INQUISITR.COM / Sports

WWE News: Sting Announces Retirement During Hall Of Fame Speech

By Mark Suleymanov
Published on: 18:41 PST, Apr 2, 2016

WWE Hall of Famer Sting finally revealed something that is for sure about him, confirming that he is retiring from professional wrestling during his acceptance speech on Saturday evening.

After months of speculation regarding his in-ring future, “The Icon” addressed the packed audience at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Initially, TMZ reported last month that Sting was hanging up his singlet as his ailing neck/back — an injury he suffered during a match with Seth Rollins at Night of Champions last year — was too hurt to continue wrestling.

In recent interviews — including one during an appearance with Good Day FOX 4 –– Sting downplayed any talk of his retirement. In fact, he persisted on about a then possible dream match against The Undertaker.

“It’s just talk, that’s all it is,” said Sting. “Everybody is talking except for me. TMZ and a lot of people are saying that. I’m undecided. I have a dream match that I want with the Undertaker. If I have my way, it’s going to happen.”

Unfortunately, with Sting announcing his retirement, that match with The Undertaker will remain a dream match.

During an interview following the ceremony, Sting elaborated on his decision to retire, stating that despite his physical status, the timing seemed right.

“It’s something that, man, I battled it all the way up to the last minute pretty much…as to whether or not I was going to retire. It just makes sense right now, I don’t want to [retire] — every wrestler [wants] one more match, one more match! Although I do believe wholeheartedly I could do it [one more match], I just think that it’s just time for me to put my boots in the middle of the ring.”

Sting, 57, retires after a three-decade career that began in 1985. Sting’s first major wrestling gig was teaming with now-fellow WWE Hall of Famer, the late Ultimate Warrior — somebody he thanked during his HOF speech for toughening him up. After the team split, Sting made his way to Jim Crockett Promotion’s World Championship Wrestling, which started building his legendary career.

With a blond flattop, colorful face paint, and tights, Sting captured the attention of wrestling fans with his unique look and series of legendary matches with two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, his inductor last night. A feud with the legendary Four Horsemen helped propel Sting into a new level of popularity as he became wrestling’s ultimate good guy.

In 1996, Sting changed his character, dropping the colorful tights, face paint, and blond flattop for black and white face paint, a black trench coat, black tights, and long, dark hair. Reminiscent of Brandon Lee’s film, The Crow, Sting donned a scorpion’s appearance and cast a dark shadow over WCW.

Under his new look, Sting launched his career into a new stratosphere as his memorable — and considered by some as disappointing — matches with Hulk Hogan helped set pay-per-view records. Feuding with the nWo, Sting was considered the “franchise of WCW” and was one of the company’s top stars until the company went out of business in 2001.

Before joining WWE, Sting spent nearly a decade performing for Total Nonstop Action (TNA).

He will retire with a record of 2-2 during his time with WWE as he picked up two wins — one via disqualification in a match against Big Show and a subsequent tag team match — on the September 14, 2015, edition of Monday Night RAW. The two losses came against Triple H at Wrestlemania 31 and to Rollins at Night of Champions last year.

As he closed out his speech, Sting indicated that we have not seen the last of him.

[Featured Image via WWE]

Share this article: WWE News: Sting Announces Retirement During Hall Of Fame Speech
Sting wwe hall of fame Ric Flair
More from Inquisitr