Steve Borden

Steven Borden better known by his ring name Sting is a retired American professional wrestler and former bodybuilder whose career spanned five decades during which he won a combined fifteen world championships and became one of the most enduring and influential figures in professional wrestling history Borden rose to prominence in the late 1980s and became the defining star of World Championship Wrestling WCW during its peak years serving as the promotions heroic centerpiece and cultural identity Nicknamed The Franchise of WCW he spent 14 years with WCW and its predecessor Jim Crockett Promotions captured multiple world titles including six WCW World Heavyweight Championships headlined more payperview events than any wrestler in company history and wrestled in the main event of the final episode of Nitro in 2001 His rivalry with Hulk Hogan culminated at Starrcade 1997 the highestgrossing event in WCW history Following WCWs closure Borden chose not to immediately join the World Wrestling Federation WWF later renamed World Wrestling Entertainment WWE in 2002 despite the company having purchased WCW in 2001 and instead continued his career internationally before becoming a cornerstone of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling TNA Over more than a decade in TNA he helped establish the promotions credibility on a national stage won multiple world championships and became the only wrestler to hold the NWA WCW and TNA World Heavyweight Championships In recognition of his impact he was named the inaugural inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame in 2012 Late in his career Borden enjoyed a critically acclaimed final run in All Elite Wrestling AEW where he transitioned into a specialattraction and mentor role while teaming with Darby Allin and delivering highprofile performances well into his 60s He officially retired from inring competition in 2024 closing the book on a career defined by longevity adaptability star power and a rare ability to remain relevant across multiple eras of professional wrestling