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The man called
Sting is one of the most popular and charasmatic pro-wrestlers in
the history of the sport. Long the franchise performer in WCW, Sting
is the only major WCW star who has faithfully remained with the company
since its formation and not spent a significant period of time with
another promotion.
While training for the Mr. America contest in 1985, Sting met up with
the man who would become the Ultimate
Warrior and the pair toyed with the idea of entering pro-wrestling.
Later the pair would find a manager willing to give them a shot in
Rick Bassman. Warrior and Sting, using the names Rock and Flash respectively,
along with another pair of wrestlers made their debut later that year
after some training under Red Bastien. The group, called Powerteam
USA, was raw, but popular. However, both Sting and Warrior wanted
to find better competition and ended up moving to the Mid-South area
on their own. Renaming themselves the "Freedom Fighters,"
the pair won their debut match in less than 3 minutes.
As they continued on into 1986 their popularity grew. The pair renamed
themselves once more, calling themselves "The Blade Runners,"
and Sting would take on the "Sting" alias for the first
time. Along with the new names, came a new look. Sting and Warrior
began to paint their faces with black designs. They donned black mouthpieces,
and also dyed their hair. This is where Sting developed his blonde
buzzcut, which he would retain for many years. Soon, Warrior would
depart the team in order to wrestle solo. He was replaced by Eddie
Gilbert. The Mid-South conference would later re-dub itself the UWF,
and in August, the Blade Runners would capture the Tag Team titles
from the Fantastics, in a match in Tulsa, Oklahoma. By December, Sting
was teaming with future star, Rick Steiner.
The pair would wrestle successfully until a loss in 1987. However,
the team would go on to recapture the title later that year.
Sting, who's popularity was on the rise, began teaming with Nikita
Koloff, and would end up winning the Crockett Cup tag team tournament
while teamed with up-and-coming Lex
Luger.
1989 would be a huge year for Sting. He would go on to victory against
Mike Rotundo in Atlanta, and in doing so he would win the NWA TV title.
Then the real fun begins as Sting aligns himself with "The Nature
Boy" Ric Flair.
Trouble began when Sting won the Ironman competition at Starrcade
'89, pinning Ric Flair in the finals. Sting thus gained a shot at
Ric Flair's NWA title. In order to avoid giving Sting the shot, Flair
invited him into the Four Horsemen, but Sting still wanted the shot.
The Horsemen later kicked Sting out of the group. Sting injured his
knee trying to climb a cage to get at Flair. That injury would require
surgery and keep Sting out for four months.
However...Sting would get his due.
Later in that year, Sting came back from the injury to defeat Ric
Flair for the NWA World title at the Great American Bash '90 in one
of the greatest Wrestling matches of all time. Sting immediately became
the focus of the fans; he had comics written about him, his merchandise
became top-sellers, and he sold out arenas everywhere. In short, Sting
became the man!
Sting went on to defeat "Stunning" Steve Austin in the finals
of the WCW US title tournament in Atlanta, GA. In November, Sting
lost the US title to "Ravishing"
Rick Rude, after WCW champion Lex
Luger injures Sting's leg earlier in the night in Savannah, GA.
This marks the turning point of a huge fued between two of WCW's biggest
stars.
Sting went on to defeat the World Title holder Lex
Luger, thus winning the World Title once again. Luger dominated
much of the match, but then Sting took over. Sting hit Luger with
everything and eventually won the title with a flying bodypress off
the top rope.
Sting won the WCW World title from Vader in London, England. WCW held
their first ever Spring Stampede PPV that year, and Sting was involved
in a fued with WCW International champ Rick
Rude (By this time, The international title is actually the NWA
World Title). Rude would not give Sting a shot at the belt until a
young woman asked Rude for an autograph during a TV taping. What Rude
actually signed was a contract to face Sting at the Stampede on April
17th. And there, Sting won the WCW International title. However, he
lost the title shortly thereafter.
At Slamboree, Sting battles Big Van Vader yet again for the vacant
(NWA) International title, and Sting is victorious yet again.
Soon thereafter, the US title was declared vacant and once again a
tournament would determine a new champion. Sting gained the right
to wear the US title again by defeating Meng at the Great American
Bash in a memorable match of Power and Martial arts skills against
Sting's speed and unpredictable style. He would battle Meng once more
a month later at Bash at the Beach and would once more prove victorious.
Sting would continue to hold the US title until October when he was
upset by Japanese sensation Kensuke Sasaki.
In January of 1996, Sting won the World tag team titles with his buddy
Lex
Luger by defeating the Bluebloods at Clash of Champions.
Luger deserted him before their match with the Road Warriors (Hawk
and Animal)
at Uncensored in Tupelo, MS, but Sting kept the tag belts with the
aid of Booker T of Harlem Heat.
Luger
then began to wise up, and just in time, because Scott Hall reared
his head on Nitro. Sting was the first one to meet his challenge head
on. At Bash at the Beach three men of WCW, Sting, Luger
and Macho
Man, fought Hall and Nash, the Outsiders.
The 3rd man siding with the Outsiders remained a mystery throughout
the match, and speculation was rampant about that man's identity.
Things took a turn when Hulk Hogan strolled down the walkway, and
the announcers thought that the tide had turned towards WCW's favor.
However, Hogan leg-dropped the prone Macho
Man, and sided with the Outsiders.
That night the New World Order was born.
And Sting, as he was known, was no more.
Title
Summary:
UWF World tag
team
NWA World TV title
NWA World heavyweight
WCW U.S. Heavyweight (2)
WCW World Heavyweight (8)
WCW International World (2)
WCW World tag team (3)
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