Sting thanked the fans following his final match at AEW Revolution.
Sting went out on top, as he ended his legendary career with a win in his final match at AEW Revolution. There, he and Darby Allin beat the Young Bucks (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson) to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championship.
Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp was in attendance, and he shared Sting's full message on social media.
"Thank you, Greensboro. To be honest with you, I’ve been thanking you all since March of 1988. ‘Nature Boy’ [versus] Sting, 45-minute draw for the world title. Thank you, Ric. Greensboro, you were incredible in ‘88 and beyond, all the way to this very night. I’ve been saying in all kinds of interviews, I just want this to be a night that wrestling fans will not forget, a night of wrestling that will be etched in your minds for years to come. It is me that’s saying that this is a night I’ll never forget. Thank you, Greensboro. Yeah, this is definitely a time to give thanks for sure. Thank you to one of the greatest tag team partners I’ve ever had, Darby Allin. I wonder how many stitches this is gonna require tonight," Allin said.
Allin noted that he had said he would die in Sting's last match, but he was still breathing. Sting went on to praise Allin before the broadcast feed cut out.
"I knew from the very first time I saw Darby in action, he’s a risk-taker. I was a risk-taker back in my young days, and you know what, I’m kinda old now, but I’m still a risk-taker, especially if I’m here in Greensboro. I’m getting cues, hold on," Sting said.
Sting’s sons, who participated in their father's last match dressed up as past versions of his character, came to the ring. Sting stated that he had hoped the night would be surreal. He revealed that his sons were wearing the same gear that he wore years ago. He proceeded to call Tony Khan to the ring.
“I was hoping that this night would be surreal in many ways. The video package that you saw before we got to the ring, then to see, this is the exact boots and tights and jacket [points to his son] way back when. Then in later years, we got some cool Wolfpack Sting going on over here. We’re off the air now, so I can do that. You know what, Greensboro? You still got it. I don’t have any words other than to say thank you, I love you all so much. I’d like to call another very important person out. This wouldn’t be possible without Tony Khan. Tony, this is my last night, so I can say, ‘Tony, hustle, come on,'" Sting said.
Khan came down and thanked the crowd as he hyped up Sting. Allin then got a microphone and said that he hoped fans felt like they got their money's worth.
"I really don't know what else there is to say, I really don’t. The fact that Tony Khan felt Sting deserved this, and you guys gave it to him. He said he was going to leave absolutely nothing left in his ring by the end of the night, and I hope you feel like you got your money’s worth. I’m gonna go to the hospital real quick," Allin said.
Sting the asked Darby to text him and let him know how many stitches he had to get before he called on Tony Schiavone at ringside. Schiavone got a microphone and did his classic "It's Sting" line one last time. The AEW roster came to the stage to show their respect for Sting and applaud him. Sting then hugged his songs and left the ring.
Fightful Select reported more information about Sting's retirement.
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