A new option emerged for Sting and his legacy. This is the journey of Sting and his TNA legacy. Jeff Jarrett had a huge fallout with WWF. After Owen Hart passed away in a tragic accident that changed the WWF forever, Jarrett purchased his father’s part of the NWA.
Sting His Legacy In TNA
He renamed it TNA or Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling. Jeff Jarrett was bound and determined to give McMahon a run for his money.
What better way than to invite the icon Sting to make an appearance? In many ways, Stings’ time in TNA resembled his time in WCW. He was looked at as an icon, just like in WCW.
He battled a monster from parts unknown that took him to his limit. He had an iconic rivalry with Kurt Angle that was reminiscent of his wars with Hollywood Hogan.
Sting was part of a faction that made him, as well as broke him into pieces after using him just like the nWo did. He also resumed his rivalry with Eric Bischoff in TNA.
Sting made his NWA Total Non-stop Action Wrestling debut in 2003. He teamed up with Jeff Jarrett vs AJ Styles and Xpac. Sting and Jeff Jarrett won.
However, soon after that, the rivalry between Jarett and Sting was reignited. Jarret called himself the chosen one in WCW not too long ago. Sting always found this as an insult.
The two combustible elements faced off several times in November of 2003. During this time, Jeff Jarrett won the NWA title. Sting challenged Jeff Jarrett to a match.
Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett, but it was a non-title match. Sting would make random appearances in TNA. One in particular was to promote his movie Sting: Moment of Truth.
The film is important to Sting as this was when he became a born-again Christian. According to the Icon, this was the most important moment in his life. Sting would remain off TV for almost all of 2004.
Sting vs Jeff Jarrett
On December 11, 2005, at TNA Turning Point, Jeff Jarret successfully defended the NWA Heavyweight Championship against Rhino. After the match, the lights in the arena went out.
When they came back on in the middle of the ring was Stings’ signature Baseball bat. Along with that was a projection of a scorpion and the date January 15, 2006. Sting was returning to TNA. Final Resolution was the event.
It would be a tag team match with Jeff Jarrett and Monty Brown vs Christian Cage and Sting. Christian undoubtedly was a tag team specialist. Leaving WWE proved to be a breakout moment for Christian.
However, could Sting trust Captain charisma? It turned out that Sting and Christian won when Sting pinned Jarrett. Feeling that shutting Jeff Jarrett up once and for all was good enough, Sting announced his retirement.
Jeff Jarrett felt that Sting was lying about retiring and hired Alex Shelly to spy on the legend. When Sting caught Jarret’s hired paparazzi spying on him, he made a promise that he would show up at Destination X; however, not as Sting but just Steve Borden.
Borden attacked Jarret at the event. He locked in the scorpion deathlock refusing to let it go until a face from Sting and Jarrett WCW past showed up. Scott Steiner attacked the Stinger. He was now Jeff Jarrett’s bodyguard.
Sting and his supporters went to war with Jarrett’s Army, which culminated in Lethal Lockdown. Despite that victory, the Stinger was not happy. He wanted Jeff Jarret one-on-one. The Champion did everything he could to keep the title away from Sting.
Jeff Jarrett was not only the current NWA Champion, he also won the King of the Mountain tournament. After months of ducking Sting, Jarrett finally had to put up or shut up, so we thought.
On August 13, 2006, at Hard Justice, Christian Cage cost Sting the match with Jarret’s guitar. Sting was more livid than ever in his career. He challenged Jarret for the title one last time, however as an added stipulation if Sting lost he would retire.
Luckily, the powers in TNA were sick of the King of the Mountain just as much as Sting. Sting got his rematch at Bound for Glory on October 22, 2006. Finally, Sting defeated Jeff Jarret for the NWA Heavyweight Championship. This was his first world title since 1999.
On Screen, Jeff Jarrett may have been Sting’s antagonist, but he knew the star power Sting would bring to TNA in real life. On his podcast, Jeff Jarrett, current agent, and performer at AEW, gave his views on Stings’ first TNA signing.
“The thing that I believe that got Sting to our very first show was one guy, and that’s my father. Kind of the emotional heartstrings were tugged in me.
The other day we were having a conversation with someone in catering. And Sting looked across the table and said, ‘You know, Jeff’s dad gave me like the first start.’
Sting’s really never forgot that; kudos to him.”…
– Jeff Jarrett
Sting vs Abyss
In WCW, Sting had his hands full with the Mastodon Vader. In TNA, he experienced a similar circumstance at the hands of the Monster Abyss. Abyss was controlled by James Mitchell.
It seemed at times that he was using Abyss. Sting saw right through the sinister manager’s plan. At times, he tried to reason with Abyss. However, usually, the monster was too far under Mitchell’s control. The two collided at TNA Genesis.
The match was set up so that the title could change hands on a DQ. During the match, Sting put Abyss through a table wrapped in barbed wire.
Sting was disqualified. Abyss was the new champion. Abyss was a monster unleashed. Ironically enough, Abyss’ anger cost him the title to Christian Cage a month later at Turning Point.
Even though no title was at stake, the war between Sting and Abyss was far from over. Sting wanted to know what control Mitchell had over Abyss.
Finally, it was revealed that Mitchell got Abyss out of prison. He told Abyss that if he did not do what he wanted him to do, he would send him back.
During this storyline, fans also find out Abyss’s real name is Chris Park. Abyss was now more angry. This led to several matches, such as the Prison Yard Match and Last Rites Match.
After these brutal encounters, Sting still wanted to free Abyss. Finally, after months of trying to get past James Mitchell’s mind control, Sting convinced Abyss to leave the sinister one.
Sting and Abyss teamed up briefly until Mitchell returned with a woman claiming to be his mother. Reluctantly, Abyss rejoined Mitchell. This led to Lethal Lockdown, where Sting and Abyss were on opposite sides once again.
Sting was part of newly arrived former WWE Star Kurt Angle’s Team, and Abyss was with Christian. Sting’s team won. Chris Parks did finally turn on James Mitchell.
Mitchell received a black hole slam as punishment. Anyone who saw this story on TV knows Mitchell deserved what he got.
Sting vs Kurt Angle
A month later, Sting was set to face Kurt Angle and Christian Cage at TNA Sacrifice in a Triple Threat Match. However, the NWA stripped Christian of the NWA title on the day of the event.
Christian can still defend the belt; TNA just could not call it the NWA Heavyweight Championship. The match did take place with Angle forcing Sting to tap out, becoming the new Heavyweight Champion.
Angle did not hold the title for long. The night after the PPV on Impact, the belt was declared vacant. No longer was it the NWA Heavyweight Championship but now it’s the TNA Heavyweight Championship.
TNA held a Championship Tournament; however, Sting lost in the semifinals because of Christopher Daniels. Kurt Angle went on to become the first TNA Heavyweight Champion.
Sting defeated Kurt Angle at Bound for Glory for the TNA Heavyweight Championship. However, this title reign was cut short as a few days later, Angle won it back with Kevin Nash’s help.
This set up Sting and mystery partner vs Angle and Nash. The mystery partner ended up being Booker T. This match was unique as anyone could become a champion. Angle ended up retaining the title.
Shortly after that, Sting again left TNA. He returned in March 2008, teaming with Christian Cage, who was now a fan favorite at Lockdown. Sting stayed out of the ring for most of 2008.
In July, he made an appearance during a Samoa Joe vs Booker T match. Joe was currently the TNA Champion after defeating Angle. Sting was like a mentor to Samoa Joe. However, Joe had a temper.
When he tried to end Booker T’s career, Sting intervened, hitting the Samoan with the baseball bat. Sting looked like he did not want to do it, but the champion would not listen. Samoa Joe continued to feud with Booker T.
It was interesting to see in the matches that either Booker or Sharmell would use a baseball bat as a weapon. Did Sting really join forces with Booker T? Sting had indeed taken a walk on the dark side.
After Kurt Angle defeated AJ Styles at Hard Justice, Sting attacked Styles. It was clear that Sting, Kurt Angle, and Booker T were forming some type of mafia.
Main Event Mafia
On October 12, 2008, Sting faced Samoa Joe for the TNA Heavyweight Championship at Bound for Glory. After a returning Nash hit Joe with a Baseball bat, Sting became the TNA Champion.
The Next night on Impact, Led by Kurt Angle, Sting, Kevin Nash, Booker T, and Scott Steiner, announced they are now to be referred to as the Main Event Mafia.
Wrestling fans could not believe that Sting, the man who freed WCW from the nWo, was part of this gang of mercenaries.
Sting defended the title from all challengers in 2009. However, the greatest challenger was within the Mafia. Kurt Angle was upset that he was not the champion. After all, he is an icon as well. He was also the leader, aka “Godfather” of the Mafia, not Sting.
Tension started to boil over as Angle and Sting both had claims to be the “Godfather” of the Main Event Mafia. Surprisingly, Sting lost the TNA Heavyweight Title to another Icon, Mick Foley, during this feud. Sting held that title for 189 days.
Shortly after that, Sting defeated Angle for the title of Godfather in the Main Event Mafia. Even though Angle was defeated, there is no honor among thieves. The Mafia did not like Sting’s way of doing business.
On June 22, 2009, The Main Event Mafia Turned on Sting. After disposing of The Icon, Kurt Angle resumed his role as the Godfather of the Main Event Mafia. On his podcast, The Kurt Angle Show, Kurt spoke about the Main Event Mafia Angle:
“I don’t think of Sting as a heel. It just doesn’t happen. He was such a babyface his whole career. I don’t even know if he turned heel in WCW, not what I can remember.
It was really difficult for Sting to do this. He took to it pretty well, but I know that he was uncomfortable because he’s never done it before, and he was always a babyface, and the people always adored him, and the fans loved him, so it was a little difficult, I’d imagine, for Sting to do this”…..
– Kurt Angle
The next week on IMPACT, Sting returned and attacked every Mafia member. Loyal wrestling fans couldn’t help but compare this to Sting’s systematic dissection of the nWo until all that remained was Hulk Hogan.
This time, the target was Kurt Angle. He also stole Kurt’s prize possession, the TNA Heavyweight Championship. Kurt Angle added Samoa Joe to the Mafia as a form of protection. Joe faced Sting at Victory Road on July 19, 2009.
Unfortunately, Sting came up short due to interference from Taz. Sting was also unsuccessful at several attempts to get even with Angle. It was AJ Styles who defeated Angle for the title, not Sting.
Out of respect, AJ Styles gave Sting a title shot at Bound for Glory. This match was billed as Sting’s final match. Styles ended up defeating Sting.
Let’s make this clear it was not a retirement match officially, Sting was just considering the possibility. However, after that match, the respect of the TNA fans and AJ Styles made Sting reconsider.
Hogan in TNA
Jan 4, 2010, was a huge day in pro wrestling. TNA was going live for 3 hours head to head with WWE Monday Night Raw. Not only that, but Hulk Hogan was going to make an appearance on IMPACT.
However, WWE also had a plan. January 4th was the return of Bret “Hitman” Hart”. Since the Montreal Screwjob in 1997, the Hitman has never been on WWE television. Sting also played a part in this as he was seen from the rafters on IMPACT.
Both companies were pulling out all the stops. Could this be the second Monday Night War? Not only did Hulk Hogan show up, but so did Eric Bischoff. Bischoff was appointed as Executive Producer by TNA president Dixie Carter.
Sting did not trust either one, and rightly so. Bischoff and Hogan manipulated Dixie into selling TNA to them. He was not seen again in TNA for months.
Then, in March 2010, the Stinger attacked Hulk Hogan and Abyss. Sting was now officially a heel and joined Ric Flair in his feud against Hogan. Rob Van Dam signed with TNA and became the TNA Heavyweight Champion.
Right away, Sting targeted RVD. This led to a match for the title at Slammiversary, but Sting’s old nemesis, Jeff Jarrett, returned and cost him the title opportunity.
Immortals
Sting attacked Jarrett the next week on impact. Due to this, Dixie Carter suspended Sting for 30 days. After 30 days was up, Sting returned sporting the Red and Black.
This was similar to the Wolfpack in WCW. Sting also started to team up with his former Wolfpack running mate, Kevin Nash.
As the weeks went by, Sting’s distrust of Hogan and Bischoff began to materialize as fact. Hogan, Bischoff, and now the TNA Champion Jeff Hardy formed a group called the Immortal.
Both Sting and Nash refused to join. Bischoff stated that they could leave TNA since they refused to join Immortal. Sting and Nash left the arena.
Sting returned to Impact on March 3, 2011. He was a surprise opponent for Jeff Hardy. Sting defeated Hardy and won the TNA Heavyweight Championship. The rematch happened, but it was only 90 seconds, as Hardy was deemed too intoxicated to wrestle.
Sting held the title until he was defeated by Mr. Anderson at Slammiversary due to outside interference from Eric Bischoff.
After that title loss, Sting began to become unwound. He began laughing manically. The world was about to witness a version of Sting never seen before.
‘The Joker’ Sting
On July 14, 2011, Sting rechristened himself the “Insane Icon”. He was very similar to The Joker in Batman movies. He regained the TNA heavyweight title from Mr. Anderson with Kurt Angles’s help.
Interestingly enough, it was Kurt Angle, with Immortal’s help, who defeated Sting one month later. Ric Flair returned to TNA and joined forces with Hogan, Bischoff, and Immortal.
Sting asked Flair for a match. If he defeats him, then he gets Hogan. To make things more interesting, Sting also put his career on the line. Flair denied Sting.
In the weeks that followed, Sting challenged Mr. Anderson for the TNA Championship. Hogan interfered in every match. Finally, Sting got Flair to agree to the stipulation. Sting defeated Flair, thus receiving a shot at Hulk Hogan at Bound for Glory.
To make it even more interesting, Hogan agreed if Sting defeats him, he will give TNA back to Dixie Carter. On October 16, 2011, at Bound for Glory, Sting defeated Hogan, thus giving power back to Dixie Carter.
When Immortal tried to gang up on Sting, Hulk Hogan rescued him. Hogan then teamed with Sting to fight against Immortal. Dixie Carter made Sting general manager of TNA.
Aces and Eights
In 2012, there was a new TNA Heavyweight Champion by the name of Bobby Roode. Bobby was an excellent technical wrestler who unquestionably had “IT.”
Sting challenged Roode several times but came up empty. Seeing that his time in TNA was drawing to a close, The Stinger gave up his general manager position. That year, Sting became the very first inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame.
Another faction called Aces and Eights was steadily taking over TNA. The Group injured Sting by putting him through a table and beating him with the timekeepers’ bell hammer.
After healing, Sting returned to save Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe from an Aces and Eights beatdown. Sting got his revenge in singles matches against several members.
At Lockdown, Sting was a part of Team TNA vs Aces and Eights. TNA defeated Aces and Eights in the cage. However, a friend of Sting revealed his true self. Sting had convinced Hulk Hogan to give Bully Ray the title shot with Roode.
Bully Ray defeated Roode, becoming the TNA champion. Unfortunately, this was all a plan, as Ray was revealed to be the leader of Aces and Eights.
Hogan blamed Sting. Sting was angry and walked out on Hogan. The following week, the two icons were made up. Unfortunately for Sting, he was never able to get the TNA title away from Aces and Eights leader Bully Ray.
Sting decided to create a new Main Event Mafia. This consisted of Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, Magnus, and Rampage Jackson. Magnus eventually became frustrated that he never got an opportunity.
Out of respect, Sting challenged him to a match. Magnus ended up defeating Sting at Bound for Glory 2013. Dixie Carter lifted the ban on Sting’s championship opportunities a few months later.
He entered a battle royal for the TNA championship, which Magnus won. Groups were now starting to fizzle out in TNA. Aces and Eights disbanded so did the MEM.
A newcomer named Ethan Carter III, aka EC3 appeared on the scene. Supposedly, he was Dixie’s nephew. Dixie was no longer the nice businesswoman she used to be. She and her nephew began to humiliate TNA staff.
Sting did not like that. Sting confronted Carter and gave him an ultimatum. Either he has to face Sting or risk his career in a Feast or Fired Match. Carter chose the feast or fired and got a TNA tag title shot from the briefcase.
EC3 was now more arrogant than ever. Sting challenged Carter. Unfortunately, TNA Heavyweight Champion Magnus cost Sting the match. Angry Sting challenged Magnus to a Title vs Career match. Sting lost.
Sting was now officially done with TNA. However, the impossible was on the horizon. Sting was headed to World Wrestling Entertainment.
