How AEW Booked The Perfect Retirement Match For Sting

Highlights

The Young Bucks were the perfect choice for Sting's last match, personally chosen for their in-ring skills and respect for AEW.
Sting's partnership with Darby Allin showcases a rare mentorship in wrestling, establishing Darby as his true prodigy and successor.
AEW Revolution spared no expense for Sting's final match, with Sting's sons, Ric Flair, and other legends adding to the emotional farewell.

The man. The myth. The legend. An Icon in our industry. The man they call Sting is many things to millions of wrestling fans worldwide. There is truly not a bad word you can say about him on a personal or professional level. He is a rare breed in the sport of professional wrestling, which is primarily filled with egos, politicians, and power-trippers.

On March 4, 2024, Sting lived up to his promise to the fans and left everything he had left in the tank out there at AEW Revolution, as "The Final Showtime" commenced with Sting standing tall as an AEW World Tag Team Champion. Without any further ado, let's explain how AEW booked the perfect retirement match for "The Stinger".

Sting	Facts & Stats
Height:	6'2"
Weight:	250lbs
Billed From:	Venice Beach, CA
Age:	64
Finisher(s):	Scorpion Deathlock, Scorpion Deathdrop

Why AEW's Young Bucks Are A Great Choice For Sting's Last Match

Some fans didn't like Sting choosing to face the Young Bucks in his last match at AEW Revolution, but the tag team legends are the fitting end.

The Young Bucks Were The Perfect Choice For Sting's Last Opponent

Sting Chose The Young Bucks For His Last Match

Heading into the build-up for AEW Revolution, the big question was who his final opponents should be. We found out weeks later that the Young Bucks were penciled in to be The Stinger's final opponents. This led to much scrutiny from fans, who were split 50-50, feeling that Sting should have wrestled someone else or went in another direction, while others felt that given the gimmick change for The Young Bucks, this was a great fit for Sting's last match.

During an interview with Sports Illustrated, Sting made it clear that he personally chose Matthew and Nicholas Jackson to be his final opponents. He said:

“Whose choice was it? It was mine. Matt and Nick, they deserve everything good that’s coming at them. I didn’t want to do this last hurrah with anyone else. I don’t see any flaws in these guys in the ring... They consider AEW as a whole and what’s best for their opponents. I have so much respect for these guys.” (H/T: SEScoops)

Given the "EVP" gimmick with The Young Bucks and their power-tripping methods on AEW television, focusing on taking out everyone and anything that was related to Sting, they fit like a glove in terms of being the final opposition for Sting at AEW Revolution.

AEW Revolution 2024 Winners And Losers: Sting's Last Showtime

While it wasn't a perfect show, AEW Revolution 2024 brought the goods with some great bouts and Sting's final match ever!

Sting Had To Finish His Career In AEW With Darby Allin

Darby Allin Is Sting's True Prodigy And Successor

Since Sting's debut for AEW back in December 2020, he aligned himself with Darby Allin and became Darby's mentor and wing-man, so to speak. The two have become attached to the hip and shared a brotherhood that is rare to see these days in the wrestling business, both inside and outside the ring. Darby is quite an enigma in the AEW universe for his daredevil antics, where he combines the high pain tolerance of legends like Mick Foley and Terry Funk, with the style and flare of Jeff Hardy, along with the charisma and appearance that could rival his own mentor, Sting. All these elements combined make up the DNA of Darby Allin and have made him a special star in AEW.

Darby Allin is truly the prodigy of Sting. When all is said and done in AEW, we could look at AEW and Darby Allin with the same fondness and respect that Sting did for WCW all those years ago. Sting was the franchise of WCW and carried the flag for that organization literally to the bittersweet end. While AEW is likely to not suffer the same fate as WCW, when you look at the legacy of AEW over the next 20 years or so, Darby Allin can easily be attached to the company as its franchise star.

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AEW Revolution Pulled Out All The Stops For Sting's Last Match

Sting's Sons And Ric Flair Got Involved

Everything about Sting's last match worked, from the montage of him watching his career flash before his very eyes in a movie theater, his epic entrance with sons dressed up as "Surfer" Sting and "Wolfpac" Sting, as they came out to Metallica's "Seek and Destroy", to seeing Garrett and Steven Borden take bumps and perform Stinger Splashes in honor of their father. Then there were the insane spots which left Darby Allin cut up from the shards of glass, broken tables, and mangled chairs, leaving all four men battered and beaten. Surprise appearances from Sting's past, including Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, along with Nikita Koloff, DDP, Lex Luger, and Magnum T.A., who were watching at ringside and behind the curtain, brought the match full circle.

Even "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair got involved and took a bullet for Sting, as he did his best to protect him during the closing moments of the match from a Double Superkick from The Young Bucks. Sting, at the age of 64, carried the last half of the match on his shoulders with The Young Bucks selling their hearts out and putting over "The Icon" to the best of their ability, as Sting applied the Scorpion Deathlock for one last time, forcing Matthew Jackson to tap out.

Sting was truly at his best for his age and current abilities. The emotions were running high for everyone, as he received one of the best sendoffs that we may ever see in professional wrestling, which far beats anything Sting ever got from WWE years prior. The Stinger can now leave the ring on his terms and ride off into the sunset, with baseball bat in hand. To Steve Borden, thank you for all that you've done to entertain us as the legacy you've left behind will forever be remembered fondly by all those who love and respect you.