Sting Officially Announces His Retirement
Six-time WCW Champion hangs up his boots at Hall of Fame ceremony.
During an emotional induction ceremony into the WWE Hall of Fame, 2016 class headliner Sting officially announced his retirement from professional wrestling.
Sting's announcement comes as little surprise, given that news broke last month that the multi-time world champion would no longer be able to compete due to injury. Still, Sting - who acknowledged that he had been hurt - would not confirm the rumors, and even hinted at returning to the ring in the future.
Sting was one of the most popular wrestlers in the history of WCW, and one of the now defunctcompany's biggesthomegrown stars. After WCWfoldedin 2001, he had no interest in competing for WWE, instead spending years working for TNA. Finally, in 2014, he left TNA for good. He arrived in WWE at that year's Survivor Series, attacking Triple H. That led to a marquee matchup with "The Game" at WrestleMania 31, which Triple H won.
After WrestleMania, the company seemed to have little idea what to do with the former WCW franchise. He finally returned to television in August, picking a fight with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. Sting challenged Rollins for the title at Night of Champions 2015 in September, but suffered a serious neck injury in the bout. He was later diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which ultimately forced him out of the ring for good.