Tony Khan has described his booking process when it comes to utilising Sting.
The Icon is nearing the third anniversary of his debut match for AEW, which will also be the date of his retirement. With few having such a legendary career as the Hall of Famer has, Khan wants to make sure that the ending is as perfect as can be, including the final send-off.
Speaking with BBC West Midlands, Khan praised Sting for his many years in the industry and referenced the match at All In, where The Icon and Darby Allin defeated Swerve Strickland and Christian Cage in a Coffin Match in front of more than 80,000 fans in attendance. Although The Icon won’t be competing at the 2024 event, Khan is hopeful that the Hall of Famer can make the journey to the UK so fans across the pond can see him once again:
“I think it’s incredibly important for us to make sure Sting gets a great send-off. He absolutely deserves it. He’s a legend in wrestling, with decades of experience. Sting is beloved, and I’m very excited about Sting’s retirement tour, which has embarked. He’ll be finishing up at Revolution. Of course, Sting was a huge part of the original AEW All In at Wembley Stadium.
When Sting came out to Metallica, what a moment. ‘Seek and Destroy’ will be something that will live on in perpetuity in the video library as a great moment. I hope Sting will come. He’ll be retired at that point, but I hope he’ll still come be an ambassador because he’s in many ways AEW’s greatest legend, and I think he’s one of wrestling’s greatest legends,”
Khan then moved on to how The Icon’s opponents are selected. Khan stated that the former World Champion is very involved with his choice of opponent to make sure that is happy both creatively and from a safety standpoint:
“I’m working with him very closely and still overseeing what we do but also talking to Sting because I want to make sure it’s people he feels comfortable wrestling and people he wants to get in the ring with, matches he’s excited about. That’s how we’ve done it this whole time, and we’re gonna keep doing it because Sting’s final run has been I believe one of the great send-offs in wrestling so far.
We’re over two-and-a-half years into that retirement run, and at the three-year anniversary of Sting’s comeback match, we’ll celebrate this great three-year run he’s had. He’s been undefeated in AEW, which is pretty amazing. Sting’s had about 20 matches in AEW, and to have that record, to be undefeated, it’s pretty incredible. If he can maintain that record going into Revolution, it’ll really be something to see if Sting can finish his career with that three-year undefeated streak,”
Sting will have his final AEW match at Revolution 2024.
Tony Khan Provides Will Ospreay Update
At Full Gear, Will Ospreay was revealed as the newest signing for All Elite Wrestling. The New Japan star will officially join Khan’s promotion in spring 2024 as he has to finish up commitments in Japan first. During the same interview, Tony Khan clarified if Will Ospreay can still work New Japan dates.
H/t to Fightful.