“The Icon” Sting: The Franchise Closed

We are now less than a month and a half away from losing one of the greatest legends to ever lace up a pair of boots. Long before there was ever a face painted, enigmatic, Jeff Hardy there was a “man called Sting.”

Total Nonstop Action (TNA) is teasing that Bound For Glory will be the final match for the “Icon” Sting. If this is true we will truly witness the end of an era?

Sting is the last remaining headliner from the good ol’ days of WCW, I mean NWA’s WCW not Vince Russo’s WCW, and when he calls it quits, we can also finally say our good-byes to the Atlanta-based company.

Never mentioned among greats like Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Harley Race, or Bruno Sammartino, it leaves you to question Sting’s legacy.

Sting’s a 13-time world champ, just three shy of Flair and one more than Hogan. Yet he’s forgotten by many fans. Why is that?

Could it be because he chose his religious beliefs and family time over the then raunchy storylines and heavy schedule of Vince McMahon’s WWE? I should hope not, but it’s possible.

As stated on Hit The Ropes Radio, the WWE is quick to put Sting’s face on any WCW related DVD. And they often show his matches on the commercials for WWE 24/7. Sting is clearly the one that got away.

Now only time will tell if he will get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame without ever wrestling a match for them. Odds are in his favor if he chooses to accept.

Dominating the WCW rankings for over 14 years, it’s clear to see why he was labeled the franchise of the company. Handpicked by Ric Flair to receive the world title, Sting clearly had the respect of his peers.

Sting had many moments that redefined pro wrestling as we know it. Scan the crowd of any early 90s WCW tape or DVD and you will see a sea of painted faces, rat-tails and pumped up fans. And some of those were kids.

Among Sting’s many “remember when” moments was the WCW Saturday Night episode (1991) where Sting received a gift from the Dangerous Alliance. Only the gift wasn’t anything good at all, as Cactus Jack busted out of the box and attacked the Stinger.

What about the time when Sting, now black and white and drained of all color, stood in the middle of the ring while JJ Dillon sadly tries to guess what it will get Sting to return to the ring. This 1997 Monday Night Nitro led up to the famous Sting vs. Hulk Hogan battle at Starrcade.

Sting had not spoken in a year and JJ Dillon danced around trying to guess who it was he wanted to square off with.

He had previously offered the NWO’s Curt Hennig and Syxx, both of which resulted in Sting ripping up the contract. When Dillon finally figured out it was Hogan, the roof got blown off, including the one at my house. Sorry, Mom. It was a classic moment.

Fast forward 11 years and countless other classic moments and Sting is ready to bring it all to end at the appropriately named Bound for Glory.

Unlike many of the many prima donnas Sting shared the ring with; no one has ever accused him of being in it for himself. He went to TNA in 2003, and was the deciding factor in Spike TV signing a deal with the company.

Since that time he has steadily worked in creating tomorrow’s stars today. And this is exactly the way he will go out. Sting recently stopped a sobbing AJ Styles from calling it quits. Look for the script to flip and the torch to be passed as AJ Styles will do battle with Sting at Bound For Glory.

And although Sting doesn’t have a title to drop, we will see AJ officially be elevated to the next level as Sting does for AJ what his match with Flair the Great American Bash did for him.

As of right now, Sting is lacking the Ric Flair like send off and will likely quietly walk off into retirement. What a shame that would be.

At the very worst, TNA should give us one more look at yesteryear with a series of “one last time” matches with his most famed opponents who can still go. Heck, even the ones who can’t, just keep it short.

Give me one more battle the likes of the Great Muta, Big Van Vader, Barry Windham, Sid Vicious and Hulk Hogan and I’ll be a happy fan.

It’s the least they can do since we can’t see the Sting vs. Undertaker dream match or battles with Triple H, Shawn Michaels or John Cena.

Either way, it’s been a glorious 22-year career for the Stinger and there’s nothing left for him to do. He’s won world titles, sold out arenas, elevated younger talent and made a definitive spot in history for his name.

Although the doors to “The Franchise” appear to be closing, it has truly been a pleasure.

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This Wednesday on HitTheRopes.com Mickey Grant, former WCCW promoter, comes on to talk about his film Gentleman Choice: The Chris Adams' Story.