10 Sting Matches You Must See Before His WWE Debut

10. Sting vs. Steven Regal (Great American Bash 1996)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17nk0y_sting-vs-steven-regal-wcw-great-american-bash-1996_sport One of the most underrated elements of Sting's in-ring work is just how well he meshes with great technical wrestlers. He has a history of great matches with more traditional workers such as Ric Flair and Steve Austin. At Great American Bash 1996, the last pay-per-view event before the official formation of the New World Order, the Stinger had a shot at the elitist Lord Steven Regal. With a chance to shut up the former WCW Television champion at his disposal, Sting turned in a fine performance in one of his last truly great matches. Regal worked his stiff, hard-hitting style and wore Sting down with his trademark submission-based offense. The head, neck and arm of WCW's most popular star became targets for the tough Brit, who attacked with ruthless aggression. The vaunted Regal Stretch appeared to spell the end to Sting's hopes of scoring a major pay-per-view victory but the ever-resilient babyface fought through the pain, broke free of the hold and channeled his inner Cena, making a Superman-like comeback and finishing Regal off with the Scorpion Deathlock submission hold for the win. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x17nk0y_sting-vs-steven-regal-wcw-great-american-bash-1996_sport Sting would go on to become the centerpiece of the rivalry between WCW and the NWO. After being accused of joining the latter, he retreated to the rafters, becoming an enigmatic performer whose motivations were not always immediately clear. When he emerged, he established himself as an enemy of the NWO. Regal, on the other hand, settled into the midcard. He feuded with Rey Mysterio and Prince Iaukea over the WCW Television title. He would depart from the company after making Bill Goldberg look like an amateur in a fairly notorious Monday Nitro match.