well…Steiner over and Sting is back wrapped up like a mummy! Stinger splash knocks Joe to the floor, flog splash on Steiner by Cage for 2! Cage and Sting talk, then argue and Joe slams them together. Clutch on Cage, Steiner tosses both of them to the floor, scorpion death drop to Steiner and Sting wins!
Winner and #1 Contender for the NWA Title: Sting @ 14:49 via pin
After the match Cage is back in the ring. He isn’t happy and they go face to face. They end up shaking hands and hug.
The best part was that Steiner took the fall. This is fine because Steiner didn’t lose one on one, and it secures a match up there. Sting also didn’t beat Cage or Joe, and when Cage turns, there is a singles match there, as well as one with Joe down the line. This is good for the long term, and builds to the big JJ vs. Sting singles match they have wanted all along. I also need to compliment Scott Steiner once again, who has been nothing but great in his TNA run thus far, and who has done the job with no complaints. ***
We get a video recap of Sting’s victory.
The Career:
–Steve Borden growing up.
During his childhood he played sports. All of his siblings played sports. They were raised in southern California is a conservative family setting. The parents always stressed right and wrong in their talks with the kids. His father was a pretty successful salesman. Mom was a stay at home mom and took really good care of him. They are a close family
–How he got into wrestling.
Right after high school he got into bartending, bouncing and then competitive bodybuilding. He got approached by Rick Bassman and was recruited as part of Power Team USA. They tried for 3-4 weeks and finally he was approached and he said he had no desire to be a wrestler. He only knew about Hogan through the Rocky III movie. He also met Hulk because he would work out at the gym he co-owned at the time. Bassman kept asking, and he went to a match with him and he saw Hogan, Studd, Sheik, The Bulldogs and it was a sell out and he got interested.
–The hardships early in his career.
We see the first jacket he ever has made.
In the early years he starved. There was money to be made but they didn’t make it. He discusses Helwig and how they started together with Jerry Jarrett. He was the only one that called them. $25 a TV taping, $50 a night and they wrestled almost everyday of the year, including holidays, sometimes two-a day. Lots of work, little money and they were bad so they really didn’t deserve more money. They would ask for the showers sometimes and would be across the building. One time he got mobbed while he was in just a towel. The door to the shower had no knob and he had to have some dude stand there to protect him. He would sleep in his 83 T-Bird when he had to. Sometimes he would think when he was driving west he would just go home. He owed people money, he wasn’t making any money and he would borrow money from his fiancé, who would travel with him. The south was a cultural shock to him.
–His thoughts on being a catalyst of the wrestling boom of the 1990’s.
We see the red, white and blue jacket he wore when he beat Flair for his first NWA Title at the Great American Bash. He says it looks like a kids jacket now, but then he loved the style of it.
He was with WCW from the early days until the end. He saw people come and go and come back. They went through thin years, with bad ratings and losing money. Thank God for Ted Turner. Ted would tell them the suits would like to get rid of them but he loved them and kept them going. When Nitro kicked off, they went from second class to first class. When he would go to conventions people would think he was with WWF, and when he said WCW he would get odd looks because of the perception. He said WWF would have these huge presentations and he had just a podium with a pencil drawing of the WCW logo. They were the trash of the wrestling world for a long time. It was a good feeling to finally get to the top. It was a long run to get there and he had a lot of fun and tons of creative control. Wrestling was huge with so many people watching. From going from sleeping in his car to millions of dollars was an amazing feeling and very satisfying.
–Making the transition from the “colorful” Sting to the darker Sting.
We see the mid-career jacket, when he was beginning to change to a darker Sting. He also has the first black tights he had made, right before the n W o began.
It was not easy to change from the old to new Sting. It wasn’t broken so why change it he thought, but he knew wrestling was changing and he knew he had to change when he saw traditional Hogan getting booed. He just knew it had to be done. It was a difficult change, especially without talking. It was a huge career gamble he thought, and he was scared.
–Maintaining a family with a career in wrestling.
We see the original “Crow Sting” jacket he had. It is all torn up from Nash and Hall.
It really strained his marriage because he was away so much of the year. Even when he could come home, it was usually a day and then gone again and that is very difficult on family life. Also not being grounded so to speak was hard. He made bad choices.
–Finding religion in his life and being saved.
In August of 1998 he had a change in his life. He made so many bad choices with the money that came to him. He turned to alcohol, painkillers and drugs. Every night after Nitro was beer and painkillers. He was riding high and at the same time miserable. He got to the point that he knew he couldn’t fix it on his own, nothing could help. He needed something to happen and he accepted Jesus as his savior and his brother, who is his pastor helped him. His wife confronted him about painkillers and all of the problems. His wife thought things would be ok when they moved back to California but he was a time bomb ready to go off. He confessed what he had done and he then accepted Christ and that helped him repair his life. He was a new man, and it was hard around the boys because they would mock him for mot going out and partying. Most were cool and realized he was Sting, but not the old bad Sting. He realized his family was relying on him and changed his priorities to be there with the family even more. He would drive extra miles just to get home sooner.
–Why he stepped away from wrestling after WCW/His candid thoughts on the downfall of WCW.
When WCW closed he was happy because he needed to be away from wrestling. When Vince bought WCW he was about to leave anyway to focus on family and being a father to make up for lost time. He did feel bad because wrestling stopped to him when he faced Flair for the last time. Thankfully he still had all the money coming to him, but he lived and breathed wrestling for so long that is scared him. He talked to Vince, who was nice to him. But he had a feeling that Vince wouldn’t treat him right. All the guys that WWF took, well, it wasn’t WCW. No Hall, Nash, Hogan, Sting, Luger. The package he had left, who were great talents, weren’t what he needed. He watched what happened on TV, and he saw Booker’s first appearance and then Rock takes him out and asked who the hell he was. He knew then Booker was buried.
–Why he ultimately chose to return to wrestling for TNA.
We see the jacket he has now, made but the people that made stuff for the terminator movies and Matrix movies. It weighs 50lbs.
Jerry Jarrett gave him his first break, and even though he got rid of us because we stunk he got us a job with Watts and never fired us. When he called and told him about Spike, he thought he could give back to Jerry who gave so much to him. TNA reminds him of early WCW. They are trying to grow and get the names of the guys out there. He helped build a company once before, and he would want to do it again. Some of the guys in TNA do things he never could have done or dreamed of. When he would watch TNA he thought this could be a place for him. The Carter family has been good to him and he loves the schedule.
–What he would like to do once he finally hangs up the boots.
If you don’t stand for something, you will fail. He needed help in life and wishes he knew the lord earlier. He maybe would have never gotten into wrestling. He doesn’t regret his life because he is who he is now. He built a football field for his kids school because they didn’t have a field. He wants to put cabins there and have it be a youth and or marriage retreat. He can see himself going though 2007 to see TNA arrive, but he sees the end for him coming soon. He knows TNA is a threat to Vince and he will do what he can to help TNA and make them a mainstay name in wrestling. Another choice for the boys, because that is what wrestling needs.
BONUS:
Jarrett is tenacious. He juggles a lot and no one understands what he is going through personally, as well as running TNA.
AJ Styles is a brother in Christ. He has unbelievable ability.
Lex Luger is a long time buddy, long time friend.
Hulk Hogan is the greatest of all time.
Bill Goldberg is misunderstood by many. He loves him.
He was a mark for Savage back in the day. He enjoyed his work in the 80’s and 90’s.
Bret Hart has a great finisher…he stole his jacket look early on, the Sgt. Pepper look.
Nash is a great bumper for a big guy and extremely creative.
Sonjay Dutt saw him first in Mid-South. He saw him with Eddie Gilbert, and he knew he was just different.
Tenay and West are next. Tenay remembers the first Clash match with Flair. It put Sting on the map.
Elix Skipper remembers the crazy colors and jackets he had. He thought he was very intense, and he thought he was something cool.
Tenay again is back and says he loved calling the Starrcade match vs. Hogan. The one-year build was great and was monster business for WCW at the time.
Chris Sabin says he loved the Hogan match as well. He dug the crow gimmick.
Dutt says he loved the Flair draw as well as him vs. Hogan, he was there for that live.
David Young loved the 1990 Bash match, where Sting came back from knee injury to beat Flair for the title. He went wild for Sting winning.
AJ Styles saw Sting when he did some work for WCW. They sat together and he was start struck. He knew Sting got saved and he wanted to get to know him and what he was like.
Skipper met Sting in WCW. He went into the wrong locker room as Sting and the Steiner’s were already there. They were all cool and Sting was cool with him from that day on.
West loved his return in Orlando. The crowd was so wild and he didn’t know the place could get that loud. He will never forget that.
AJ says when he first faced Sting he was honored because Sting is an ICON.
Young says Sting is the one guy that never had to go to WWE. He never needed it because he was larger than life.
AJ says that talking with Sting is always a pleasure. It is cool having another Christian around him, especially someone at Sting’s level.
The best part of making it was seeing the response. Sometimes he is on TBN and they will advertise it as well as the book of the same title. The response is amazing and people have told him it has changed their life and that moves him.
We see clips from the movie. Pretty funky stuff. And an advertisement!
It is SO odd seeing the Nashville Fairgrounds after just watching Impact. Also, TNA in a regular ring seems so wrong now.
Sting and Jeff Jarrett vs. AJ Styles © and Sean Waltman
They brawl at the bell. Waltman is in his PJ’s because he was late for the show. Sting and AJ pair off and AJ and Waltman are slammed together. Rights by AJ, kicks and Sting gets an elbow and then sidesteps a dropkick, Scorpion try and AJ rolls to the floor. Russo is on commentary and Sting with a PLANCHA to AJ! They brawl around ringside, JJ and Waltman battle in the ring and chokes out JJ. Broncobuster misses as Sting slams AJ to the announce table. Powerbomb by JJ, figure four try…gets it. Waltman fights…AJ springboards on with a leg drop on JJ to break that up. Rights by Waltman, tag to AJ. Boots to JJ, slam and the knee drop gets 2. Kicks to JJ and then rights. Off the ropes and a dropkick to JJ. AJ steps on JJ’s head as Russo goes on a swearing tangent on commentary. Waltman tags in, sleeper on JJ. JJ escapes but eats a spinkick for 2. Slam by Waltman, quick leg drop gets 2. AJ in and more kicks to JJ. Chinlock by AJ now. JJ escapes, off the ropes and they clothesline each other. Tag to Waltman and JJ with boots to Waltman and the tag to Sting! Sting cleans house. Rights and chops for all. Irish whip…one for Waltman as well…Stinger splash on AJ. One on Waltman! Scorpion deathlock on AJ… Waltman grabs the bat…and nails Sting. AJ now gets the Scorpion on Sting! Sting fights out and escapes. AJ tags Waltman and then nails JJ. Off the ropes…double boot and then Sting clotheslines them both! JJ is up and Sting gets the death drop/DDT on Waltman and AJ! Tag to JJ and a dropkick to AJ! One for Waltman! Double noggin knocker! Russo has a bat, Sting attacks Waltman as AJ superkicks the ref. Stroke by JJ on AJ! Sting tosses Waltman and Russo in and nails JJ with the bat. Raven is here and attacks Russo! AJ grabs Raven, but Raven then has to fight off Shane Douglas! They brawl and AJ up top…kick by JJ and another stroke! Cover and still no ref! Sting beats down Waltman with the chair as JJ covers for 2. Irish whip, elbow by AJ…they battle up top…2nd rope stroke! 1…2…3!
Winners: Sting and JJ @ 12:24 via pin
After the match Russo chokes out JJ and Douglas and Raven brawl. JJ then nails Russo with the bat as Sting pulls him out to beat him down. Raven and JJ stand off now. Sting separates them and wants them to be brothers in Christ and then agree! Well, they stop fighting anyway.
The 411: Sting: Return of an Icon is a really good DVD from TNA. First, as far as the matches go, they are all complete accept the Lethal Lockdown match. There are five PPV matches with Sting on the DVD, one of them ** and the rest ***-***½ while the rest are from Impact and your normal TV level matches. Nothing blow away or must see, but a solid set of matches from a guy in his 40’s that is best known for working with Flair and Vader as far as his classic stuff goes.
The bonus section is solid, with lots of thoughts from TNA guys that are young enough to remember being his fans. The career section is very enjoyable as Sting joins us in a very candid way, no face paint as he is most of the DVD. He is very open, which makes for an enjoyable segment. Where the DVD falls short obviously is the lack of “old Sting” footage. With WWE owning almost all of Sting’s career on video, it is impossible to do anything else but what TNA did here. The focus was more on his return after WCW and what he had done in TNA though, so in the end it didn’t hurt as much since they never billed this as a career retrospective. I wish TNA would have paid Watt’s ex-wife some coin to get the rights to some UWF/Mid-South footage though, but that is a small quibble. In the end the DVD is a fun one to own, especially if you are a Sting fan, and I would recommend it for purchase. |
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| Final Score: 7.5 [ Good ] legend |
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