Real Name: Steve Borden
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 252 lbs
Hometown: Venice Beach, California
Titles Held: 1988 Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Tag Team Tournament Winner, NWA Television Championship(2), Iron Man Tournament Winner, NWA Heavyweight Championship, 1991 Battle Bowl Winner, King of Cable Tournament Winner, WCW International Championship(2), European Cup Tournament Winner, WCW United States Championship(2), WCW Tag Team Championship(2), WCW Heavyweight Championship(6)
Federations Worked With: World Championship Wrestling
Finishing Manuever: Scorpion Death Lock
Wrestling Aliases: Sting


Career Sketch

(Note: In this profile, keep in mind that the NWA was originally a part of WCW, in this profile, NWA is considered WCW.)

Sting is truly an amazing star. He has stayed in WCW for ten years, through good, through bad, he has held a world title with two different gimmicks, he has had three gimmicks in all, all of them different, but you always loved him and always knew that it was "Sting." Sting's story has not been told that much, so that's why I am proud to bring you the story of a man called Sting.

Steve Borden was a private trainer in Venice Beach, Ca., he competed in body building contests on the side with his friend Jim Helwig. The two incredibly built men were discovered by wrestling instructor Jim Bassman, what a find. They were taught the basics until they made their professional wrestling debut on the California independent scene.

The two debuted as a tag team called "Power Team USA." The team really never caught on though, and it disappeared in early 1986. Borden and Helwig stayed together and formed another tag team called "The Bladerunners." The Bladerunners were a better team with a better image. Helwig was known as Rock and Borden was known as Flash.

The Bladerunners continued on the California independent scene until they landed in the UWF. They formed an alliance with Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner, and Borden changed his in ring name to Sting. Sting had success with Bill Watts and the pre-mentioned group in UWF, but Helwig did not feel the same and he left for the WWF where he would eventually be known as the Ultimate Warrior.
Without Helwig, Sting chose Gilbert as a tag team partner, and together they won the UWF Tag Team championship. They lost the titles in the fall of 1986, and Sting moved on to other tag teams. He teamed with Rick Steiner and they won the tag straps in the spring of 1987 but lost them about a month later. Sting left the tag team scene to become a face singles wrestler.

Around this time, the UWF started doing joint cards with the nationally known NWA. Sting began to feud with NWA United States champion Lex Luger, the feud was messy and had no defining moment, but it was enough to lure Sting to work full time for the NWA.

Sting competed at the first NWA pay per view Starrcade in 1987, on the losing end in a large tag match up. Sting started to request a match with NWA World Champion Ric Flair. J.J. Dillon was the 4 Horsemen manager at the time, and came down to mock Sting after the request, but Sting dragged Dillon into the ring and beat him, after this, Flair granted Sting a title match.

The two met at a TV taping, and Flair came away on a stretcher, but he retained the belt. The two met again at Clash of the Champions I. The match went to a 45 minute time limit draw, and Flair walked out again with the belt. Sting then teamed up with Lex Luger in the 3rd annual Crockett cup tag team tourney, going through many names until they defeated Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard in the finals to win the tag team tournament.

Sting then competed for the NWA tag team and United States titles, but could not come away with any one. In March of 1989, Sting fought Mike Rotundo for the NWA TV title, with the stipulation that if Sting won within ten minutes he would also get $10,000. With the help of Lex Luger and Ricky Steamboat, Sting walked away with the cash and the gold.

Sting then fought the Great Muta at Great American Bash, and the match had no clean finish so the title was declared vacated. The two started to rival, and in coordance with a Ric Flair/Terry Funk rivarly, Sting and Flair agreed to team against Muta and Funk. The match took place in the Thunderdome Cage at Halloween Havoc 1989. The match ended in a mess with Ole Anderson attacking the referee. Sting continued to team with Flair over the next few months against foes like Lex Luger, Sting and Luger had a bitter feud at this time.

At Starrcade 1989, NWA held its one time only Iron-Man Tournament. It was set up strangely with a point system for victories and draws etc. Sting faced Luger in the first match and lost to Lex. Sting rebounded to beat the Muta in the second match and in his third match, Sting destroyed Flair to win the tournament.

At this time an alliance was formed between WCW and NWA, both had power and often disagreed on booking scenarios. NWA had Sting join the 4 Horsemen in early 1990, but WCW wanted Sting to take on Flair for the World Heavyweight title. Sting got the title shot at Wrestlewar 1990, but Flair said that if he accepted the match his career would be over, Sting accepted and was mauled by the Horsemen, putting the Stinger out of action for six months. At Clash of the Champions XI, Sting confronted Flair after Ric's match. At Great American Bash, the NWA decided that Flair had to walk away with the belt to beat Sting for the title. It was a great match and in the end, Sting reversed the figure four leglock into an inside cradle to win the match and the World Heavyweight championship.

Now the World champion, Sting took on all comers, including Flair and Sid. In August of 1990, a man called the Black Scorpion started to appear and started to claim to be from Sting's past. The two locked horns at Clash of the Champions XII, Sting dominated the match, and was in the process of unmasking the Black Scorpion when a man in a similar outfit to that of the Black Scorpion attacked, but Sting still won the match.

Sting took on Sid at Halloween Havoc 1990, and defeated him handily. Sting continued to face the Black Scorpion on several occasions. At Starrcade 1990, the two met inside a steel cage. There were four scorpions standing at ringside. Sting won the match and was immediately attacked by Arn Anderson and Barry Whindam. Sting fought the barrage off and unmasked the Scorpion to reveal that it was Ric Flair.

This set off a bitter feud between Flair and Sting. They met again in January of 1991, Flair defeated Sting and won the title when he used the ropes for leverage. The feud continued with the Horsemen usually coming out on top. At Superbrawl I, Sting and Luger took on the Steiner brothers for the tag team titles. When Sting and Luger had victory in hand, Ivan Kolloff came down and attacked Luger, only to hit Sting with the Russian sickle, and the Steiners rolled Luger up for the win. Sting then put on an uneventful, dragged out of feud with Kolloff.

After the feud with Kolloff, Sting joined a one night tournament for the vacant WCW United States title. Sting defeated Arn Anderson and Diamond Studd before he defeated Steve Austin in the finals to win the title. In those days in WCW, the US champ, was declared the #1 contender for the world title, but things were a little different for Sting.

Sting kept receiving "gifts" that turned out to be wrestlers, the first was Abdullah the Butcher, the second was Cactus Jack, Sting defeated both men, however. At Halloween Havoc 1991, Sting competed in the "Cage of Horrors" match. Sting won the match, but later that night was confronted by the debuting Rick Rude and challenged to a match, Sting accepted. Sting received his third "gift" which turned out to be Madusa, while looking at the gift, Sting was attacked by Lex Luger, landing him in the hospital. WCW told Sting that if he did not defend his title against Rude at Clash of the Champions XVII, Rude would be declared the US champ. Sting tried to compete, but with the injury, Rude defeated Sting for the US title.

At Starrcade 1991, another special event was held, this time it was the Battle Bowl, where winners would be combined in tag teams, and later be placed in a battle royal. Sting's partner was Abdullah the Butcher, and Sting advanced. The battle royal was set up so that there were two rings and the winner of each ring would face the other ring's winner in a match. Sting won his ring and Luger won his. The two then met in a good matchup. Sting defeated Luger and won the 1991 Battle Bowl.
With the win, Sting was declared #1 contender to the WCW World title, getting a title match at Superbrawl II. Sting dominated Luger and easily won the WCW Heavyweight title. Sting was then challenged by Rude for the world title. Sting however, had no problem defeating Rude either.

Sting was then challenged by the 400 pound monster Vader. The two met on many cards, and during a match in April. Vader powerslammed Sting, giving the Stinger two broken ribs and a bruised spleen. When Sting returned at Wrestlewar 1992, he feuded with Cactus Jack. The two had a brutal falls count anywhere match for the world title at Beach Blast 1992, with Sting barley coming out on top. Vader was then named #1 contender.

The two met at Great American Bash 1992. In what was a great match, Vader nailed the Stinger with a powerbomb and took the world title. After the title loss, Sting was scheduled to get a rematch, but after being attacked by Jake Roberts, Sting put Roberts as top prority.

Those were supposed to meet at Halloween Havoc 1992, but Cactus Jack ended up attacking Roberts, and Roberts left WCW. To become #1 contender, Sting competed in the King of Cable tournament in late 1992. In the first round he defeated Brian Pillman, in the second he defeated Rick Rude and he then faced Vader in the finals. Vader was no longer champion, and he and Sting put on a great match, Sting came out on top. Two days later though, Vader regained the world title, sparking another world title feud between Sting and Vader.

They met many times, but the most memorable encounter was at Superbrawl III in a strap match. Vader won the match, and both men came away bloody and injured. The feud was not over. In March of 1993, WCW went on a tour of Europe. On March 11, Sting defeated Vader for the World title in England. On March 17, Vader regained the World title when he defeated Sting in Dublin, Ireland. Sting then alligned himself with the British Bulldog and Vader allinged himself with Sid. A Sid/Sting feud emerged however, and Sting defeated Sid at Halloween Havoc 1993.

After a tag team match in February of 1994, Rick Rude attacked Sting. Sting requested a title match with the then WCW Intenational champion, but Rude refused to give Sting a shot at the title. In March of 1994, the WCW took of for Europe again.( I want to mention, that it is on this European tour, that Mick Foley lost his right ear, I just had to throw that in) A European Cup tournament was held and Sting fought through Harlem Heat, Ron Simmons(Farooq) and Steve Austin until he lined up once again with Vader. Sting won another great Vader/Sting match and won the European Cup Tournament.

On an episode of WCW Saturday Night, Sting sent a female fan to go into the crowd and ask for Rick Rude's autograph. Rude signed it, but it was a contract for the WCW International title vs Sting at Spring Stampede 1994.

Before the match took place, Harley Race challenged the winner on behalf of Vader, Sting accepted. During the match, Vader and Race hit Rude with a chair meant for Sting, and Sting rolled Rude up for the WCW International title.

On May 1, 1994, Rude regained the title in Japan, but injured his neck doing so, taking him out of the match with Vader. WCW put Sting in the match with Vader for the vacant International title, and defeated Vader to regain the belt. WCW decided that there should only be one world champion, so they booked Sting to face WCW World champ Ric Flair in a unification bout. During the match, Sherri Martel came down with Sting's facepaint on, only to help Flair unify both belts. Sting no longer was a champion. After that loss, the WCW signed Hulk Hogan, putting Sting out of the title picture.
In February of 1995, Sting entered a tournament for the vacant US title, Sting steamrolled through the competition and beat Meng for the belt in the finals. The two then feuded over the title for the next few months. Sting lost the belt in the fall of 1995 and was not able to regain it in rematches.

Sting was then entered into a "trap" feud with the 4 Horsemen, with Ric Flair screwing Sting in a tag match. When Lex Luger returned to WCW in 1995, Sting welcomed him back, Hogan did not however, and called Sting a traitor and challenged Sting to a world title match on a November 1995 episode of Nitro. Sting had the match won, but the Dungeon of Doom came out and interfered, Sting then defeated Flair at World War 3 1995.

At Starrcade 1995, Sting competed with Flair and Luger in a triangle match.
Luger and Sting were counted out when Luger held Sting, not allowing the Stinger to return. A feud never materialized though, and Sting and Luger won the WCW Tag Team titles from Harlem Heat in early 1996. It was a messy title reign marred in controversy, but no screwjob materialized and Sting and Luger lost the belts to Harlem Heat in June of 1996.

At this time, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash made their debuts in WCW, taking over the shows. Sting and his allies stood up to Hall and Nash in defense of WCW, and at Bash at the Beach 1996, Sting, Luger, and Randy Savage took on The Outsiders and a mystery partner. Hulk Hogan came down during the match and everyone thought that he was there to defend WCW and take out Hall and Nash, but that was not the case, as Hogan legdropped Savage and revealed himself to be the mystery partner. After the match, Hogan made a speech claiming that he, Nash, and Hall were the New World Order of wrestling at that they were not a part of WCW any longer.

Luger, Sting, and Savage continued to battle the nWo, and at Fall Brawl 1996, Sting and Luger were scheduled to team with Anderson and Flair in the War Games. A week before the pay per view, Luger was attacked by "Sting" on Nitro. Sting was accompinied by the nWo. Luger and his allies were convinced that Sting had defected from WCW to the nWo. The real Sting returned from Japan to find himself at odds with Luger, Lex believing he had been betrayed by Sting. In the War Games match, Sting comes down and takes out the nWo and the bogus Sting, but then says to Luger, Flair, and Anderson, "You finish them yourselves!" The nWo then got up, and Luger lost via the bogus Sting's Scorpion Death Lock. It would be the real Sting's last match for a long, long time.
The next night on Nitro, Sting came to the ring, insulted the fans, and declared himslef a free agent. After a few weeks of absence, Sting returned in the "crow" persona( the black and white facepaint he has now) and just sat in the rafters, making occasional drop-ins on the nWo. The nWo Sting continued to wrestle, and one night, Sting came down and destroyed the bogus. Sting was then asked to join the nWo, but all Sting said was:"There's only one thing that's sure for the Stinger, and that's nothings for sure." Wrestlers began to accuse Sting of betrayal and they paid for it. Sting destroyed those men, including Jeff Jarrett, Rick Steiner, Jim Duggan, and Lex Luger. Everyone thought Sting had joined the nWo.

Randy Savage returned to WCW in January 1997, Sting sided with him and shortly after, Savage joined the nWo. At Uncensored 1997, Sting came down to the ring and destroyed the nWo. He then pointed his bat at Hogan, making it clear he wanted Hollywood. WCW began to offer Sting contracts with opponents, but could not realize that Sting wanted Hogan, even though the silent Sting made it clear.

Eventually WCW booked Sting and Hogan for the WCW World title at Starrcade 1997. The match was billed as the most anticipated match in wrestling history, and I believe it was and is. Sting had not wrestled for over a year, but was always around, so the fans had been awaiting a match between him and Hogan, it was an over year long angle. Hogan hit the legdrop and got a fast count in the match, but then Bret Hart came down and decked the referee and Sting eventually won the match with the Scorpion Death Lock. He had regained the world title, and it might have been WCW's biggest face moment.

On an episode of Thunder on January 8, 1998, WCW commisioner J.J. Dillon stripped Sting of the title because of the way he won it at Starrcade. At that moment, Sting spoke for the first time in over a year with the words first directed at Dillon and then Hogan:"Your a coward, and you are a dead man." It may sound corny, but Sting made it sound good, and you know what I mean, if you want to hear this, go rent the video Sting unmasked and you'll know what I mean.

A match was booked for Superbrawl VIII for the vacated world title between Sting and Hogan. Randy Savage came to the ring and hit Hogan with a spraycan to secure victory for Sting. Then in trademark nWo fashion, Sting sprayed the letters of his alliance on his opponent's back, but Sting wrote "WCW."

Sting and Savage then aligned to break the nWo up. At Uncensored 1998 Sting defeated Scott Hall to retain the title. In a cage match between Hogan and Savage, Disciple interfered, and Sting came down to help Savage. It was all a swerve though, because Sting was attacked by Savage. A feud with Savage was scheduled, but Savage injured his knee so it never really materialized.

Sting then battled Kevin Nash on repeating Nitros, it looked liked Nash would win both matches until Hogan would come down to screw him. On an episode of Nitro, Savage, Nash, and Sting took part in a match for the world title. Hogan attacked Savage, but Nash Jacknifed Sting and then dragged the injured Savage on top of Sting to end Sting's title reign.

Sting then set his sights on Nash. Sting aligned with the now Big Show, then Giant to take on The Outsiders for the world tag straps. Before the match though, the Giant turned nWo and said Sting would have to choose after he and Sting won the tag titles from Hall and Nash. At Slamboree 1998, Sting and the Giant won the tag titles when Hall tuned on Nash and went nWo Hollywood. The Giant then told Sting to join the nWo, but Sting refused, and spit on the Giant and Hall.

On Nitro a few weeks later, Luger and Sting took on bogus Sting and The Giant, Sting desposed of bogus and then the nWo Wolfpac came down and offered Sting a spot in the babyface stable. Sting accepted the shirt after Nitro went off the air, and WCW made no mention of it on Thunder. On Nitro June 2, 1998, during a Wolfpac/Hollywood battle, Sting came down from the rafters in an nWo Hollywood shirt, Hogan and Giant looked pleased and embraced Sting only to be pummeled by the Stinger. Sting then tore the Black and White shirt off, revealing a Wolfpac shirt. Sting had joined the nWo Wolfpac.

Giant was furious with Sting, and named Brian Adams his new partner and champion. The Giant and Adams lost later that night to Luger and Diamond Dallas Page, when Sting came down in red facepaint to distract the nWo Hollywood. J.J. Dillon booked Giant and Sting for Great American Bash 1998, with the winner given both tag titles, and the right to choose a partner.

Sting won the match and gave Kevin Nash the other tag team title belt, making them the champions. Nash began to have back problems though, and Luger started to team with Sting to defend the belts.

On a late July 1998 edition of Nitro, Sting and Luger lost the belts to Giant and Hall because of distraction from Bret Hart. Sting and Luger then were supposed to get a title rematch with Hall and Giant. Luger was attacked before the match and Sting had no partner. Bret Hart then said he was Sting's friend and he would team with Sting. In a shocker, Sting came to the match from the rafters in his old black and white outfit. Sting and Hart won, but the ref reversed the decision and Hart walked out with both belts. In a strange turn of events, Sting returned to the red and black outfit on Thunder.

Sting then had a slow couple of months, with Bret Hart trying to convince Sting he was his friend. Sting started to accept Bret, and a match between Bret and Hogan was booked. Right off the bat though, Bret "injured" his knee, he tried to get back in the ring, but the Wolfpac stopped him. Sting said he would defend Bret and take the match. In the closing minutes of the match, Bret came to the ring and viciously attacked Sting, turning on the Stinger, this set up a match between the two at Halloween Havoc 1998.

The week before the match, Sting came out and insulted Hogan and Hart. This brought out a face from Sting's past. The Ultimate Warrior! Jim Helwig came out and said that he would team up with Sting to take on Hogan and Hart, it was the one night return of The Bladerunners. That match was poorly planned though, and it was just a mess. The match was messy at Halloween Havoc also, which I think if put on right, could have been the best pay per view in pro wrestling history, with a legendary card. None, thats right none, of the matches were planned right and the pay per view was a dud. Bret Hart attacked Sting with a baseball bat and knocked Sting out. Sting took some time off after the match and was not seen for a while.

Sting returned in April of 1999 in the black and white face paint and he immediately made a challenge for a match. He challenged Hogan, Diamond Dallas Page, and WCW Champion Ric Flair to a four corners match refereed by the also returning Randy Savage at Spring Stampede 1999. The match was actually pretty cool, but Hogan severley injured his leg and Page came out on top with his first title. A few weeks later on Nitro, WCW booked Page to defend against Sting, Sting won the match, his fifth title reign. Kevin Nash came out though and challenged Page, Goldberg, and the champ Sting to a four corners match. All parties accepted, and Randy Savage came down and helped Page win the title back, Sting's reign lasted about an hour.

After brief feuds with Goldberg and the Steiner brothers, Sting got involved with the feud between then champ Kevin Nash and Randy Savage and Sid. Many wondered whose side Sting was on, enter the bogus Sting. The bogus Sting came down and attacked Kevin Nash, Nash destroyed him, then the real Sting came down to help Nash, but got Jackknifed. At Bash at the Beach 1999, a tag match was booked for the world title. I did not and still dont understand it, but Nash said that if either Savage or Sid pinned him, they would be champ, but this is where it gets confusing, if Sting pins him, Sting is world champ. Sting stayed loyal to Nash though, and in the end, Savage won the match and the title.

Sting then set his sights on then WCW President Ric Flair, challenging him for the presidency, Sting eventually won control of WCW. The summer months were slow, Sting gave control of the company back to WCW, and aligned himself with Hollywood Hogan and Goldberg against Nash, Rick Steiner, and Sid. Hogan returned to his Hulkster persona. After weeks of trying to get a title match without interference, Hogan and Sting signed for the world title at Fall Brawl 1999, Lex Luger then returned, telling Sting not to trust Hogan. The question going in was, could Hogan be trusted, but during the match Sting and Luger used a bat on Hogan and Sting walked out six times world champ.

Sting had turned heel, but WCW really botched Sting's heel turn. Hogan and Sting were booked for Halloween Havoc 1999, but new management took over in WCW and scrapped all existing booking plans. Hogan was taken completely out of the picture, and Sting fought Goldberg in a non-title match at Halloween Havoc. Goldberg won and left with the belt. The next night, WCW stripped Sting of the title because he attacked a ref, the new bookers were trying to clean the slate for themselves.

A tournament was booked for the title and a now face Sting made to the semifinals where he lost to the eventual winner Bret Hart. Sting then began to feud with Lex Luger over Elizabeth. Sting took Liz under his wing and they met Luger at Starrcade 1999, during the match though, Liz turned on Sting and attacked the Stinger with Luger, Sting then took time off to clean up bone spurs in his elbow.

At Superbrawl 2000, Sting returned, and got his revenge on Luger. Then, at Uncensored 2000, after battling Team Package(Luger and Flair,) Sting was saved by young WCW star Vampiro. Vampiro resembled Sting in many ways, from appearence, to ring style. The two became known as The Brothers in Paint. On Spring Break Out 2000, The Brothers in Paint defeated Team Package in a tornado match, with Vamp pinning Flair in the ring, and Sting pinning Luger on the beach.
The next week however, things changed. WCW had just rehired Vince Russo and Eric Bischoff to run WCW, and they came to the ring with every young WCW superstar, including Vampiro. Sting was thrown into the group of older wrestlers known as "The Millionaires Club." Later in the night, Vampiro attacked Sting, ending their bond.

The two traded attacks, until at Slamboree 2000, Sting defeated Vampiro. The feud however, did not end there. Sting was screwed when he was about to defeat Jeff Jarrett for the WCW title, but Vamp attacked. The two were booked for an inferno match at Great American Bash 2000, which Vampiro one, when Sting was severly burned.

Sting stayed on WCW programming, but in a costume designed for a burn victim. Sting returned for real as "The Crow" near the end of July 2000. During the Summer, Sting battled everyone from Vampiro, to The Demon at New Blood Rising, to Jarrett, to the Insane Clown Posse. When the Fall came, he began battling newer opponents like the Natural Born Thrillers.

At Fall Brawl 2000, Sting was scheduled to take on Vampiro and Great Muta in a three way dance. Sting won the match when pinning Vampiro, and when Vamp's Dark Carnival group attacked Muta, Sting came to the rescue. Stinger than engaged in a backstage battle with Jeff Jarrett later on in the PPV.

The next night on Nitro, Sting had the deathlock locked in on WCW Champion Booker T, and was about to win the title, when Jarrett and Scott Steiner hit the ring and the match ended. More battles with the likes of Booker, Steiner and Jarrett, Vince Russo, and Team Canada ensued for Stinger.

At Halloween Havoc 2000, Sting took on Jarrett, it was an odd match. There was interference by people dressed in old Sting gimmicks, but he fought them off. Eventually however, Sting fell to the interference of many, and Jarrett won.

Sting continued to feud with the familiar crowd for the rest of 2000 and even a few unsuccessful title matches were thrown in the mix. As 2001 came, time off and poor feuds dogged Sting's year, however, there wasn't much of a year left for WCW.

In March of 2001, Vince McMahon purchased WCW, and the final WCW came from Panama Beach in Florida. On the final Nitro, Sting took on Ric Flair. This was decient, good match, especially considering how each man's talent had deteriorated since their heyday. Sting came out on top, and it was the last time we saw the Stinger.

That brings me to today, where it is unlikely we will ever see Sting again. He is 42 years old, financially secure, and docent like traveling, it has been said he has no interest in joining the WWFor Vince's WCW. It was a great career though, one of the most interesting and diverse ever. Sting changed with the times on more than one occasion, and did it with success each time. Sting was the top face that carried WCW through it's best time, which shows his drawing power. Sting is truly a great in the world of wrestling.

Pat McGregor
Send feedback to PatMcGregor@tpww.net

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