Sting is All Elite.
For the first time since 2001, Sting was back on TNT, making an appearance on AEW Dynamite to save Cody Rhodes, Darby Allin, Dustin Rhodes, and Arn Anderson from an attack by Team Taz.
While Ricky Starks, Brian Cage, and Powerhouse Hobbs took orders from Taz and laid out Cody and crew, a video package played, ending with the words STING coming across the screen. The man himself then appeared, emerging from the tunnel. Sting pulled out his trademark black bat, walked to the ring, and stood face to face with the Rhodes family, Arn, and Darby as Team Taz hit the bricks.
This looks far from over between both camps!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 3, 2020
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama pic.twitter.com/lSANBzqBNl
.@STING HAS ARRIVED IN ALL ELITE WRESTLING!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 3, 2020
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama pic.twitter.com/NMLGKqdQtX
The arrival of Sting had been heavily teased with Darby Allin sitting high up in Daily's Place in recent months. Sting's contract with WWE expired in May and the company stopped selling his merchandise in October.
Tony Khan confirmed Sting signed a multi-year contract with AEW.
From AEW:
“THE ICON” STING MAKES DEBUT ON AEW DYNAMITE “WINTER IS COMING” EPISODE ON TNT
December 2, 2020 – “Winter is Coming” was already guaranteed to be the biggest episode of AEW DYNAMITE yet, but on a night packed with tremendous clashes, the debut of wrestling legend Sting took the world by surprise.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers ever, Sting’s jaw-dropping appearance sent electricity through the crowd at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Fla., and throughout the wrestling world, when he stepped in the ring.
AEW has also confirmed tonight that it has officially signed Sting to a full-time, multi-year agreement.
“The surprise introduction of Sting was a great way to celebrate our biggest episode of Dynamite yet,” said Tony Khan, CEO and GM of AEW. “When AEW launched, I was ecstatic to bring wrestling back to TNT after a very long absence. Sting defeated the legendary Ric Flair in the final wrestling match to be shown on TNT for more than 18 years until the debut of Dynamite in 2019. Now, almost two decades later, it's such a thrill to welcome Sting to AEW and bring him back home to TNT!”
Tune in to AEW DYNAMITE on TNT next week to see why Sting is joining the most boundless promotion in all of wrestling.
Sting last wrestled at WWE Night of Champions 2015, when he suffered a neck injury after taking a buckle powerbomb from Seth Rollins.
Keep up with everything happening on AEW Dynamite with Fightful's ongoing coverage.