Is Sting Retired?

When Vince bought WCW Sting did not sign with the WWE. Instead he retired from wrestling for about 5 years. Eventually he was convinced to come to TNA when it became a major company. However, after he had his first match in TNA he announced his retirement. He said that he was not happy with how he was forced into retirement because WCW went out of business and he wanted to end his career on his own terms. Whether this was a storyline or a real retirement is hard to say because he was eventually brought back out of retirement and has been competing in TNA ever since. 

That was until Hulk Hogan was brought in to run TNA. Rather than work for Hogan, Sting quit and walked out right away. Of course, after seeing how bad Hogan was ruining the company, Sting returned yet again to challenge Hogan's power. The best way to do that was to go after the most important prize in TNA, the World Championship, and that is exactly what Sting did. The night Sting returned he was the surprise opponent for current Champion Jeff Hardy. Sting came out and defeated Hardy in about one minute. As TNA Champion Sting was able to take some power away from Hulk Hogan. But it was never enough, Hogan's group Immortal always found a way to screw over Sting.

Insane Icon

This drove Sting a bit crazy and actually drove him to changing his character yet again and becoming the "Insane Icon" rather than just the "Icon" as he had been for the entire time he was in TNA. As far as his look, when he returned to come after Hardy and Hogan he had a great mix of his old looks where he had the white and black and red face paint with the flashy old jackets of his 1980s as the bleached blonde surfer Sting. But now as the "Insane Icon" his look changed more to the new Joker image from the latest Batman movie Dark Knight. Sting had the smeared make-up and the insane behavior. He even wore purple tights during one PPV main event. 

But characters and gimmicks aside, Sting was still the same. He was in the main event, always challenging for the TNA Championship. More importantly, he was always challenging Hogan in a power-struggle for control over TNA. This lead to an eventual match one on one between Hulk Hogan and Sting with the winner taking over control of TNA. Sting won the match and Hulk Hogan had to basically hand over the company to Sting, who turned the company back over to Dixie Carter who Hogan had stolen the company from in the first place. However, Dixie said she clearly did not know how to run a wrestling company so she asked Sting if he would run the company for her. Sting obviously accepted. So now Sting runs TNA, but that raises the real question... did Sting retire?

Since taking over the company Sting has not had one match and has not even worn his wrestling gear or face paint once. He is in his regular clothes and sunglasses at all times. He is always backstage running the show. He has never booked himself in a match. He is not going after the TNA Championship or any other titles for that matter. I guess it wouldn't be fair if Sting put himself in the main event, but still I don't think fans watch the show to see him backstage. I think everyone can agree Sting is the biggest name in TNA and we all watch because we want to see him wrestle! 

If Sting did retire after his match with Hogan and that was his last match he should announce it to the fans and let us know that his wrestling career is over and he is officially retired now. But I really hope he's not. 

What do you all think... is Sting retired?