Sting’s WWE Hall of Fame Appearance in Limbo as AEW Faces Crucial Call
Posted: Mar 22nd 2025 By: Felix Upton
Wrestling fans have been holding out hope that Sting will return to WWE for one last appearance—this time to induct his longtime friend and former tag team partner, Lex Luger, into the Hall of Fame. Now, the ball is in Tony Khan’s court, and the situation is way more complicated than just a yes or no.
According to Dave Meltzer in the March 20 edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, “From what we understand, Luger asked for Sting and WWE was fine with it. That put the ball in Tony Khan’s court.” The AEW boss is now faced with a decision that puts friendship, loyalty, and business strategy on a collision course.
AEW has allowed similar situations in the past—most notably when Billy Gunn appeared on WWE programming for the 2019 Hall of Fame induction of D-Generation X. But that moment ended with Triple H mocking AEW as a “pissant company,” which still lingers in the minds of many involved.
This isn’t the first time WWE has wanted to feature someone under contract elsewhere. When Ric Flair was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a member of the Four Horsemen while signed to TNA, Dixie Carter struck a deal for Christian to appear on a TNA show. That backfired. As Meltzer put it, “Christian made it so obviously clear he didn’t want to be there and it did TNA no good at all.”
Meltzer floated several possibilities AEW could explore if they do allow Sting to appear, including asking WWE to acknowledge the favor or make a mutual business concession. He wrote, “AEW should start a Hall of Fame soon with Sting and Danielson and perhaps other historical figures they see fit… AEW could even ask WWE to plug a major AEW show, or Levesque apologize for the Billy Gunn remark as an olive branch.”
Meltzer added that Tony Khan may want to go public with the situation, stating something like, “We were asked, but because of what happened with Gunn, we’re only asking in return for something.” That way, fans know exactly where the lines are being drawn, and who’s responsible if it doesn’t happen.
Whether Sting ultimately shows up to induct Luger depends on how far AEW is willing to bend—and whether WWE is willing to offer anything in return. One thing’s for sure: this potential Hall of Fame moment is already stirring up some serious behind-the-scenes drama.
Supplemental Information
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Spotlight in History
- 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
- 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
- 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
- 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
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- 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
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- 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
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- 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
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- 09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
- 09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
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- 09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
- 09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
- 09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
- 09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
- 09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
- 09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
- 09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
- 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
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- 09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
- 09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
- 09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
- 09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
- 09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
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