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News broke earlier this week suggesting that Sting is no longer under WWE contract.
According to reports, the 61-year-old was pulled from an upcoming series of WWE action figures - with toy manufacturer Mattel revealing they no longer had the rights to make figures based on the Sting character.
The wrestling rumor mill then quickly got going when AEW executive vice president Cody Rhodes posted a GIF of himself listening enthusiastically to the news.
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Cody's reaction as good as confirms that AEW would be interested in working with the man known as "The Icon". It is a move that makes sense for both parties as well. Sting was under WWE contract for six years, but made little overall impact in that time.
Although always presented as a legend, Sting ultimately lost both of the pay-per-view matches he had in WWE. If the real-life Steve Borden still has a hunger to perform, then a link up with AEW provides him with a final opportunity to thrill the audience.
A link-up can pay dividends for both parties. Here are five reasons why Sting joining AEW makes sense.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the article belong to the writer and doesn't necessarily represent Sportskeeda's stand.
#5 Merchandise sales potential
Given that Sting's contract status with WWE became public following a canceled action figure, this seems like an excellent place to start.
A man who has had thousands of pieces of merchandise in his over 30-year career, Sting is one of the most recognizable characters in wrestling history.
AEW, announced in February, that they had inked an action figure deal with Jazwares toy company. While the first series of figures will include only members of the current roster, AEW also has many professional wrestling legends under contract - and so a "legends" collection of figures must surely be in the works soon. Sting would be the perfect headline act for such a series.
AEW has also been vocal about wanting to produce a quality wrestling video game soon. As the character is so well-loved, having a name like Sting on board would likely increase the value of the AEW brand in the eyes of many video game developers.
The same would also be true for other AEW-themed products. A deal with Sting could be a great business opportunity for the promotion.
#4 A return to TNT
Executives at US television network TNT agreed on a deal to broadcast AEW Dynamite before the promotion had even run an official show. Make no mistake, in partnering with AEW, they were hoping to replicate the success that the channel had seen when it was the home of WCW Monday Nitro.
From 1995 to 2001, WCW's flagship show was a Monday night staple for TNT. For much of that run, it was a ratings hit for the network. The show once famously defeated the then-WWF's Monday Night RAW in the ratings for 83 straight weeks.
WCW's biggest home-grown star during that period was none other than Sting. Indeed, Sting faced Ric Flair on both the first and last-ever editions of Nitro.
Cody has been vocal about his desire to make sure that the history of professional wrestling is respected on AEW programming. Cody's father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was instrumental in helping Sting develop into a top-tier performer earlier in his career - and Cody would love to have him as part of the promotion.
In terms of ratings, a few select appearances by Sting on Dynamite would likely draw big numbers for the program. Dynamite goes head-to-head with WWE's NXT each week - and Sting's mainstream appeal dwarfs that of anyone who currently appears on NXT.
On weeks where it is critical for AEW to attract a good audience, having Sting available could prove invaluable.
#3 Putting a new spin on old rivalries
AEW is home to many men Sting encountered during his time with WCW.
Sting had a heated rivalry early in his career with Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard (while they were part of The Four Horseman). Sting also crossed paths with Jake "The Snake" Roberts, with the pair once headlining a WCW pay-per-view together.
All of these men are now fixtures on AEW Dynamite. Also, AEW's televised shows are announced by Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone, the very same men who (between them) called all of Sting's WCW run.
All the elements are in place to make the return of a character like Sting feel special. Steve Borden may be 61-years-old, but once he puts the classic Sting facepaint on, his age is not what the fans are focused on.
Sting does not even need to actively wrestle. He could form an on-screen alliance with an active performer and join forces against an opponent managed by a fellow legend.
For example, Jake Roberts currently manages Lance Archer - and has enhanced "The Murderhawk Monster's" character in doing so. Sting could come to the aid of a younger wrestler and help them battle Archer and Roberts.
With so much history to play off of, there is definitely a place for an icon like Sting in AEW.
#2 Making a mark in a new company
While there are several performers in AEW that Sting is very familiar with, there are even more with which he has never interacted at all.
Given his long spell as a headline act, many performers on the AEW roster will have grown up watching Sting on WCW Nitro. To a few, he may even be the reason they got into the wrestling business.
Having a presence like Sting backstage can only be a positive for AEW. However, there are also lots of exciting possibilities for Sting as an on-screen character too.
From confronting The Dark Order to facing off with MJF, and even having a storyline with Chris Jericho and The Inner Circle - there are many potential directions for Sting. All would make for great viewing.
In none of these scenarios would Sting be a lead in-ring performer, but his unique aura can add a big-time feel to each. It is also worth remembering that all would be fresh situations for the Sting character - allowing him to have a last major run of real significance.
#1 A fitting end to a legendary career
Now, Sting was not treated all that badly during his WWE run. From his debut at Survivor Series 2014 to his Hall of Fame induction in 2016, Sting was always presented as a legend.
The problem was that he was presented as a WCW legend. WWE seemed unwilling to place one of their old rival's top performers on the same level as their established main event players - even though WCW had been out of business for well over ten years!
Debuting opposite Triple H at WrestleMania 31, Sting lost an interference-filled bout. Failing in his first in-ring appearance for the company hardly painted Sting in as a Superstar.
Returning to pay-per-view action to challenge Seth Rollins for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions 2015, Sting once again suffered defeat.
More importantly, though, he also suffered a severe neck injury in the match. The injury would force Sting to announce his official retirement during his Hall of Fame induction speech the next year.
The lackluster nature of his WWE stint might well tempt Sting back for one last run with a major company. If Sting is interested, AEW can make it happen.
