Sting: Man, Myth, Legend, & Wrestling Icon! - Part 1

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Enjoy share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and choosing the truth. Podcast network. This is the Truth Network. Once a world champion wrestler, now a champion for Christ. Once the Russian nightmare. Now the devil's worst nightmare in your tagteam partner cheetah call. It's time today. The man the myth the legend, the icon no I'm not talking about the singer staying but I am talking about the wrestler's tenure as you tell it to. It's time to man up. I probably say this on every single show, but actually actually mean it when I say it's a joy it's a pleasure it's an honor you to have each and every guest on each weekend and this is another special one. I mean this is the one very close to my heart. A special man that I know you are going to really enjoy this interview today this show as as mentioned at the top of the show in the opening someone who has had an iconic career in professional wrestling. Of course I am speaking to you and with today and welcoming to the show, staying welcome my friend.

Marek, wow, what an introduction worthy of all that I know I'm not a gravity well thank you and I and I really am a very appreciative, I know, and your schedule is always always very full and very hectic and I really truly mean it's it's an honor to have you on a privilege to have you on that, especially with your your your recent debut back into the mainstream wrestling is a thank you for just taking some time out of your schedule to be a part of the show command make it my pleasure for sure I get a chance to talk about great things got it done in my life on I'd like to capitalize on. Thankfully with a buddy of mine.

Well I appreciate is speaking of that, I mean I was trying to think the other day and you can probably help help me out as well as I was preparing for this interview that that our relationship I'll just start without our relationship I believe goes back I think around 33 years back. The ninth teen 87 when when we first mad and were going to talk about your your journey in professional wrestling, but the that relates I believe that's about when our relationship started and then morphed into her transformed into what I consider to be a a what you want to my dearest closest friends in today's world it definitely didn't start out that way I'll be I would I would the curtain jerker kind of guy you were a main event kind of guy. Oh yeah we were. We knew each other, but no, we didn't really run in the same circles at that particular time.

It took some time for a lot to happen in your life and in mind and wrestling in general or we got close anyway well and and on that note, and it again will talk a little, but this unfold here in just a minute but it didn't take you long to go from as it is used to say quote curtain jerker to make main event star status so speaking of that, let let's let's Becca because I we have some a lot of similarities you Niemi for one thing only 11 days apart in a like literally 11 days apart were almost born on the same day, but we were born in the same year. But that said, if I'm not mistaken it again correctly from wrong. But, like myself, you don't really grow up with wrestling on your radar of of dreamy like like many of these guys do.

It was an and it's okay of dreaming of being a pro wrestler right that is correct. I grew up in an area in Southern California, about 50 miles northeast of LA and the Little Valley will not belittle the panic when Rita Valley at that time we had just a few channels on the television and we didn't wrestling was not one of which is we didn't have any pro wrestling on TV so I didn't know what it was like returning to a young man and nobody into a didn't buy into, but I became partners with a guy named Ed Connors who is the treasurer of Gold's Gym in Venice Beach who bought sister Jim to that one in the San Fernando Valley, which is just south of Santa Clarita where I was and you know on this Jim big guy with blonde hair would come in the whole Jim would freak out you don't even know who that is all I have no idea who that is. Paul Cogan and I said I don't know who will Cogan if everyone heard the name Paul Cogan and Rocky movie and I knew him from the Rocky movie that I did not know anything about pro wrestling. Okay I and it's funny because you know that happened in that gym but I was also approached by a guy named Rick Bassman, maybe a year later to get into pro wrestling. So funny how things work.

It is today and again that China I'm reminded, as you share that story whole cool hole Cogan who you know.

Again now I did see a little bit arresting growing appeal. The AW had Vern Gagne in the AWA server and are three TV channels are but I never was. You know I would want those who just fascinated by attorney that he and I are watching the course you worked out and in my college days it at the Jesse the body. Ventura's gentlemen so like yourself actually crazy enough as it might sound my my debut and wrestling in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Dorton Arena to reduce and meet a bunch of guys and I'm like your names Dusty. What old dusty road roads were left out and you your your King Kong, who can call Ryan, Bundy yeah so there is a lot of parallel there so so you're introduced to to professional wrestling as you just described and in what what what happened from there we use now you know who hole Cogan is what happens well approached by guy named Rick Bassman doing contract with day he came into the Gold's Gym that I had San Fernando Valley there was actually in Reseda and that he came in and he was trying to break into pro wrestling. As a manager of four guy had three try to recruit for so he asked if he could put a poster up in the gym and I said yeah go ahead and so the guys worked out in their and one day will probably a month later 22 month later. Even they can see we didn't have any bites at all. You know what you hear about this, and then he had pictures of magazines in your mentioning Dusty Rhodes and Jacob picture the road on this magazine. Wrestling illustrated on through and thumbing through all these pages and and just thinking you know I don't I don't have an interest in getting into this and he taught me going with these three guys to the sports arena in LA and I saw of a wrestling event hole Cogan live event. Non-teleological, Cogan, Andre the giant. The iron Street. The British Bulldogs Adrian Adonis big John Scott I mean all big name it and so and and it was you know I always tell the story the same exact way. It was pandemonium right to aid in the 80s, raising an old red and yellow bandannas everywhere crowd chanting for hole Cogan. I mean, I couldn't believe what I was seeing I could.

I honest, I couldn't believe the credit was almost deafening.

The noise was so loud and and I thought okay for me.

I saw a way to potentially travel and make money and that that's what it was all about for me in the very beginning and I know you would. We ended up doing it.

We had we had forgot one guy ended up leaving we had recruit another one. About halfway through wrestling camp with red bell stained red testing with the he was under Vince McMahon, Senior years ago living in California and had a wrestling camp out there. It was short-lived. I think were the only one that he ever did, but we needed to replace this big guy and I remember meeting Jim Elway and tell I called all Jim and had him come up from Atlanta on know about eight of us in all and it ended up just him and I were the only two that ended up finishing completely and moving on and wrestling well and and once again kind of a parallel there and stepped into the world, a professional like yourself again. I think going because I was a fan boy growing up I want it because I saw it as a business as an opportunity to travel, make money exactly what you what you said and inference of day one, that was my mindset up until the day I retired in and left wrestling. So let's let's let's fast forward from there. So you and Jim Hellwig are the last two standing and and if I'm not mistaken Tennessean eventually Midsouth is kind of where you guys got your start then write the Blade Runner is or what what would you eat will not before the Blade Runner. We were the freedom fighters okay okay he was and that you and and I was/Warden and and you know the red white and blue. Yeah, we were so green we're horrible, but Jerry Garrett know he saw picture week we sent out press kits all over, even into Japan at the time we at one phone call mobile promoters Jerry Jarrett and he said yeah I people guidance picture Jim Hellwig on one line. On the other line helping California and okay will which studio want it. What I like to guys in the far left is okay we are talking about about how pieces get in your car and come on out, you know, go to Tennessee so Thanksgiving day 1985 Channel 5 in Tennessee with Lance Russell. We started her career that day. Destiny email that destiny and is involved in in that self. Tennessee eventually got on to Bill Watson in the Midsouth and kinda fast forwarding here because man the time goes so fast in your story so fascinating I don't want to miss miss out on anything here you go down to the Midsouth. Eventually, Jim Crockett promotions buys the Midsouth and in the stinger of rum from Louisiana territory into the Carolinas as part of the NWA that you met you got it all.

Opening matches but but ultimately I mean this amazing trip from the NWA to WCW to TNA to WW need to now AEW it's amazing your your career stinger and and but yet so you come to the NWA and your career.

As I said doesn't take long it I mean it catapults to start them in up in a pretty short time it was.

It was pretty quick. Matter fact I told the story on on national TV you know through AEW on TNT. Last week it was a true story and you know we are. We all loved imitate dusty roads, but I'll never forget you know being that young guy. We were at how show somewhere. I don't remember where somewhere in the mid Atlantic area and I'm walking through the curtain, somebody's wrestling and dust and I are watching and I think Ricky Morgan was set to do a program with Blair, but Ricky got hurt.

So Dusty was in a panic trying to find somebody to know Russell Richter do some kind of storyline which endorsed Marina. By the way is this where it all bow hand for me somewhere with yours and other parallel there. But while nothing I walked in and he said thing a baby we don't we don't because at the time I was still kind of Blade Runner is just just black paint just a little bit of black paint on my black tight baby.

We don't put them from cologne you will put some colonial faith in colonial boots and your cat and I want you to glow-in-the-dark and we don't get funky like a monkey if you will, I will put you with a nature boy Rick flail Ricky Ricky heart so I will put you with Rick flail the boy so anyway we did a storyline that there endorsed Marina or Horstmann JJ Dillon of the manager. Eat your champagne in my face and it all started right there.

Believe or not.

Great will hold that thought, it will become backward or get it continue with that story. So you take a break if you feel you receiving value from this show.

It's time to man you like to support the show along with claw for Christ ministries go to co-op.co-op.org and make a donation of any amount no want my latest book and you receive a personalized, tail of the ring redemption. Welcome back to son Amanda were talking the course, the one and only on the icon stinger and in God's word is in the midst of of his journey from from Tennessee to Midsouth of the NWA eventually did WCW was just Sharon, how how his career was really catapulted into stardom through that the American dream to throw about like you and it imitate them.

Is that your right. We all like to imitate him and so your current so silly put you with Rick flair and add I mean gosh things just explode from there right stinger door in the Reno Doolittle quick little storyline required. A next thing you know I'm on wrestling Rick first class champion know March 1988. You know, 45 minute commercial free. First time any sporting event of any kind ever went that long without commercial interruption. Will you know we got an incredible rating and that match literally literally put me on the map and to this day. You know I got you know so much credits Rick he was sort of mentoring me without knowing that he was mentoring me writing. I learned so much from him but right you know to say that you were in the ring against Rick Blair. Not to mention the world title was was as big as it could get. Jan and I felt like wow I I've arrived.

Go ahead, not just to say no I get it is once again is just uncanny how how similar our stories are in a sense, because there are only 13 months in the business. I was thrust into main event with with Rick at the very first ever Great American passion same as you have the same feeling and so grateful and thankful to Rick teaching me and in mentoring me without know it really in the sense without knowing he was in and yeah just and I know you like you said your your story just takes off really from their quick question. I'm curious who came up with the scorpion finished just curiosity random question ER you know Ricky chose you okay Ricky Josue from Japan I gone to Japan on a trip there while still working for the walk to my very first trip over there.

One of their by myself.

But no, I didn't know anybody in the know what to expect but I went there and and learned a lot of nine days Russell Danny Spidey in Bulacan and so Ricky, Josue, Russell and I love this finishing movement.

You know the way the crowd reacted to him and I thought, use that yellow that's working from is working from and I too remember was quite quite an avid he was quick to cut the wrestlers had a number of matches against him in Japan.

Myself and so I mean your character stinger your character. I like to phrase this way is like timeless really. And I mean flowing so much time on the show today, but I guess one day I would have to have you back will talk more about your journey through utilize it with you WCW fact I will mention this though as well. You know, speaking Rick flair you had the very last concluding matchup of WCW's history against the nature boy and eventually you know yet you headed off and into TNA and eventually WWE is a mention now AEW which your characters timeless and what I what I mean by that is of me with the face paint the trenchcoat your stinger regalia you I think you could be the next loop that is stinger so many people go to know the loop as it is now, but I understand your point was in and by the way, you know, with two-part radio thing. No, I mean, I'm just throwing it out there okay well that okay well you Steve.

I'll produce my show. You do your thing and all after question. A couple people said did you like due to parts of him right on like I would be if he has the times of your offering. The time will happen before arriving what court yellows must do it the way you'd like to do it with two-part I will let fair enough.

All right, enough so what, let's let's then let's talk. You said you understood that you know a lot of people maybe don't know who Lou says is but so who share with our listeners. What I mean by that. When I say you could have a career like Lou says well Lou Lou Lou was working amateur wrestlers. Well, I can't remember that he was in the media, and he had he had quite grip type you know grip. He got literally.

I guess he could weave now: break if he could grab a pair of pliers and break the pliers but may he was around for decades said seven decades.

In fact his last match was in Japan in his 80s seven decades.

Lou wrestled and won many NWA world championships will Lord, please allow me thank you you know you keep your luck you keep yourself in shape by me on a serious note, you keep yourself in in really great shape, and decide with the advancement of technology in cinematic and all of that. There's no telling what what else you could accomplish stinger will you know at 80 I get you have about two young guys running in your fifth number. I don't know who I was either that or do a lot of good talk right right right right right you get wild Lou lobby. He was a may. I mean it and and not good friends with his wife, Charlie, you know, so his Ritalin and in so many incredible stories about Lou and how he kept himself like little he kept himself in shape even into his 80s and was able to go on their next course, he was that it was a grappler right so you know I don't have an amateur background. Did you even Russell M in high score amateur did you know I did not okay gassy. I didn't do so because you did that I said like Steiner Brothers and some of Mike Rotondo and others I said hey you start doing any chicken wings are single legs and stuff you know you'll find me in the in the dressing room you you get your hand raised. I don't care will be: none of that amateur stuff I'm I'm here for the entertainment side of this, they can make some money fluently but so so you have this progression of of you know, working your way up up until a gallon as I imagine you know you have the very last match on on on WCW you there's there's a break in the action. Therefore area you come back to TNA. Have an amazing run with with with with TNA at any any highlight that you would mention from from TNA that that comes to mind man.

You know why I had a lot of fun you know actually wrestling with TNA, you know, I changed my character a few times over the years, and one of them was during my time with in eight and I did.

I do a little what what they call the jokers thing and Elsie got there first thing crows thing will fax being jokers thing I know, so I I had a lot of fun because I come came out a character, no character, just turned into a Joker type character.

Okay, now you know I did storylines with no hulk again Holt came on the TNA. The hope was that I came on board there be a lot of guys on. Sure enough, you know, Paul and Nancy Hogan and a lot of the big names Kurt angle. A lot of guys came in so it was an exciting time, but you know III think honestly one of the highlights was with change in a character on their predicting at Wimbledon in London crowd somebody were painted up like the like jokers thing you know in in England and all of the UK and Europe. Love that Joker character not so much here in the United States. It was sort of this year, but I a lot of fun doing it. Out of all of the sieges described in a number of different ones. Out of all the different ones which it was the one that was your favorite top one you know I high I mean that you'll first thing is where it all began pretty much, and then crows thing you know, when I got iconic came into my own.

You know, after all the years you don't of their maturity level with their I was seasoned just enough to fix order, become my own character my own 05 I brought my own material my own ideas my own innovation. A lot of you know all that was given to me as well, but it was a surreal good creative, innovative time for me in my career well and and certainly you know whether it's back in as as fans have said the golden what they what many of said to me, and perhaps he was well is you know that arrow that that we were part of back in the 80s and early 90s.

And you know the goal what they call the golden era of wrestling right in so many it is you know so many loyal wonderful fans that matter are still out there that that remember those days but you know you're touching a whole new audience now is you eventually. Out of all the amazing matches and guys that you've wrestled through the years and TNA and then eventually intended to W. W. E. In any highlight from WWE that you would mention to our listeners today.

A couple things you know number one first time I stepped foot into it. The VE audience. Like how they get to take. You know after the Monday night wars. You can view right right yet loyal the and WCW fans and now with all these years later how to get reacting way out. I will blown away reaction so that that was amazing.

The very first initial and also course, the meaning you note to say that you did a wrestlemania know that the pretty big deal and absolutely and so yeah you know Russell AAA for the greatest ever know that that's big and even a world title match against several of the a few highlights are I and again I mean some of the guys that you you've wrestled. I mean honestly the best of the best of the past. To me, you've put up just on this short time and we were almost all the time apart one already but cost some of the names you you've mentioned over the over the years that you've been able to step in the ring with that. I know it's hard to really kinda narrow it down or or pinpoint any anyone, but we are good at so little to do this winter to take a break here and and bring you back for part two will become back for part two we get to talk about your recent debut in AEW wrestling and and what that entails, or what you envision there and for the listeners out there so you can want to tune in. When we continue our conversation with the one and only sting the icon of professional wrestling, and as I like to conclude each and every show in and say this if you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus meant today would be such a good day to make that decision wherever you're at wherever your listening, you'll pull off the side of the road, close your eyes. Don't be driving but pull off the site and just surrender your heart, your hotel room wherever your list in your heart to Jesus. God bless you men I would like to challenge each of you to consider spending five days were much smoother and I am pursuing the heart of ladies listening will send your men home with God godly husband and God give them your blessing them. Sign up today and camp thought in full. Pastors you would like to bring Holland for Christ ministries and man up conference to your community order cloth.org and email. Remember this.

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