The wrestling world has felt the sting of nostalgia over the years, but now it’s about to experience one last splash of war paint. Wrestling legend and all-around enigma Sting has declared that 2025 will be his final year appearing in his full iconic gear—face paint, bat, coat, and all. Yes, the Stinger is hanging up the proverbial paintbrush after a lifetime of thrilling fans from WCW to AEW and beyond.

The Announcement

Taking to X (formerly Twitter, still confusing), the WWE Hall of Famer delivered the news with the same dramatic flair that made him a wrestling icon:
“I have enjoyed meeting fans at events around the world. As much as I have loved interacting with you all in the traditional Stinger war paint, I’ve decided that 2025 will be my last year appearing in full gear. I guess it’s 2025 or never. Wow. Tough to speak that out.”

2025 or never—talk about a line that hits harder than a Scorpion Death Drop.

A Career Worth Painting in the History Books

Sting’s legendary in-ring career officially ended last year at AEW Revolution in Greensboro, NC, where he teamed up with Darby Allin to defeat The Young Bucks in his retirement match. A perfect send-off for a man whose career has been anything but ordinary. After all, this is the guy who returned from a career-ending neck injury suffered during his brief WWE run in 2015 to not just manage, but wrestle in AEW.

His AEW tenure didn’t just serve as a victory lap—it was a full-blown encore. Sting’s run saw cinematic matches, brawls, and a surprising tag team title reign alongside his protégé, Darby Allin. He retired as a champion, with the titles vacated in his honor. (A classy move befitting a man who made face paint an art form.)

2025: The Farewell to Full Gear

Since retiring, Sting has continued to make appearances, always donning his iconic black-and-white face paint to the delight of fans worldwide. But now, at 65 years old, he’s ready to close the curtain on his iconic look—though it sounds like appearances themselves may not entirely end. Whether it’s the logistics of keeping up with the paint or simply the desire to end on a high note, 2025 will mark the final year fans can see him in all his Stinger glory.

One thing’s for sure: there’s no replacing that aura. Whether it was his mysterious crow persona in WCW, his high-energy Surfer Sting days, or his AEW renaissance, Sting has left an indelible mark on the wrestling world—face paint and all.

Fans have one last year to cherish the full Stinger experience, so start planning your convention meet-and-greets and wrestling events now.

By Joseph Gallery

I like ice cream, taking a back seat, wondering who I am, and pretending kayfabe is real. May or may not be the Real Dark Brandon. For the LOLZ. MALARKEY!

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