Sting‘s return to Greensboro will be quite special; when “The Icon” competes there on the “Holiday Bash” episode of AEW Dynamite on Wednesday night, it will mark his first bout in the city in nearly three decades. This remarkable return is the latest step in the legend’s comeback story, as the 62-year-old continues to wrestle at a high level among his “elite” coworkers.
In an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, Sting previewed his match on Wednesday and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to keep doing what he loves. Looking back on his run up to this point, the WWE Hall of Famer described it as “surreal.”
“This means the world to me,” said Sting. “I never thought I’d be back here like this. I thought I was just going to disappear from wrestling, and I didn’t like the thought of that. Then I came to AEW, and originally, we were just going to explore cinematic matches. And I got in the ring. I can still hear Cody [Rhodes] telling me about my kinetic energy and that I could wrestle a match. I was like, ‘Ease up now, Cody.’ Then I heard Darby say, ‘Steve, you can do it.’ This entire stretch, and now coming back to Greensboro, it has all been surreal.”
Years ago, Sting’s career as a wrestler came to a premature end in 2015 when he took a botched bucklebomb, so the legendary star didn’t have the chance to end his story the way he might have wished. His time in AEW has been a second chance, and the former WCW icon noted that the crowd’s appreciation has meant a lot to him during this final stretch of his in-ring days.
“Not many people get to rewrite their final chapter, not at this level,” said Sting. “I had great matches at the Greensboro Coliseum with Lex Luger, and now I get to do it with Darby and CM Punk against MJF and FTR. It’s a great way to end my career. The crowd, their appreciation makes me want to tear up. It’s almost as if they don’t want to say goodbye.
Sting went on to thank AEW President/General Manager Tony Khan for giving him the chance in the first place. He then stated that he also wants to thank the fans for their support before he compared his return to Greensboro to a homecoming.
“I am so grateful and thankful for Tony Khan, because he is where all of this starts in AEW,” said Sting. “This is also my chance to thank all wrestling fans across the globe. And I thank God in heaven above.
“Going back to Greensboro, it feels like I’m coming back home.”
At AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash, Sting will team up with Darby Allin and CM Punk to face MJF and FTR in a buzzworthy bout.
