Sting Interview

[TNABaddboi 0]

I saw this on PWI:

 

Spike TV and TNA held a conference call this afternoon with Sting to promote TNA Impact and the 1/15 Final Resolution PPV in Orlando, Florida. Highlights of the call saw:

 

TNA’s Andy Barton noted the PPV was taking place this weekend and noted the ratings for this past Saturday’s Impact. He then introduced Sting.

 

When asked about his religious views impacting his storylines, Sting said they absolutely do. He said that he has fans of all ages and doesn’t want to do anything that jeopardizes his integrity.

 

Sting was asked why he would return to wrestling now and why to TNA. Sting said that time will tell if he has “anything in the tank.” He said that it was now or never and the way he left wrestling wasn’t the way he wanted to leave. He said that every year that goes by, this is it, and if he doesn’t do something now, it’ll be too late. He said it creates a full circle because Jerry Jarrett hired him when he first started out and placed him with Bill Watts when they finished them up. He said he wanted to give back and say goodbye to wrestling the right way. He said that he and WCW were second class citizens before Monday Nitro was launched and he knows what it’s like to build a company, and he wants to help TNA. He said that Dixie Carter has been very good to him and the schedule is good. Had he wanted to go to WWE, the schedule would have been more of a commitment then he would have wanted to make. Sting said that he feels he has a brand on his persona, and that’s Turner, which is different from what WWE has. He says that he feels like he’s almost coming back home because TNA is similar to WCW.

 

When asked about how WCW is portrayed by the wrestling business today with books like Death of WCW and if it’s a fair assessment. Sting said that history is done and it makes no sense to go back and rehash in 2006.

 

When asked about his motivating factors to get back in the business, Sting joked that he’s been busy. He said that he received a phone call from Jerry and Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter. He said his initial reaction was No and that he didn’t want to go back to TNA, or anywhere. He said that he declined but thought about it. He said that he never had a chance to truly retire and go out in a better light. He said that Jerry gave him his break and he wants to give back.

 

When asked about discussions with WWE, he said that they had discussions just before he signed with TNA. He said they called him and they had conversations, but he decided to go to TNA.

 

When asked about TNA’s alternative product and how he fits in there, Sting said he wants to find a way to plug himself in and find his niche. He says that there are guys who do things that he’s never seen before and also guys who do his style and tell stories the way Sting and “his breed of wrestlers” did. When asked who he would like to work with, Sting said that he’s always had good matches with big guys, noting Vader and The Giant. He says that he loves Abyss’ work and would like to do something with him as he can see the chemistry there.

 

When asked about how often he’ll be appearing, Sting said that TNA isn’t a part-time thing that he signed up for. He said that it’s not a lot of travel and work time but he’ll be very involved. He said he doesn’t know he’ll be appearing on every show or PPV but he’ll be involved.

 

When asked about bringing guys up to a new level, Sting said that is one of the things he wants to do to give back. He says that there are some out there that think he wants to come in and push everyone else aside, but that’s not his intentions. He said he wants to help everyone else. He said that he remembered when Hulk Hogan came to WCW in 1994, he was often asked if he was upset he was pushed aside. He said he wasn’t because it took the pressure off of him personally and that it would help the overall company. He’s hoping that he can do the same for TNA.

 

When asked about his look when he returns to the ring, Sting said it’ll be a similar look except he has shorter hair. He said that he didn’t think he looked like Sting when he painted up at TV, but it doesn’t take hair to make a wrestler.

 

When asked what TNA needs to do to become a better competitor to WWE, Sting said that they need a better timeslot. He said that he’s going to pitch it to Spike TV with “everything in him” and everyone wants that. He said that if TNA can get head to head with WWE on Monday Nights, they would be a longshot, but because there are so many innovative talents, it would be like the old days where fans jump back and forth. He said if there are some brand name people we can add to the mix, like when Lex Luger jumped the first episode of Nitro, that would help create a buzz. If things like that happen, which he thinks can happen, who knows?

 

When asked about his PPV match, Sting said that he’s going to go into the ring and hoping the match takes off really quick. He said that he’s been working out and getting into shape but you have to be in the ring and “get your hands dirty” before you can tell how things will go. He said that Christian Cage is a really talented guy.

 

When asked about having a tag match his first match back, Sting said it will be a help as it won’t be “go go go” the entire time the way it is with a singles match. He said that as 2006 goes by, he believes that he’s going to get stronger and better. He said that it may take a few times in the ring to shake off his ring rust but he’s looking forward to it. He said that he’s not involved in any movie projects but is doing an acting workshop in Los Angeles.

 

When asked if he’d be doing any religious shows, Sting said If Ted DiBiase, Vince Russo, or Shawn Michaels did something he would ask TNA about getting involved but didn’t see it as somewhere he would be wrestling anytime soon.

 

He was asked if he was interested in continuing after a year. Sting said that there is potential and it all depends on how body holds out. He said he doesn’t want to be the old dinosaur in the corner, but wants to be the guy that can deliver the goods. He said that if he’s feeling good at the end of the year, we’ll see what happened.

 

Sting was asked if you can be an upstanding religious man and enjoy wrestling. He said that you can be if you are grounded. He said that he heard about the sexual antics that happened this past Monday and said that if you are watching it every week, you have to ask how it’s benefiting you. He said that if you have to turn it off except when you are watching some good storylines and athletes, that’s what you need to do.

 

When asked about the surfer Sting look, he joked that he doesn’t have the hair for the look anymore.

 

A caller brought up Samoa Joe. Sting said that he’s just started to see his work over the last month and said, “Oh man, he can go.” He praised Joe and said he’d love to work with him.

 

When asked about the Ultimate Warrior DVD that WWE release, Sting said that he was interviewed for a documentary that Warrior is putting together. He said that Warrior had a list of guys who he wanted to interview for it, including Vince McMahon and out of that led to a disagreement and out came the WWE’s DVD. He said that in today’s world, where video outtakes are kept for prosperity, it’s easy to design a production where people are made to look bad.

 

When asked about working with bigger guys in the ring, he said he would rather work stiff then have it look like they aren’t working well in the ring.

 

When asked about his recent WWE discussions, Sting said his negotiations were personal. He said that in 2006 they were going to be working outside the United States more then they ever had before and the schedule meant 12-15 days a month not including travel. He said that there would be some months that would be too much of a grind and he doesn’t want to leave his family like that again.

 

When asked about his family’s reaction to his return, Sting said his teenage sons are excited about it. He said that they’ve been on the road and traveled with him, and they are looking forward to going to Universal Studios. He said his daughter is only 5 and doesn’t really understand what is happening yet. He said his wife didn’t want to see him go back into it, but the way things fell into place, they know it’s the way to go.

 

Sting was asked what his goals are now, and if the booking committee is a possibility. Sting said he just wants to give back in whatever way it makes sense over the next year. He said he doesn’t want the World title or the booking committee, but if it makes sense for him to be champion, he’d accept it. He said he wants TNA to become an alternative product but doesn’t want the pressure of writing a whole company. He said in WCW, he gave suggestions for a lot of people and wants to operate here in a similar fashion.

 

When a caller commented it was mind boggling that WWE never brought him in, Sting said he made his choice and decision and is focused on TNA. He said he’s a TNA wrestler and he’s looking forward to this challenge.

 

When asked about getting a chance to say goodbye to wrestling fans the way he would like to, what would be his best way to do so. He said that he’d like to have that last match in the ring and have his boots in the middle of the ring. He said that he hasn’t thought about it but he wants it to be something other then what happened, where he disappeared with WCW. He said that he doesn’t know when or how it’ll happen, but if it’s part of a shooting storyline, that would be pretty cool.

 

When asked he would like to get back in the ring with again, Sting said that in a perfect world he’d like to work with a Steve Austin or a Rock. He said that he’d like to work with AJ Styles, Abyss, and Samoa Joe and as time goes on, there will be others.

 

When asked if the Spike TV slot a major factor in signing with TNA, Sting said it was. He said that Jeff Jarrett called him and said that they landed Spike, so are you willing to talk, and Sting was. He said that he hopes TNA can fill the void that’s out there.

 

When asked about the backstage atmosphere, Sting said everyone was friendly, although he didn’t know everyone personally. He said that everyone was cool, from the wrestlers to the behind the scenes personnel and felt like home. He said that you can’t make a comparison with WCW, as they had a good thing that let slip through their fingers.

 

When asked about facing Ric Flair on the last Monday Nitro, he said it was an emotional night because he knew it was the end. He said he was having flashbacks to the Clash of the Champions and the Great American Bashes. He said that the chemistry was great and he loved working with Ric Flair more then anyone, and he was going out with the guy who put him on the map. He said it was emotional and a tough night.

 

When asked who he’d like to see come to TNA, Sting said he’d like to see The Rock come in, but then stopped and said he didn’t want to say any more names for obvious reasons.

 

When asked what makes TNA a good choice for him, he said it’s not perfect but it’s a cleaner show as compared to what else is out there. He said the wrestling is second to none and truly is nonstop action. He said there are a lot of people who are looking for avenues to get their names out there and TNA is a great start. He thinks it’s going to be a great year.

 

When asked about his first reactions to the X-Division, he said that he thought he had seen it all in the WCW Cruiserweight division. His first reaction was that the business had passed him by and that he didn’t know if he could bring anything back to the business. He said that he hopes to tell stories the way he has in the past.

 

When asked about coming into TNA as someone who was a marquee player for WCW, he said it is a huge challenge. He said that there are fans and wrestlers who don’t want him in TNA and he knows that he a lot on his plate. He said his age is a factor and he has a lot that he has to deal with. He said that there is a lot ahead, but he’s been part of a company that been there once before, so he hopes to add some tenacity to the fight through thin and tough times. He said that he believes TNA will be successful soon.

 

When asked about how he didn’t like the way WCW ended, Sting said he was a fierce competitor with WWF. He said they were fighting to be the number one company for a long time, so to see it happen and then lose it to the person they were fighting with was hard. He said that he was the only guy who never went to the WWE and was the poster child. He said that he was there when WCW had a tiny little booth at the NATPE conventions in the corner while there were huge WWF setups with a ring.

 

When asked if Vince McMahon is a good or bad guy, he said that he has never worked for him and we all hear the stories. He said that on the phone, Vince has always been a gentleman on the phone.

 

When asked if there would be a second boom if TNA got a Monday night timeslot, Sting said there would be. He said there are fans who tuned out after WCW died and they would come back if there was something new with old faces and great wrestling. He said Monday Night is the only night that he has on his mind but he doesn’t know where everyone’s head is in regard to the timeslot.

 

When asked about his character over the next year, Sting said that he has to call Jeff Jarrett after the conference call to discuss things. The caller joked about a crazy heel turn. He said that if the crowd boos him out of the building, it might be a good time to do that. He said he has no idea what to expect.

 

When asked which Sting look was his favorite, he said it’s so easy to say the Crow look because it was so successful and the blonde Sting seems outdated in 2006.

 

When asked about the influence of religion in his life now, Sting said that he believes God led him to TNA. He said Shawn Michaels led prayers for the locker room when Eddie Guerrero had passed away at Vince McMahon’s requests. He said that on TV, Michaels praised Jesus Christ. He said that people are going to say he’s judging when he says this but Christ went and stayed with those who were sinners. He said that Shawn Michaels leads the light where he is. He said that Michaels stands for what he believes in, and Sting feels he is the same way.

 

When asked what his legacy would be in the business, he said that he wants to be remembered as someone who found the Lord and straightened his life out, and still entertained people with integrity. He said that he wants to be someone who wasn’t harmful or hurtful and didn’t go for the cheap pop. He said he’d like to be remembered as someone who gave back to wrestling because it gave to him.

 

When asked how much he still watches the business, Sting said he went through seasons where he watched. He said that he often used to wonder how and where he could plug himself back in the business. He said that he does see some of himself in today’s talent and it’s an honor when some guys tell him they were inspired to become wrestlers because they watched him. He said it’s cool and flattering but also humbling. Sting said that he wants to see everyone get raised up to a new level.

 

When asked who his last opponent would be in a “perfect world”, he said that he told Abyss that he’d love to go out doing a storyline with him. He said that he loves working with big guys because he can do a lot with them. He said that he’d love to wrestle The Rock.

 

When asked what he missed and didn’t miss about the business, Sting said he misses being in the ring when a storyline was hot and the fans loved it. He said that he loved working in the Baltimore Arena and anywhere WCW went in Chicago. He said that he doesn’t miss the travel or spending all the time in airports.

 

When asked if he would do anything different in his life, would he. He noted he broke into the business 20 years ago and probably would have found the Lord first.

 

When asked if any of the current stars reminding him of guys from his era, he said Abyss reminds him of The Giant. He said in another 6-8 weeks, he’ll probably have a million comparisons.

 

When asked about his creative control in TNA, he said that he would have a lot over himself, but he’s open to what is suggested. He doesn’t want to go in thinking about himself but the overall product. He said that he can’t creatively write a storyline that takes place over a year but can give suggestions and tweak things to everyone’s benefit.

 

When asked about the Crow Sting look, he said it was a Scott Hall suggestion and they were never concerned about being sued by the creators of the movie.

 

When asked if he was worried that the younger wrestling fans might have distanced themselves from him and wrestling, he said that there is a generation that doesn’t know who he is now. He said that it’s part of the road ahead but believes that it can and will work.

 

When it was noted that he is one of the few that have never gone to WWE, he said that all the times he spoke to Vince McMahon in the 1990s, the feeling was that it always more to undermine WCW as opposed to wanting Sting as a talent. He said that now, he wouldn’t want to maintain the schedule. When the Edge sex angle was brought up, he said that while McMahon was really good to him on the phone and said that he would never undermine Sting’s beliefs, there are a lot of things the company has done that he wouldn’t be comfortable with.

 

When asked about Eric Bischoff, he said he has nothing but good things to say. He said that everyone likes to remember him as the one who sunk the WCW ship but it was a “group of us” overall who undermined each other and had a lot of secret agendas. He said that Bischoff was the first one who would talk to wrestling fans and get feedback and he surrounded himself with people he could trust. He said that they had a good working relationship. He said the night they launched Nitro, the rest was history.

 

When asked if Ultimate Warrior would be a good addition to TNA, Sting said that he hasn’t spoken to Warrior beyond the documentary Warrior was putting together. He said that he thinks the idea of Warrior in TNA would be pretty interesting.

 

When asked about the passing of Eddie Guerrero, he said that he was sad as he had worked with all of the Guerreros when he was breaking in. Sting said that he has some peace in knowing that he’ll see Eddie again and hopes that it opens everyone’s eyes. He said it opens the wrestlers’ eyes to think about something outside of the wrestling business.

 

At that point, the call, which went 22 minutes over schedule, was ended by TNA as Sting had other commitments to get to.

 

Thoughts?

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

That's a good read.

 

I can only hope that A: He means it when he says he'll put people over (And I don't have any reason to believe otherwise). B: TNA management asks him to put people over (little iffy on this one).

 

As long as Joe chokes him out at some point...I'll be happy.

 

Kind of want to see Sting/Abyss too. I think that would be good. Oh...and I've always wanted Sting/Raven too. Just because both gimmicks are good...or at least were years ago.

[Placebo Effect 0]

Sting never really got a reputation for being difficult in WCW, so if there's any star that TNA has to bring in, I'd prefer it be him.

[2GOLD 0]

I also like the fact he doesn't know for sure whether or not he's too old for this. That's actually a very good thing since if he believed that he was god's gift to wrestling (Hogan) then everyone would be lying down for him. Doesn't sound like that's the way he wants to go.

 

We'll see. I always liked Sting so I'm interested in seeing if he can help them and what kind of condition he's in. The first match he won't look good, I think that's just a given. But after that? We'll see.

[Toxxic 0]

Sting likes working with big guys, and doesn't mind if they're stiff.

 

Say hello to Samoa Joe That should be a good match.

[Astro101 0]

I love it that Sting says he's willing to help out. Doesn't sound like too much of an ego. If he's willing to help out, then good news for TNA and their rising stars.

[Guest Desperate Housewife]

He didn't say anything about forcing them to bring in Luger again?

[Dobbs 3K 0]

"When asked if Ultimate Warrior would be a good addition to TNA, Sting said that he hasn’t spoken to Warrior beyond the documentary Warrior was putting together. He said that he thinks the idea of Warrior in TNA would be pretty interesting."

 

Oh no!

[2GOLD 0]

He didn't say anything about forcing them to bring in Luger again?

 

Be kinda hard since I'm pretty sure Lex is in prison right now.

[Guest JMA]

Sting has always seemed very sincere about his beliefs to me (ditto for Eddie, Jericho, and Styles). I think he's giving Shawn far too much credit, though. It's good to know that he wants to help bring TNA up.

[Guest Coffey]

The part of the interview where he mentions wanting The Rock to come in and then doesn't name anyone else "for obvious reasons" made me instantly think he wanted to name drop Lex Luger.

[jwpeer 0]

what I've been wondering for awhile now.

 

the rock always brings up Sting's name when he mentions who he would want to wrestle (Telling Vince that he'd wrestle at wrestlemania if it were Sting/etc.)

 

Sting now obviously really likes The Rock.

 

 

Do they know each other personally very well...and do you think we'll ever see that match, considering how much the two respect each other and really consider it a dream match. If there ever was going to be a way for TNA to make it big, it would be a well-advertised Rock vs. Sting dream match.

 

 

now I'm not saying it's likely, but surely you can see the potential there...

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Personally I just can't see Rock ever working for a company other than WWE. I think he's genuinely loyal to Vince. It would be a dream match that would definitely cement TNA as the #2 wrestling promotion in the US, though.

[razazteca 0]

"When asked if Ultimate Warrior would be a good addition to TNA, Sting said that he hasn’t spoken to Warrior beyond the documentary Warrior was putting together. He said that he thinks the idea of Warrior in TNA would be pretty interesting."

 

Oh no!

A tribute to Warrior would be classic.

[nl5xsk1 0]

When asked about the Crow Sting look, he said it was a Scott Hall suggestion and they were never concerned about being sued by the creators of the movie.

 

Is it safe to say that Scott Hall went to the Jake Roberts school of "Get a Great Mind for the Sport but Fuck It All Up with Drugs or Alcohol"?

[Steviekick 0]

When asked about the Crow Sting look, he said it was a Scott Hall suggestion and they were never concerned about being sued by the creators of the movie.

 

Is it safe to say that Scott Hall went to the Jake Roberts school of "Get a Great Mind for the Sport but Fuck It All Up with Drugs or Alcohol"?

 

What other good ideas/concepts has Hall thought up?

[TNABaddboi 0]

Here's another Sting interview, this time from the Observer:

 

The most high-profile signing in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling history is set to make his debut, as Steve “Sting” Borden teams with Christian Cage to face Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown on Sunday night’s Final Resolution pay-per-view show emanating from Orlando. In the following interview, Borden talks about his time away from wrestling, why he returned for a one-year TNA deal worth a reported $500,000, and about the impact becoming a born-again Christian in August 1998 has made in his life.

My Scripps-Howard News Service column about Borden can be found at http://www.shns.com/shns/g_index2.cfm?acti...LING12-01-12-06.

Q: What was your first taste of TNA like at the Orlando tapings last week?

Borden: “I do have a level of anticipation and excitement. As you know, in WCW we were second-class citizens for a long, long time. Then we had the Monday Nitro show and suddenly we became a force to be reckoned with. We created a huge machine. There’s potential for the same thing to happen here. I know some pretty big thing have to fall into place to make this possible. But we’ve got a bunch of guys who are young and very hungry and really want to make a name not only for themselves but for TNA. I thought the camaraderie in the locker room was pretty good. I had a very small taste of it. Everyone was real friendly and treated me great, although I’m sure some guys were not too happy to see me here. But that goes with the territory. I’m ready for that and have embraced this opportunity.”

Q: Besides the money, why did you take this opportunity?

Borden: “Jeff and Jerry (Jarrett) called me originally and wanted me to be a part of this. I did a few shows for them. When they landed on Spike, Jeff called me and said they had some pretty exciting things happening and would I be willing to talk. Jeff’s dad hired me in November 1985 when I first started, so I feel like I’ve kind of come full circle. This is really a good way to give back to the fans and an avenue to say goodbye.

“Wrestling ended in an abrupt way for me. It was just suddenly done and gone. People wondered what happened with Sting. I think it really meant something to the fans that I did stay and remained loyal to WCW all those years. I almost feel like TNA is an extension of WCW because there was always a certain flavor (to promotions) in the Northeast and the South. I feel like I’m back in the flavor where I was designed to be.

“I never believed I would be going back because each year that goes by at my age, it’s like, ‘Oh my God! The door is closing here.’ I thought last year that if something doesn’t happen I would be pretty much done. When they called me this year, it took me some time before making the commitment. In the meantime, they made a commitment to me, Dixie and the whole Carter family and [TNA parent company] Panda. I haven’t met anyone specifically from Spike yet, but the word I get from Dixie and Jeff is that the people from Spike are excited about having me come and I guess they want me to be involved in some other stuff. The whole package just seemed to kind of come together. It was like, ‘Wow, I can do this once every two weeks, fly to Orlando and do one or two TV tapings, and a once-a-month pay-per-view (show).”

Q: How strongly did you consider signing with WWE?

Borden: “In 1990s, I talked to them a couple of times and the reason I was never able to work things out with Vince is they not offering the right kind of monetary contract. I was raising my family. I had two boys at home and I was pretty well set in Atlanta. I had two health clubs. Lex (Luger) had all that too, but he left (to WWE). That was his choice. My choice was to stay because every time we would have to renegotiate a new contract with WCW they always ended up giving pretty much what I wanted. I told them I was going to talk to Vince or had talked to him and I would take my chances up in New York. The other thing is I always believed Vince wanted me more to undermine WCW than me as a talent.”

“I’ve talked to Vince a few times since WCW was purchased by him. The first time we talked, we were real close to a deal. But he wanted it now and we were trying to put this thing together. It was three weeks before Wrestlemania that particular year and he just said, ‘I need to know whether you can do this. Let’s try to hash this out.’ He was accommodating and gracious and said he would try to do just about whatever to make it work. But by the time WWE attorneys start talking to my attorney, it just doesn’t go quickly enough. They talked almost every day for a week, and at the end of the week, I had to call Vince and say, ‘We can’t do this as quickly as you want to do it. I feel I can’t give you the most bang for your buck right now and I am not ready physically. I need more than three weeks.’ He said I’m the only guy who always manages to slip through his fingers. It was funny to hear him say that. He’s always been good to me. I’ve never worked for him, but in the conversations we’ve had over the years, he’s been really good to me.

“We talked again recently. I think they got wind I was talking with TNA. Every time you hear or read about something on the internet quoting Eric Bischoff or Jim Ross or whoever, it’s always, ‘We believe his religious beliefs will stop him from ever going back into wrestling.’ It’s funny because I’ve always said I would never close the door on it and it’s something I would consider.

“The problem was I could not make the commitment they needed. They wanted to go all the way with the Sting character. Whether you’re on the Raw or Smackdown schedule, both are about the same. It boils down to 12 to 15 days a month approximately on the road. That doesn’t include dark days, travel days, etc. In 2006, they’re going to leave the country more times than they ever have. I talked to Shawn (Michaels) a few weeks ago when they just got back from Iraq. He had been out of the country three times in four weeks. I had my day where I ran really hard and did 300-something days a year. At my age, I cannot do it. I don’t want to make that kind of commitment. My oldest son is 15 and I have another who is 13 and a daughter who is five. There’s too many things I’m doing here where I have a life outside of wrestling.”

Q: What are those things?

Borden: “I’m really involved with my church. My brother Jeff is my pastor. God does things in funny ways. My whole family lives in Santa Clarita Valley in California and we all go to the same church. All my nieces and nephews are there. Everyone is happy and healthy. I have a 90-acre piece of property I own in Southern California that I have slowly but surely been developing, not for residential housing but where you could see cabins and it could serve as some kind of retreat for youth, especially with extreme sports and all that cool stuff. In the meantime, what I’ve done is put a huge multipurpose field on there. The Christian school where my three kids go is right around the corner and they’ve never had a football field. Now they do. The last three years, they’ve used it as a practice field and scrimmage against other schools. It’s an amazing thing to drive down that hill and see referees and yellow flags and whistles and a bunch of people with pop-up tents and ice chests watching the action.

“I’m really involved in trying to develop that and my church. I’ve been speaking at churches and conventions and events of all different sorts. I do an illustrated sermon where I will be Sting the wrestler and then just Steve Borden. I’ve done a few of those with Ted DiBiase and Nikita (Koloff). I show a three-minute presentation. You see me repel out of the rafters and wrestle some of the biggest names. I then share my testimony. I’ve also written my book and filmed my movie about it.”

Q: You’ve gone public with your battle with alcohol and painkiller abuse. What are your thoughts on the rash of drug-related deaths than have hit the industry in recent years and do you think you can serve as a role model with your return?

Borden: “That’s a great question and I’m glad you asked. I believe that’s one reason why I might be going back. Not because there’s a bunch of dysfunctional loser drug addicts at TNA, but just in wrestling overall, I really don’t understand it. I think USA Today did some sort of article that showed something like 60 or 65 guys dying in the last 10 years. That’s unbelievable. I know many of them and the names are getting bigger and bigger. It’s sad. It really bothers me because I was on that track and going down that path. I believe that unless I turned my life around when I did that in the worst-case scenario I would be dead and the best-case scenario would be me being divorced and visiting my kids once a month or whatever. I would probably be like some guys you hear about now who are really lost after all these years of being in the limelight and making money and now having nothing. That’s mind-boggling. I believe I have the answer, and that’s the Bible.

“In WCW, I let my example be my testimony. But if anyone asked how I did it, I tell them. I did have guys say, ‘How do you do it? How did you stop taking pills and drinking and get your wife back? How do I do it?’ I tell then it was not as easy as saying, ‘Jesus Christ is the answer.’ … People also have asked me, ‘How do you know God is really there?’ I haven’t heard or seen him but I’ve experienced one miracle after another in my life where something supernatural had to have happened. It couldn’t have happened any other way.

“I hope some of the guys might take notice of that and want to know and ask questions, especially guys who are struggling. I was talking to a big-name guy just before Christmas and he was suicidal. I think he called me out of desperation, not because we have a long-term friendship. He asked me how I did it and I told him. Some of the guys respond and actually listen to it and turn their lives around. For others, it’s just really a rough deal because they’re surrounded by it all the time in the business. People say going into the wrestling arena is like what it’s like walking into the devil’s den every week.”

Q: I remember you tried to help Lex Luger with his problems back in 2003 by bringing him with you to TNA.

Borden: “He did one TNA show with me. I was trying to come up with a way to make something exciting and asked, ‘What about Lex?’ Jeff said he had tried before and was unsuccessful. I said I think I can get him, It required me to literally fly to Atlanta, grab him and drag him along with me. It was an ordeal but we got him there. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to. I just hope somehow that he comes around and just humbles himself.”

Q: As a Christian, how much of a conflict is it returning to wrestling considering the contest now being pushed by WWE?

Borden: “That’s another good question. I was on the cover of a Christian magazine [New Man Magazine] a few years ago and a bunch of people wrote in the very next week about how can you put such an evil person on the cover and that it’s a matter of time before he falls. They ripped me up. Christians did that. Some people are going to do that now and say, ‘How can you go back into wrestling and associate yourself with all those people?’ I just know that for me personally, you won’t catch me putting myself in compromising positions where I will jeopardize my walk and witness. I know that I won’t be asked to do anything like that. Even with WCW, the last couple years I wrestled as a brand new believer and was not put in any of those bad predicaments. Even when I talked to Vince, he said, ‘I know what you stand for and who you are and would never ask you to jeopardize your integrity or walk.’

“There are always going to be people who will put you under a microscope and want to dismantle everything you do. Usually, those people believe they have all the answers and the world is wrong but they are right. There’s no way to escape that. But there are other people who can see the value of having somebody in there who sees something beyond wrestling and the notoriety and money and power that come with it.”

Q: What is your favorite moment in wrestling?

Borden: “Wow … As far as matches go, I loved working the big matches with Ric Flair. When I won the world title from him in 1990 at the (Great American) Bash, that was an incredible moment. Also, working with Hulk (Hogan) in 1997 (at Starrcade) was also a pretty big moment.

“Other than that, it would honestly be meeting with a critically ill or Make-A-Wish child. When someone tells you their last wish is wanting to meet Sting, those are pretty emotional moments. You’ve got mothers and fathers in tears and saying, ‘Man, this is the first time I’ve seen my son smile in months and it will probably be the last time.’”

Q: Finally, how rusty are you and how much of a concern is that for Sunday?

Borden: “[Laughs] Man, I an rusty and I am 46 years old. I’ve been in the ring two times in the past two years, the last time being a year ago. The ring also is (six-sided) and not square. I’ll also be the oldest guy in the ring. Everything is going against me. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’ve worked really hard in the gym trying to get myself into some kind of decent physical condition so at least I look the part because I know will be under the microscope and people will be ready to pick me apart.

“But I also know people are rooting for me. I’m just going to do the best I can. I may not do all kind of crazy stuff on Sunday, but as this year develops, I hope to be able to do more and more.”

Alex Marvez's weekly pro wrestling column can be found in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Denver Rocky Mountain News, Biloxi Sun-Herald and a host of other newspapers that subscribe to the Scripps-Howard News Service.

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Good stuff. I think Sting is really going to work in TNA, barring any possible downgrades in his in-ring work. But he still should be a top notch character and it appears he is really excited about this, which will be a significant change from the last time I saw him in TNA.

 

I dont know if anyone caught it on the last Impact, but there was some strong suggestion of a future Joe-Sting match, even playing up on the (assumed) legit problem with Joe being upset that he couldnt get a raise, but yet Sting was brought in for a shitload of $$$. Anyway it was cool to see TNA play upon this rumor, which apparently has been taken care of, and now it looks like there is a strong chance of Joe/Sting. A guess may be that Sting will get the belt, and part of an agreement TNA made with Joe to settle down on the pay thing for now is that Sting will job out the belt to Joe at a later date.

 

Sting/Rock and, hell, Sting/Warrior might even be intruiging, especially in a TNA ring. Long chance for either likely but it's still neat to envision.