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Ever Evolving Sting Ready For Roode, TNA Title At Slammiversary

Ever Evolving Sting Ready For Roode, TNA Title At Slammiversary

Posted: Jun 9th 2012 By: CMBurnham

For as much as Sting has evolved in the past few years, some things haven't changed.

As a 14-time world champion and 25-plus year veteran of the sport, you'd think he would be as calm as they come when it comes time to head to the ring.

The man called Sting admitted earlier this week in a conference call with reporters that he's still as nervous as ever when he comes through that curtain, just as he'll be when he looks to become a 15-time world champion when he challenges Bobby Roode for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on Sunday at Slammiversary.

Sting is in a very different spot now than he was even a few years ago. He admitted maybe his motivation wasn't there, but now, against Roode on pay-per-view, he's more motivated than ever and is looking to continue having the champ's number after making him submit on the last two editions of Impact Wrestling.

"I do know that in the last year and a half or so, especially the last 12 months, there's been something that has sparked in me and the interest is much higher again, my motivation is much higher," Sting said. "I'm having more fun now than I ever have. Taking some risks, I'll admit, changing my character up a little bit. I love the group of people we're working with."

During the past year, we've seen Sting transform into the "Insane Icon," complete with changes to his face paint and persona. Not only that, as his body has slowed down, he's taken the necessary steps to round out of the rest of his game, including his microphone skills, something he admits wasn't his strong point in the past.

"I've focused on it and forced myself to be as good as I can possibly be because the physical part of it is not what it used to be," he said. "There's no trying to fool anybody. Everybody can see that. For that reason, I have to bring up other areas and one of them that's always been hit or miss, but mostly weak over the years, was the mic skills. I really needed to amp that up and I don't know why or how it happened, but I'm just more focused. A better overall picture? I don't know."

Not only that, the 53-year old Sting, born Steve Borden, has changed everything about his training and his diet to maximize his abilities at his age. He acknowledges this even includes cutting down on sugar, which has been tough because he has such a sweet tooth.

"It is very difficult," Sting said of the changes. "I was in the gym everyday this week and every time I'm put in a situation where I have to work with a Bobby Roode or a Kurt Angle, I'm trying to get that cardio in. I have a trainer now that I've been working with the past three months and we've made some huge strides in trying to get some more mobility and some more flexibility in my body. So I'm training a lot different now and a lot harder and consistent than I have in a long time, along with eating the right way. ... I'm hoping to get back to where I was 15 years ago."

That transformation has also manifested itself in his mindset toward the wrestling business. As he nears retirement, Sting said he always saw himself just walking away from the wrestling business and not getting involved in a backstage role. But as that time grows closer, he's seen himself reevaluate those feelings.

"I've always pictured myself being completely done with wrestling and chances are good that's the way it will be," he said. "But as time goes on here, I know the wave is definitely coming into shore and I have to start thinking differently now, I'm starting to see things from the other side of the camera and take more of an interest there. I wouldn't say so much from a corporate level, but from a technical standpoint."

He noted he has ideas on ways to film interviews that hasn't been done before that he feels would be beneficial for everyone.

"So maybe I could see myself, for the first time, really, I could see myself possibly, on a part-time level, doing something behind the camera," he said.

So when he steps into the ring with Roode on Sunday outside of Dallas, he's doing so with a lot of confidence, not only in himself, but in his opponent.

"Bobby Roode, whether you love him, hate him or you're indifferent, he brings it every single night," Sting said. "He looks the part, he can work with anyone, he can have a great match with anyone and I think he carries himself well. I have personally pushed to keep him where he is. I've poured into him and I think there's some good fruits (of labor) and we're all witnessing it now."

He says he expects to be better than he was when the two met in a non-title match in the main event of March's Victory Road pay-per-view.

"I think I'm physically going to be better off," Sting said. "I think I'm more mentally and physically prepared and more on top of my game than I've been in a while. I'm hoping to make it really good."

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
  • 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
  • 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
  • 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
  • 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
  • 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

  • 09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
  • 09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
  • 09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
  • 09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
  • 09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
  • 09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
  • 09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
  • 09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
  • 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
  • 09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 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
  • 09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
  • 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
09-10
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