Sting Explains Why He Retired In 2016

For decades Sting was one of the most popular stars in all of wrestling and he finally made the jump to WWE in 2014. Sting only wrestled a few matches inside a WWE ring before he announced during his 2016 Hall of Fame induction speech that he was retiring. However, Sting went on to return to wrestling in 2020 when he joined AEW, and he remained active until he officially retired once again earlier this year.

While speaking with The David Difference of Kayfabe Friends, Sting explained that back in 2016, Vince McMahon wanted him to retire under the WWE umbrella which was something he was ok with at the time.

“Anyone who would say that they would not miss that is a liar, so of course I’ll miss that. But I’m never gonna come back to wrestle again. I know that. I did retire with WWE, but I also said the only thing that’s for sure about Sting is nothing’s for sure. This is just ‘see you later,’ basically. I did leave it open-ended pretty much, I didn’t really want to retire at that time. It was kind of like a mutual deal that I did with WWE at the time.

Vince [McMahon] wanted me to retire under his umbrella, and at the time, I was okay with that. It was five-plus years that I was retired, but I came back because like I said in my little speech there, I got that phone call from Tony Khan and Cody Rhodes, ‘Want to come back and play one more time?’ So I did, and the rest is history.”

H/T Fightful