Sting v Sting - Who Carries The Better Legacy?
Over the weekend, Sting (Steve Borden) posted this photo with Sting (Gordon Sumner), and it got me thinking...in the grand scheme of things, who carries the better legacy? Sting, the pro wrestler? Or Sting, the musician?
Now, you may be saying, "Robbie, don't be a mark. The answer is Sting, the musician, cut and dry. Don't even start with this fake wrestling shit. Who comes up when you google Sting? That's right, Sting. The musician. Now get outta here you nerd." but I didn't ask who carries the bigger legacy. I asked who carries the better legacy. Let's look at the tale of the tape...
Sting (Steve Borden)
Steve Borden, better known as Sting, is a retired professional wrestler who led the charge in dismantling the New World Order, arguably the most fearsome and dominant group of all time in professional wrestling. He is widely considered the best wrestler in World Championship Wrestling history and had a career that spanned three decades.
Age: 59
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 250lbs
Finishing Move(s): Scorpion Deathlock, Scorpion Death Drop
Signature Move: Stinger Splash
Nicknames: "The Beastie Boy", "The Franchise (of WCW)", "The Icon", "The Insane Icon", "The Man They Call Sting", "The Stinger", "The Vigilante"
Versions of Self: Steve Borden, Surfer Sting, Crow Sting, Wolfpac Sting, Joker Sting, Suit & Sunglasses Sting, T-Shirt Steve
Affiliations: nWo Wolfpac, Main Event Mafia, Four Horsemen (1989-91), Hotstuff & Hyatt International, Dudes With Attitude, Millionaire's Club, Powerteam USA, Robocop
Championships/Accomplishments
-WCW World Heavyweight Championship (6 times)
-WCW World Tag Team Championship (3 times)
-WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
-WCW International World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
-TNA World Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
-TNA World Tag Team Championship
-NWA World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
-NWA World Television Championship
-Pro Wrestling Illustrated Match of the Year 1991 (with Lex Luger vs. the Steiner Brothers at SuperBrawl I)
-Pro Wrestling Illustrated Most Popular Wrestler of the Year 1991, 1992, 1994, 1997
-Pro Wrestling Illustrated Wrestler of the Year 1990
-Ranked No. 1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992
-Wrestling Observer Newsletter Match of the Year 1988 (vs. Ric Flair at Clash of the Champions I)
-Dave Meltzer 5 Star Match in 1991 (with Brian Pillman, Rick Steiner, and Scott Steiner vs. Ric Flair, Larry Zbyszko, Barry Windham, and Sid Vicious in a WarGames match at WrestleWar)
-Dave Meltzer 5 Star Match in 1992 (with Nikita Koloff, Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham, and Dustin Rhodes vs. Arn Anderson, Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Bobby Eaton, and Larry Zbyszko in a WarGames match at WrestleWar)
-Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
-WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2016)
-WWE Slammy Award (2 times)
-TNA Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)
-Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2018)
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vs.
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Sting (Gordon Sumner)
Gordon Sumner, better known as Sting, is a singer/bassist/songwriter/actor most recognized for his work with The Police. He is regarded as one of the most versatile and influential bassists of this generation, and continues to put out critically acclaimed work to this day.
Age: 66
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 186lbs
Biggest Billboard Hit: "Every Breath You Take" (The Police, No. 1/eight weeks in 1983)
Other Billboard Hits: "All for Love" (Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting, No. 1/three weeks in 1994), "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" (Sting, No. 3 in 1985), "King of Pain" (The Police, No. 3 in 1983), "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (The Police, No. 3 in 1981), "We'll Be Together" (Sting, No. 7 in 1987)
Affiliations: The Police, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon
Awards/Accomplishments
-GRAMMY for BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE in 1980 (Reggatta De Blanc)
-GRAMMY for BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL in 1981 (Don't Stand So Close To Me)
-GRAMMY for BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE in 1981 (Behind My Camel)
-GRAMMY for SONG OF THE YEAR in 1983 (Every Breath You Take)
-GRAMMY for BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL in 1983 (Every Breath You Take)
-GRAMMY for BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL in 1983 (Synchronicity)
-GRAMMY for BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE in 1983 (Brimstone And Treacle)
-GRAMMY for BEST MUSIC VIDEO, LONG FORM in 1986 (Bring On The Night)
-GRAMMY for BEST POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE, MALE in 1987 (Bring On The Night)
-GRAMMY for BEST ROCK SONG in 1991 (Soul Cages)
-GRAMMY for BEST POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE, MALE in 1993 (If I Ever Lose My Faith In You)
-GRAMMY for BEST MUSIC VIDEO-LONG FORM in 1993 (Ten Summoner's Tales)
-GRAMMY for BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE in 1999 (Brand New Day)
-GRAMMY for BEST POP ALBUM in 1999 (Brand New Day)
-GRAMMY for BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE in 2000 (She Walks This Earth (Soberana Rosa))
-GRAMMY for BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS in 2003 (Whenever I Say Your Name)
-Kennedy Center Honor
-Award of Merit from the American Music Awards (2016)
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-David Angell Humanitarian Award from the American Screenwriters Association (2004)
-Century Award from the Billboard Music Awards (2003)
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Now I know what you're thinking, and yes, Sting has a stacked resume. This battle is probably a bit more lopsided than either of us imagined when this blog began, because, well, one Sting has fake awards/accomplishments and the other has real ones. It's important to note that not all of Sting's awards/accomplishments should be written off as "fake" just because of a few "BEST MUSIC VIDEO-LONG FORM" Grammys, though. All of the other ones are pretty legit, and yes, they count even if they weren't all solo awards. They count 1/3 as much as wrestler Sting's awards (other than his Tag Team Championships), but they still count. We're gonna be as objective as possible here.
One of wrestler Sting's biggest strengths is having the @Sting Twitter handle. It's like having the armrest on a plane. Just very blatant dominance that can't be undone. Another strength for wrestler Sting is more than one instantly-recognizable looks.
With music Sting, you see him, and that's all you're gettin'. He's been one Sting forever. With wrestling Sting, you could be talking about an All-American surfer with bleach-blonde hair or a brooding goth crow. Who knows.
Now looking at most notable acquaintances, music Sting drops the hammer of Paul McCartney...
...but unfortunately gets bodybagged instantly by Robocop.
In the win column for music Sting, he is still active as to where wrestler Sting was forced into retirement a few years back. Music Sting also has a record dropping on 4/20, with Shaggy, and it has STRONG album art.
Music Sting also spans multiple professions (Tony nominated, Oscar nominated) as to where wrestler Sting was only a wrestler (save for a few commercials), and wrestler Sting ate a loss in his only match on the Grandest Stage of Them All, WrestleMania. Now that, you have to consider, was late in his career and involved outside interference from both D-Generation-X and the nWo, but at the same time...was a loss when the most eyes were ever on him. For years, he was a big fish in a small pond (in TNA), and as soon as those dynamics flipped, he lost at WrestleMania, got himself a WWE World Heavyweight Championship opportunity, and was injured so badly in that match that he was forced into retirement. Not a great look!
I then looked at music Sting's wins vs nominations though, in not only Grammys but in all facets of life, and if every nomination was equated to a title shot for wrestler Sting, wrestler Sting's win % is MUCH higher than music Sting's. If you consider more nominations in different categories a better legacy than an actual winning reputation, then maybe you're leaning into music Sting carrying a better legacy, but let me present one final argument for wrestler Sting's case...
Wrestler Sting has mastered the art of disguise.
For my money, that x-factor gives wrestler Sting an edge that music Sting just can't live up to, meaning Steve Borden carries a better legacy than Gordon Sumner. What do you think?