Sting: AEW wrestlers are ‘so gracious,’ happy to get feedback from me
Whenever he’s around backstage in AEW, Sting is willing to help younger wrestlers and give them advice on the things they’re working on.
Sting retired from the ring in 2024 but remains under contract with AEW in his post-wrestling life. While speaking with the Hunter, Jessica & Cush radio show in South Carolina this week, Sting was asked if he plays an active role in mentoring the up-and-coming talent in AEW. He said he does not attend many AEW shows but is always available to give feedback when he is there. The wrestlers are all very gracious and happy to hear from him.
“When I’m there, when I’m with the guys, yes, of course,” Sting said. “I will give feedback on a match that I saw or a gimmick or a certain move or whatever, psychology that somebody’s trying to use or somebody’s trying to develop their character. I definitely am there to always lend some sort of advice. And they’re all so gracious. You know, they’re so happy to hear from me. So it’s good. But I’m not there, I’m not there a whole lot, but when I am there, I am involved.
“And some of the guys I’m in contact with, and I’ll talk with them on the phone. And so I do have some contact with them. And Darby [Allin], we talk pretty consistently.”
Sting had very high praise for Kevin Knight, who is challenging Allin for the AEW World Championship at this Wednesday’s three-hour Dynamite/Collision special. Sting said he loves watching Knight and thinks Knight is one of the best athletes around right now.
In addition to Knight, Sting named Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher, Tommaso Ciampa, Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, Orange Cassidy, Samoa Joe, and Jon Moxley as some of the AEW wrestlers people should be watching.
Sting told Hunter, Jessica & Cush that real estate has always been one of his interests, and he’s focusing on that now that he’s retired. He did make an AEW appearance a few weeks back when his former tag team partner Allin defeated MJF to win the World title.
The Borden lineage is being carried on in wrestling by Sting’s son Steven Borden, who regularly works dark matches at AEW shows.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.