Sting Speaks: Wrestling Icon on Joining WWE, Feuding With Seth Rollins
The enigmatic man they call Sting (real name: Steve Borden) is pretty transparent when you ask him an honest question. Days before his first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Championship title shot, against incumbent Seth Rollins, he’s happy to discuss any suspicions about his character development up to this point, and just how directly he’s influenced it. The 56-year-old former face of WCW and TNA, now in his second calendar year of improbable employ for Vince McMahon and Co., is also pretty open about Jesus and a relentless gym routine keeping him from falling apart.
How it all comes together at Sunday’s Night of Champions remains a mystery. In the meantime, Sting helped us clarify how this unexpected feud with Rollins came to pass, whether fans should worry themselves about him putting HHH (or anyone else) over and how he determines which side of the versatile vigilante – i.e. silent assassin or merry prankster – we see from week to week.
Was it an expressed desire of yours to not just go up against WWE legends like HHH, but also some of the younger stars?
To be straight with you, no. Although, man, if presented to me, I would wanna walk through that door, because there’s so many new, young, incredibly talented people – Seth being the best, I believe, as far as creativity and innovation in the ring. So you just can’t get much better than this. It’s just the nature of our business. Everything is always subject to change, and you never know what’s gonna happen next. It was unexpected for me too, but again, the door opened, and I chose to walk through it.
Has it been difficult to sell the rivalry in such a short period of time?
I suppose I could say yes or no, although I think it gets washed away, because the truth of the matter is Seth is the man right now in the WWE. He has a lot of respect from wrestling fans because of his ability to carry a storyline as well, so it’s not just me. It’s him. I will plug myself in and try to enhance it and make things as unbelievable as I possibly can.