AEW President Tony Khan has given his thoughts on the legendary career of Sting, calling his final run in AEW the greatest send-off in wrestling history and making a unique comparison to a top Hollywood action star. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Khan explained what made Sting so special, even in his 60s.
Khan stated that having Sting’s retirement run in AEW was one of the proudest moments of his career. He specifically praised Sting’s final match at the AEW Revolution pay-per-view in March, where he teamed with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks. “Sting had the greatest send-off, in my opinion, of any wrestler ever,” Khan said. “Sting and Darby Allin versus The Young Bucks for the World Tag Team Championship at AEW Revolution, I think, is the greatest retirement match ever.”
He then compared Sting’s late-career evolution into a high-risk performer to one of Hollywood’s biggest names.
“Sting, to me, is like the Tom Cruise of professional wrestling,” Khan explained. “You know how Tom Cruise, in recent years, has become this insane stunt man, the greatest stunt actor of all time, and that was Sting in his final years. And everybody who’s ever watched a movie knows Tom Cruise. Everybody who’s ever watched a wrestling match knows Sting. And they both, into their 60s, they kind of still look the same. They both went really hard and became crazy stunt men, and did, I think, the best work of their career into their 60s.”
Since retiring from in-ring competition in March, Sting has made sporadic, non-wrestling appearances on AEW television. He will be part of Starrcast during All In weekend in Texas.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Rich Eisen Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
