8 Times AEW Legitimately Changed The World

8. Sting's Final Stand

Arriving with no rumors or, "Fightful Select understands..." conversation before he emerged through the snow with the aura of a thousand superstars at 2020's 'Winter Is Coming', Sting joining AEW felt surreal. Even if excitement about this acquisition was high, nobody could have predicted what an unforgettable run 'The Icon' was about to enjoy, as Tony Khan expertly booked a final hurrah for one of the most beloved pro wrestlers of all time.

His kinship with Darby Allin connected with audiences straight away.

If Darby felt like a rebel without a cause up until this union, then Sting gave purpose and star appeal to Allin's naturally eye-catching, daredevil antics; but it was in the respect he was shown and the performances he put on that the Stinger ensured his final run in wrestling would be as good as anyone's you care to mention.

Diving off arena scaffolding in his 60s, exchanging lazy kicks and beating his chest lackadaisically with Orange Cassidy, making Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston mark out like fans, tagging with Darby and CM Punk in face paints, winning the tag titles with Allin, and going out as a champion by winning his unforgettable swan song at Revolution 2024 against The Young Bucks, Sting went entirely and believably undefeated in his time in AEW. 

Everyone he worked with looked better for it, whilst the legend of Sting was preserved and elevated to its absolute zenith in the company.