12 Times AEW Was Better Than Literally EVERYTHING
9. Sting's Retirement Run
The major puro leagues know their way around an epic, emotionally draining retirement run and ceremony. WWE did a near-perfect job with Ric Flair in 2008, even if the man himself removed all heft and meaning from the occasion by doing four consecutive jobs to Hulk Hogan in Australia a year later. Mostly, though, the retirement gimmick is just that. It works, and draws, but nobody takes it too seriously.
Sting’s retirement run was as incredible as his wonderful AEW chapter. It all worked to a frankly magical extent.
AEW Sting was two men at once: the Icon rendered timeless through the painted face and the expert, smoke-and-mirrors party matchmaking, and a visibly old man in his sixties whose unhinged bumps ranged from electrifying to terrifying. He was a genuine superhero and a man drenched in pathos, all at once.
This was explored to genius effect, against the Young Bucks, at the site of his retirement: Revolution 2024. The Stinger popped the Greensboro crowd with his superb no-sell fire-up spots, but he also bumped on glass. This was inspired, since his partner Darby Allin had set the tone by taking the more dangerous version earlier in the match, writing him out of it until the finish.
Sting prevailed, finding the wherewithal to avenge the Bucks, who had bloodied his family soon after his father’s passing - the chilling revelation of which on Dynamite might have informed his best promo ever.
Sting rafter-dropped into a death match in what was the perfect summary of his best WCW and AEW output.