Sting wasn’t ready to retire in WWE in 2016, years before his actual retirement as part of AEW, but Vince McMahon was eager for the Icon to say goodbye.
The Icon hung up his boots for good at AEW Revolution 2024, winning a tag team match with Darby Allin against The Young Bucks.
On a recent edition of the “Kayfabe Friends” podcast, Sting spoke about retiring as part of WWE and McMahon’s insistence it happened on his watch. He said,
“I didn’t wanna’ retire at that time. It was kind of a mutual deal with WWE at that time. Vince wanted me to retire under his umbrella. And at that time I was okay with that.”
Sting’s initial retirement from the ring came after he suffered an injury during a match with Seth Rollins at WWE Night Of Champions 2015.
The Icon would debut for AEW in late 2020 and would make his in-ring debut for the promotion the following year.
On the podcast, Sting also discussed his current deal with AEW and what it entails now that his in-ring days are over. Click here to find out more.
