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The Undertaker believes Sting’s legacy transcends the partisan politics of AEW and WWE

The Undertaker believes Sting’s legacy transcends the partisan politics of AEW and WWE

Posted: Mar 21st 2024 By: Marty Breisch

When Michael Cole, live on RAW in front of an audience of millions of people watching at home, publically shouted out Sting for calling it a career at AEW Revolution – though, critically, he didn’t mention the name of the promotion, the event, or who he wrestled with – it felt like a massive deal in terms off eroding the proverbial Forbidden Door keeping the various professional wrestling promotions around the world in their own little Universes.

On one hand, Cole, Corey Graves, and even Booker T have been mentioning TNA Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and beyond when appropriate on commentary, with the Good Brothers just being described as former IWGP, TNA, and WWE Tag Team Champions on NXT ahead of their match against Hank Walker and Tank Ledger this very week, but AEW has long been “The Promotion that should not be named,” as it would theoretically add an air of legitimacy to their biggest competitor.

While Vince McMahon may have been rolling in his proverbial grave when he heard Cole’s comments, one performer who felt it was totally deserved was The Undertaker, who, on his Six Feet Under podcast, stated he believes that Sting’s pedigree and contributions to the spot over his almost 40-plus years in the business were worthy of acknowledgment regardless of the partisan posturing around it.

“There are certain people within the industry…. we’re in competition with a different company, I get it, but Sting’s legacy is so much bigger than AEW or anything like that. He deserved that,” The Undertaker said via 411 Mania. “I’m happy that, as a company, they acknowledged it. It’s only right. That whole AEW-WWE, it’s kind of like politics. You’re red, you’re blue, you’re conservative, you’re liberal. Most people are wrestling fans and they accept the fact that this is a true iconic star within the wrestling industry.”

Do the fandoms of AEW and WWE get a bit too red versus blue, Steelers versus Ravens, Batman versus Joker for everyone’s good? Yeah, while they are technically competing for the top spot in the sport, sponsorships, and talent on the free-agent market, it’s clear most wrestlers have friends across enemy lines and see no issue literally showing up at events to provide support when possible, as Bayley showed at Mercedes Mone’s debut in AEW. Still, while the promotions can’t change the way their fans show their passion, they can try to normalize honoring legends regardless of who they wrestle for, as that truly is what’s best for business.

Dustin Rhodes was honored to see Sting go out on top.

Speaking of Sting’s farewell to professional wrestling, Dustin Rhodes, another long-time veteran who has traveled many of the same roads as “The Icon” over his professional wrestling journey, had some heartfelt things to say about his fellow wrestler’s final match in AEW, telling the Sports Guys Talk Wrestling podcast that he couldn’t have been prouder to see the WCW legend go out on top.

“To end it all in Greensboro, which I have fought in many times — and when I was a youngster, me and Brad Anderson would drive to Greensboro to watch the Starrcades and see the crowds. To end it in a town like Greensboro was very fitting and to see him go out there and perform at his age and still bring it like he has, jumping off of things through tables, off of balconies — it’s amazing,” Dustin Rhodes said via

“My knees right now are killing me, my shoulders, I’ve had so many surgeries. To see him do that, he never complains. He’s never foul mouthed about anything, he’s very respectful and very professional. I love him to death, and I’m just happy that he did have the perfect career-ending, and it’s so special watching it and knowing that this is it. It’s sad, I don’t want him to quit, I want him to continue on until he’s 100. But, our bodies are not gonna allow that. He gave a lot of love to a lot of people for many years.”

Though he still needs to wrestle for three more years to match “The Icon’s” 38 years in the business, the older Rhodes brother announced that 2024 was going to be his final year in professional wrestling too, with the three-time Intercontinental Champion looking to further focus on his Rhodes Wrestling Academy as he ages out of in-ring performing. Still, as his match against Swerve Strickland at Worlds End and his TNT Championship loss to Christian Cage on Dynamite clearly proved, Rhodes can still be effective in limited action and has supplemented his athleticism with top-tier physical storytelling. If he wants a farewell match in AEW, it’s clear Tony Khan can throw something together that gives “The Natural” his flowers on the way out too.

 

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  • 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
  • 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

  • 09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
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  • 09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
  • 09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
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  • 09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
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  • 09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
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  • 09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
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  • 09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
  • 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
  • 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
  • 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
  • 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
  • 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
  • 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
  • 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
  • 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
  • 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
  • 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
  • 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
  • 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
  • 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title
09-15
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