Sting will retire from the ring at AEW Revolution in 2024, marking the end of his long and historic career in pro wrestling. He has held prominent spots in WCW, WWE, TNA and now AEW, but this will be his final chapter in the ring after decades as a performer.
The Icon joined AEW in its infancy, offering legitimacy to a company still trying to establish itself. Despite them starting with a plethora of big names, Sting stood out from the rest of the pack as someone who had seen and done it all in the business. He has since become one of AEW’s most prominent on-screen figures.
Now, it’s a matter of properly wrapping up a legendary career. When asked about the responsibility he holds in ensuring Sting ends on a high note, Tony Khan told Steve Hermon of BBC West Midlands that the Franchise definitely deserves a grand send-off. Additionally, Khan hopes that Sting will continue to be an AEW ambassador in the future (h/t Fightful for transcription).
I think it’s incredibly important for us to make sure Sting gets a great send-off. He absolutely deserves it. He’s a legend in wrestling, with decades of experience. Sting is beloved, and I’m very excited about Sting’s retirement tour, which has embarked. He’ll be finishing up at Revolution. Of course, Sting was a huge part of the original AEW All In at Wembley Stadium. When Sting came out to Metallica, what a moment. ‘Seek and Destroy’ will be something that will live on in perpetuity in the video library as a great moment. I hope Sting will come. He’ll be retired at that point, but I hope he’ll still come be an ambassador because he’s in many ways AEW’s greatest legend, and I think he’s one of wrestling’s greatest legends.
I’m working with him very closely and still overseeing what we do but also talking to Sting because I want to make sure it’s people he feels comfortable wrestling and people he wants to get in the ring with, matches he’s excited about. That’s how we’ve done it this whole time, and we’re gonna keep doing it because Sting’s final run has been I believe one of the great send-offs in wrestling so far. We’re over two-and-a-half years into that retirement run, and at the three-year anniversary of Sting’s comeback match, we’ll celebrate this great three-year run he’s had. He’s been undefeated in AEW, which is pretty amazing. Sting’s had about 20 matches in AEW, and to have that record, to be undefeated, it’s pretty incredible. If he can maintain that record going into Revolution, it’ll really be something to see if Sting can finish his career with that three-year undefeated streak.
Sting’s occasional appearances and representation of AEW at other events greatly would benefit the company, especially since they do not have a well-established history of talent like WWE or even TNA.
As the biggest name with a long-term presence with the company, having him make sporadic appearances, similar to WWE’s use of the Undertaker, wouldn’t be the worst thing. Sting remains a draw after all this time, and AEW can use him at its marquee events down the road.
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