Sting's 10 Greatest Matches and Moments to Relive on WWE Network

It's been a long while since Sting tussled with Ric Flair or took wild swings at the NWO, but the WWE Network can bring all those memories back.

Watch The Stinger battle the monstrous Vader, team with Lex Luger and slip on his now-trademark The Crow-inspired face paint. The WWE Network, as loaded as it is, doesn't capture the entirety of the former world champ's WCW career; several missing years of Nitro cut the nostalgia possibilities down.

Still, a wealth of Sting's best bouts awaits to be viewed. One can certainly scrounge around and find bits and pieces of Sting's greatest hits on YouTube, but the WWE Network features far better quality. If you're going to watch Flair and Sting put on one of their classics, a grainy version of their work isn't good enough.

The following is a look (in chronological order) at what highlights from his WCW days are most worth revisiting. Stellar ring work, emotional pull or a combo of both get these matches and moments on the list. 

Best Stuff Not Currently Available

• Sting vs. Cactus Jack: WCW Power Hour, Nov. 19, 1991
• Sting and Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair and Steve Austin: WCW Saturday Night, July 30, 1994
• Sting comes down from the rafters: WCW Nitro, Jan. 20, 1997
• Sting saves The Giant: WCW Nitro, Sept. 29, 1997
• Sting vs. Diamond Dallas Page: WCW Nitro, April 26, 1999
• Sting vs. Ric Flair in the last Nitro match ever: WCW Nitro, March 26, 2001

In search of Sting's best on the WWE Network, one will quickly discover that the WCW Nitro archive only includes episodes from 1995 and 1996. That cuts out a good chunk of his anti-NWO days. 

In 1996, the character was only starting to roll. It's after that he started to truly become an on-screen superhero.

Leaving those years out also means that fans aren't getting to see his best in-ring work from 1998 to 2000. During that period, his standout bouts came on Nitro, not on pay-per-view.

Not having other WCW shows like Power Hour and Saturday Night means the WWE Network is missing some of his great early work. His Submit or Surrender clash with Cactus in 1991 in particular is one fans who haven't seen it should seek out.

That feud brought out a darker, gritty version of The Stinger. Cactus seemed to bring the best out of him, which was especially clear in how energized he looked.

Sting vs. Ric Flair: Clash of the Champions

March 27, 1988 

Sting's arrival to the marquee came on the first-ever edition of Clash of the Champions. Ric Flair had long been the clear top star in the company, having worn the world championship five times at that point.

Here came this young, exciting athlete with spiky blond hair and colorful face paint around his eyes.

Sting showed himself to be one of wrestling's next great stars with a tremendous performance in the heat of the spotlight. His 45-minute draw with Flair is one of the many examples of their great chemistry together, the launching point for a rivalry that would stretch on for years.

This was a perfect example of Sting's ability to control a crowd, as he worked them into a frenzied state at the prospect that the newcomer would overtake the longtime king.

Sting and Ric Flair vs. Dick Slater and Great Muta: Clash of the Champions VIII

Sept. 12, 1989

It was supposed to be Terry Funk who teamed up with The Great Muta, but an injury put Dick Slater in the mix instead. As much as that looked like a downgrade on paper, things worked out tremendously.

Muta meshed well with both Ric Flair and Sting, bringing an exciting new energy to the slower WCW style. Flair's chops drummed against Muta's chests. Sting's babyface comeback moments were nearly perfect. 

A chaotic, highly charged match ended in a rule-breaking frenzy. Funk appeared at the end, attempting to strangle Flair with a plastic bag.

It was a top-notch match that is too often underrated. The insanity of Funk attempting murder live on TV is enough to get you curious; the in-ring excellence will leave you mighty satisfied.

Sting vs. Ric Flair: Great American Bash 1990

July 7, 1990

Ric Flair and Sting had better matches before and after this, but none with the emotional weight that this one had. This was a tale of a hero reaching the mountaintop, finally making his way through his archenemy.

Sting won his first world title despite a whirlwind of potential distractions at ringside and Flair sending him crashing into the railing.

The Four Horsemen tried their best to ruin things for the emerging babyface, but he prevailed. Sting pinning Flair was a passing-of-the-torch moment that's a must-see for those who haven't and a powerful flashback for those who have. 

War Games Match: WrestleWar 1991

Feb. 24, 1991

Sting and Ric Flair's stellar chemistry was just one of the elements that made this a match deserving of five stars.

Brian Pillman's ill-advised gutsiness, Sid Vicious' rampage and a frenetic, buzzing energy make this a must-watch fight. Had Vicious not cracked Pillman's head on the cage and legitimately knocked him out, there would be an even better argument for this to be the best War Games match of all time.

Sting thrived in these type of bouts, his flurries and intensity fitting in perfectly in the environment. He certainly shared the stage with several others here, but a Sting compilation isn't complete without it. 

Sting and Lex Luger vs. The Steiner Brothers: SuperBrawl I

May 19, 1991

A convergence of babyfaces resulted in arguably WCW's best match in 1991 outside of War Games, one built on star power and a high-octane pace.

A star of Sting's caliber going after the tag titles was refreshing and made it feel like a main event. Each wrestler amped up the intensity shortly after the bell rang, and the result was a bout pulsing with adrenaline.

SuperBrawl was a quality pay-per-view overall, but this was its gem. While his work against Ric Flair, Vader and others gets more attention at times, some of Sting's most compelling offerings came as part of a tag team.

Sting's Squadron vs. The Dangerous Alliance: WrestleWar 1992

May 17, 1992

Seething animosity powered another classic inside the War Games structure. Paul Heyman's Dangerous Alliance committed enough treachery leading up to this that it was immensely satisfying seeing Sting and company hit those guys with haymakers.

This is a perfect example of how to book a revenge story, a triumph of good over evil.

Having future Hall of Famers like Ricky Steamboat, Steve Austin and Arn Anderson as part of the battle elevated it. Nikita Koloff delivered a powerful moment when he willingly took a beating as a sacrifice for his teammates.

Sting was the clear star, though. He had the honor of ending the bout, the righteous warrior felling the evildoers with an armbar.

Sting vs. Vader: Starrcade 1992

Dec. 28, 1992

Ric Flair brought out Sting's best. Vader was a close second.

Vader did for Sting what Andre the Giant did for Hulk Hogan—elevate him by playing the "seemingly unstoppable" role. That dynamic was clear early on, with the big man pounding on The Stinger with forearm shots. It then morphed into a back-and-forth slugfest.

Harley Race screaming on the outside and the stakes (the winner would be dubbed The King of Cable) added to the bout as well.

Sting powerslamming Vader from the top rope is a moment worth watching alone. The match itself was top-notch stuff.

Sting vs. Vader (Strap Match): SuperBrawl III

Feb. 21, 1993

Never mind the corniness of the promo leading up to this (see above); this is the best Strap match of all time.

It was far from the first time that Sting had to face the monster that was Vader, but he had yet to be tied to him. As Jesse Ventura noted on commentary, Sting had nowhere to run.

Blood, the sting of leather against flesh and Sting's choking his foe with the strap all made for a violent, engrossing matchup.

Watch Sting's work with Ric Flair for great mat work. Watch this for pure brutality.

Sting Is a Free Agent

Sept. 16, 1996

Sting's most famous promo led to a transformation. His speech to the fans watching Nitro that night was a precursor to his long-haired, bat-carrying days.

He tried to explain that the man who attacked Lex Luger before this was an impostor. 

The Stinger talked about his allies' doubts about him and all the hard work he had done for WCW. After a powerful speech that at times felt like he was veering toward a shoot, he announced that he was a free agent, tied to no one.

He'd soon go to Japan, wandering, leaving WCW behind. The new Sting soon emerged.

It's a moment fans have to watch to understand Sting's shift into his darker self, to get the full story of his character's growth.

He Did Not Make the Move

Oct. 21, 1996

The WWE Network's collection of WCW Nitro episodes ends too soon to see Sting blossom as an antihero, but it does have the moment he first walked out in black-and-white face paint and a trench coat.

Uncertainty surrounded The Stinger at the time. He attacked the fake Sting, and the NWO simply watched. They offered him a spot in their ever-growing faction, and he didn't outright refuse.

Instead, he delivered a line that has since become famous: "The only thing that's sure about Sting is that nothing is for sure."

It's fun to watch the earliest incarnation of this side of Sting, especially after catching up on his years as the squeaky-clean hero. WWE Network's failure to show Nitro episodes past 1996 doesn't allow fans to take a full course in Sting history but offers plenty for a class that covers 1988-1996.