Sting has candidly admitted to being a hypocrite when it comes to wrestlers who extend their careers into their later years.
The wrestling icon, who worked across five decades in the industry, reflected on his younger self's harsh judgment of veteran performers during a recent appearance on Going Ringside. What started as criticism eventually became his own reality.
I was the guy who said, 'I don't understand all those old guys hanging out for so long.' And I could not understand it. I said, I will never do that," Sting told Scott Johnson. "And I blew them all out of the water. Four decades later, here I am.
The self-awareness has become a defining characteristic of what Sting calls his final persona. After transitioning through numerous characters throughout his career, he's embraced this latest version with humor.
This one's different. This is what's called old man Sting," he explained. "But there's so many different versions of Sting over the years. You got surfer Sting, you got Crow Sting, Wolfpack Sting, Joker Sting, and now old man Sting.
The Final Chapter
Rather than viewing his extended career with embarrassment, Sting has found meaning in connecting with generations of fans during his retirement tour. The experience has provided unexpected rewards beyond what he anticipated.
It's been a massive blessing to me, that's for sure. I mean, I can't tell you how many stories that I get to hear," Sting said. "That's what this seems to be about is stories. I'm hearing fans tell me stories about how I affected them or how wrestling affected them way back when.
The legendary performer's willingness to acknowledge his changed perspective demonstrates the growth that comes with age. What once seemed incomprehensible to a young Sting now represents the culmination of an extraordinary career that few could have predicted would span so long.
