5 AEW Opponents For Sting

‘The Icon’ shocked the wrestling world once again by making an unannounced appearance at AEW Winter is Coming. Following a vicious beatdown on Cody Rhodes, Arn Anderson and Darby Allin from Team Taz, Sting entered the fray through the blistering snow to confirm his signing with the promotion and leave us with so many unanswered questions.

Will Sting be returning to the ring to write a revised ending to his active career? Or will he be joining his fellow WCW alumni in supporting up-and-coming talent as an on-screen manager? Sting will reveal all on this week’s episode of Dynamite, but before then, let’s have a crack at predicting what could happen if Sting were to don the black and white singlet one last time.

Make sure you leave your own AEW dream matches for Sting down in the comments below.

 

1. Chris Jericho

When thinking about the biggest dream opponents for ‘The Icon’, surely ‘Le Champion’ is one of the first that comes to mind. Chris Jericho was forging the foundations of his legendary career while Sting awed fans with his crow-like attire and entrances during the peak of the Monday Night Wars, of course, with the two competing in separate divisions, they never had the chance to meet one-on-one.

Now two pillars of the industry, a collision between Icon and Alpha would be a surefire money-maker on an AEW pay-per-view. If Sting is to compete in the squared circle, then he’d need to be in the ring with someone that can not only take bumps and make them look spectacular, but also guide the veteran through the match to ensure that we don’t end up with another ‘Night of Champions’ debacle. There could be none more capable than Jericho himself.

This is one of those matches that just has to happen now, just so both men can wrap things up saying they shared a ring together.

 

2. Darby Allin

One of the lingering images from Sting’s AEW debut was the stare-down with fellow edgelord, the current TNT Champion, Darby Allin. Maybe this is one of the less likely matches to take place should Stinger be in a fit enough state to wrestle, but there’s no argument when I say that the idea of these two face-painted badasses meeting in the ring, either as opponents or as a team, is pretty damn cool.

Darby Allin is on his way to being a first-ballot headliner for the promotion, sharing the ring with a legend on the calibre of Sting would be massive for the young performer and provide him with the huge rub necessary to establish him as ‘the next big thing’. There’s obviously a ton of parallels between the two, making this match something of a marvel in my mind.

I’m not sure Sting will be able to keep up with Allin’s electric in-ring style, but I doubt Darby would turn away the chance to take a baseball bat to the gut a few times over, from one of his many gothic idols.

 

3. Lance Archer

‘The Murderhawk Monster’ has been on the precipice of achieving big things in AEW, but has yet to score a notable win to his name. The big man could certainly benefit from a chance to lock horns with ‘The Icon’, someone that has manager, Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts, might have a slight bone to pick with. Archer’s in-ring presence is undeniable, one that could stand alongside Sting if they were to be booked into a future exhibition.

Archer has that enigmatic nature of his character that could justify him targeting a legend like Sting, either to prove the point that he belongs in the upper echelon of the roster, or that he’s not afraid to dismantle some of the industries greats.

Sting has done fantastic work in the past with giants like Big Show, Matt Morgan and Kevin Nash, Lance Archer could indeed be the latest in line of David vs. Goliath scenarios for Sting. Plus, who would turn away the chance for promos between ‘The Icon’ and ‘The Snake’?

 

4. Brodie Lee

Since dropping the TNT Championship, Brodie Lee has mysteriously vanished from television. His Dark Order henchmen have made sporadic appearances on episodes of Dynamite and Dark, yet ‘The Exalted One’ is nowhere to be seen or heard. Here’s hoping that Lee’s future in AEW is still as bright as it was when he first arrived on the scene, because after taking the loss to Cody Rhodes in the Dog Collar match, he’ll be in need of a big rub upon his return.

There so happens to now be another brooding individual present on the AEW roster, that of course being the former World Heavyweight champion in Sting. Naturally, Sting would be a target of the Dark Order’s vision, sharing a similar mindset of stalking and bringing down the bastions of the AEW machine. Would ‘The Icon’ side with the cult? Or would he once again act as a vigilante?

Either way, a match between Brodie Lee and Sting could be exactly what’s needed to elevate Lee to the top ranks once more, while also giving Stinger a capable hand to do battle with. If anyone’s deserved that chance, it’s ‘The Exalted One’.

 

5. Cody Rhodes

Cody’s father Dusty has had quite the history with Sting, and that continues now that ‘The Icon’ has returned to the spotlight within The Grandson of a Plumber’s alternative wrestling show. Cody has a knack for putting himself in high-profile matches without leaving a bitter taste of resentment in the mouths of wrestling fans. The AEW fanbase are more than happy for Rhodes to put himself into these marquee attractions, so surely a collision with his dad’s old pal would be nothing but money for everyone involved.

Cody Rhodes is a fantastic, young performer, still competing in his prime. As I’ve previously mentioned, Sting is in need of an opponent that can not only bring out his best but also make sure he’s safe, Cody could very well be that wrestler.

You could even see this match as a passing of the torch from father to son vicariously through one of Dusty’s old running mates in Sting. If only Papa Rhodes could see his son now, and the potential he and his company have with this newfound relationship with one of wrestling’s greatest. Make the match happen, TK, for Cody and for Sting.

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