Sting, Steve Borden
Sting will be seen regularly in the AEW although it has yet to be know if he will actually wrestle. (Photo: Miguel Discart | Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)

For someone who suffered a legit and serious neck injury, Sting (Steve Borden) was someone most felt was done with wrestling. He announced his retirement at the WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2016 but it appears that he has some unfinished business.

All Elite Wrestling Fans got the shock of their lives when the many-time wrestling champion emerged during a post-fight involving AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes and the group Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs.

At some point, the lights went out after which a video entrance was played. Sting emerged from the darkness and proceeded to the ring to the delight of people watching the episode. Footage of this can be viewed in the tweet below from AEW.

 

After his appearance, it was later announced that Tony Khan had signed the wrestling icon to a multi-year deal. Sting is scheduled to return next week on Dynamite to make his first public address.

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how AEW plans to utilize their latest prized acquisition. Considering his injury was never surgically addressed, the promotion needs to proceed carefully with the well-being of the 61-year-old at risk.

The last time he was in the ring, Sting got the worst part of his clash with Seth Rollins in 2015. He was visibly in pain against the former WWE champion at that time. He never saw ring action from there.

However, hints of Sting possibly returning came out earlier this year. The WWE announced that he was no longer under contract last May 2020. Further, another indication was when Sting merchandise was pulled from the WWE store. His page at WWE.com was also taken out.

Speaking of merchandise, AEW is likely to see a spike in sales in Sting merchandise. Aside from the familiar long black coat and baseball bat he had in hand, the wrestling star wore a new t-shirt on Dynamite. This clearly showed the AEW logo above the familiar painted mask with two bats crossing each other. Aside from that, AEW released an entire line of official Sting apparel.

The AEW has found a way to give legendary wrestlers some ring action in the past. Among those names include Diamond Dallas Page, Arn Anderson and Jake Roberts.