Sting on Retirement, TNA, WCW, and Hulk Hogan

Source: Jackalope Ranch of Phoenix NewTimes

Earlier this week, former TNA World Heavyweight Champion and the first-ever inductee into the TNA Hall of Fame Sting was interviewed by the Phoenix NewTimes. Highlights of the interview are found below and we encourage you to read the entire article with the interview by clicking here. Enjoy!

On His Role In The Aces & 8s Storyline
Well, I tell you what. That is always a concern and I’ve been on both sides of the fence when there’s been a big buildup happening and there was not a payoff and there’s nothing worse, believe me. But, man, when the payoff is there and delivery is made, its awesome. Only time will tell. My hands have not really been around this one like in the past because it’s not about me. I just want to try to make it as good as I possibly can.

On Him and Hulk Hogan Being “Kidnapped” by Aces & 8s
Yeah…I do have a lot to say about that but, you know, I just need to play it safe for right now. I can say that we were real close to needing S.A.G. cards, you know? (laughs) We need to be with the guild here if we keep going like this.

On Whether He’s Ever Vetoed Anything WCW or TNA Wrote for His Character
Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean its been from small to the bigger things. For the most part, people know who I am. And they’re not going to ask me to do anything that they know I’m not going to want to do. But occasionally, things like that will still happen and you just find yourself in a situation like that. And I’ve learned over the years that you just don’t say, “No, can’t do that,” you’d better come up with a better idea.

On the Growing Feeling that TNA’s Characters and Storylines Are Better Than WWE
That’s encouraging to hear those words. It means a lot. I have not really watched their product for some time now, occasionally I’ll flip though and I’ll see little bits and pieces here and there, but I really don’t know what’s going on up there. And for 27 years I’ve been doing this now, and I have never — hardly ever — watched our product. Watched anything that I’ve ever done. So I’m more of a hands-on guy while I’m there in the thick of it and it’s happening. But watching it happen on TV after it’s already been done? You know, I just never have done that. I’m glad that the storylines are what they are now…eh, I don’t agree with everything happening, but, again, whatever is put before me, I will always just try to enhance or tweak or make changes that I think will make it better for everybody. And I’m not just talking about for myself, I’m talking about for everybody.

On His Feelings Towards Retirement
You know, this is an honest answer. That question comes [up] about once a year and its a legitimate question. Every year I think, “How long am I going to do this?” And its one of those play it by ear and see what happens kind of things. The last year was a lot of fun for me. I had fun changing my character up again. Some people liked it, some people didn’t. But the bottom line is, I had fun doing it. Just trying something different. To step way out of my comfort zone and try to change and tweak and move with the times and be new and refreshing. As long as there’s little glimpses of that happening every now and then, I’ll hang out as long as they’ll have me, I guess.