7 Greatest Returns In Modern Wrestling History

Of all of AEW's landmark achievements, the job they have done in returning Sting to legendary status ranks among the best of them. After WWE did their best to dilute the legacy of 'The Stinger', AEW has a plethora of Sting's all-time best moments in their canon. The hits keep coming on this front, as WrestleDream 2025's greatest moment was stolen by Sting's triumphant return to save Darby Allin.

At the culmination of an I Quit match with Jon Moxley that felt more like a war than a wrestling contest, and after Darby had suffered everything from being launched like a lawn dart from the ring by Claudio Castignoli to nearly being murdered by Moxley attempting to drown him, the lights in the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri went pitch black.

Suspicions were instantly aroused that Darby's old partner was set to return, but the lights coming back on to reveal 'Old Man Sting' was as joyous a return as it's possible to enjoy. With his beard and hair looking like Gandalf The Grey if he liked Black Metal, Sting took his trademark bat to each of The Death Riders before demolishing Moxley to lead Darby Allin to victory.