Booker T encourages Sting not to retire.
Sting is one of the most decorated wrestlers in recent memory, as he is a 13-time world champion. He has been a top star in WCW, TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, and he had a brief run in WWE. In the last chapter of his career, he has had a remarkable run in AEW as well. On the October 18 episode of AEW Dynamite. Sting addressed his retirement and announced that his last match will be at AEW Revolution 2024.
Speaking on The Hall of Fame with Booker T and Brad Gilmore, Booker T shared his thoughts on Sting's announcement.
“I’m glad for him. I’m glad he’s finally gonna hang it up and be able to move on to what’s next. At 65 by then, that’s like senior citizen, AARP stuff, man, grandpa like stuff. So I don’t know, man. It’s mixed emotions. I think his retiring is gonna be great, but I think it’s something honestly that’s well overdue. To have done this thing your whole life, then when you walk away from it, it’s hard to walk. I’ll tell you right now, he might not want to retire. He might want to say, I ain’t gonna say I’m ever gonna retire. I might just want to leave the business. But retire though, I wouldn’t say that. Because I’m gonna tell you right now, sitting at home, becoming an old man, receding, [laughs] it can get lonely. I say stay in the ring, Sting. Don’t retire. Don’t quit [laughs], don’t ever quit. That’s what wrestlers do. That’s me, that’s my opinion," Booker T said.
Gilmore quipped that he doesn't know whether a wrestler has ever successfully retired. Booker T stated that he wouldn't retire if he was Sting. He joked that Sting could keep taking bumps and flying off of stuff. The WWE Hall of Famer encouraged Sting to keep that door open and make appearances, even if he doesn't wrestle.
“I’m just saying, I wouldn’t retire if I was you, Sting. I’d stay in the ring forever. Take bumps, fly off of stuff [laughs]. Sting, I’m just saying, I love Sting. He’s got a hell of a career. I feel like if stopped doing this, that’s when the light could really go dim. I say keep that door open. Make appearances, even if you don’t wrestle. Keep that door open. Keep that check coming in from Tony Khan for the next ten years," he said.
When Gilmore agreed and noted that AEW could keep Sting on AEW, Booker T replied, "You keep him active somehow. He’s gotta be a part of that show. Sting goes away, a lot of part of that show’s blueprint goes away as well."
Booker T and Gilmore then jokingly agreed that Sting could keep wrestling for a long time because his face paint hides his age.
Eric Bischoff recently commented on Sting's last match. Click here to see what he had to say.
Tony Khan is set to give Sting a gift on the October 25 episode of AEW Dynamite, and Tony Schiavone said it will be historic. More information is available here.
Fightful wil have live coverage of the October 25 episode of AEW Dynamite as it airs, starting at 8 p.m. ET.
