With Wrestlemania season comes the annual WWE Hall of Fame inductions. The 2016 class starts off with bang as the icon Sting is announced as the first inductee this year. With an almost 30 year career that is mostly defined by his time in WCW, Sting is one of the most popular superstars of his era.
Breaking into the business along his friend Jim Hellwig who you know as The Ultimate Warrior in 1985 the Stinger had stardom written all over him. The men formed a tag team known as the Blade Runners and worked in Bill Watts’ Universal Wrestling Federation. Sting was known as Flash and Warrior was Rock. They teamed up with legend Eddie Gilbert and Missy Hyatt’s heel stable. Warrior eventually left in 1986 to go to WCCW while Sting stayed and won tag titles with Gilbert and Rick Steiner.
In 1987 Jim Crockett Promotions bought the UWF from Watts and forever changed wrestling and Sting’s career. Crockett was booked by Dusty Rhodes who couldn’t wait to showcase the young superstar. He teamed up with Jimmy Jam Garvin and Michael PS Hayes against Gilbert, Rick Steiner and Living Legend Larry Zbyszko in the opening match of 1987 Starrcade. Sting stepped into mega star status after his time limit draw at the first ever Clash of Champions in 1988 where he took on legend Ric Flair.
From that point on he and Flair’s careers were tied together and some consider Sting the greatest opponent of the 16 time world champ. That is saying a lot when you think about names such as Steamboat, Harley Race and Dusty Rhodes that are a part of the Nature Boy’s past. Sting was WCW’s bright young star who stuck with them for the long haul. Even before the Monday Night War’s a lot superstars jumped to the WWE and back to WCW but Sting never wavered.
Winning a total of 15 Championships during his 14 tenure in WCW is why the called him “The Franchise”. Sting has held every title that the promotion had to offer and was there all the way until the lights got turned off in 2001. After WCW closed its door Sting did join the WWE as many expected. There were contract talks over the years but the two sides could never come to a deal. Around 2003 Sting started to make brief appearances in TNA and then began a full time run around 2006. Although ignored by the WWE his presence in Impact Wrestling elevated the company’s profile and he was able to have some really good matches there.
In 2014 Sting finally made his way to Connecticut to work for the McMahons. He became a part of the WWE video game and made his first appearance at Survivor Series 2014 to stop The Authority from stealing the final match of the event. Although he only had 2 matches in the company fans were delighted to finally see The Icon known as Sting in a WWE ring. With this induction he will be the only man in the TNA and WWE Hall of Fame. It is well deserved by a man who career is defined by loyalty and principles.
Written By
Keith B. Holt
Follow on Twitter @Kholtjr
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