Stephen Borden, son of wrestling legend Sting, has chosen to pursue a career in professional wrestling, following in his father’s footsteps. He has already participated in AEW’s independent events and dark matches, with many expecting him to sign officially with AEW soon. Recently, AEW President Tony Khan spoke about Borden on the Battleground podcast, expressing his enthusiasm for Borden’s potential as he continues to gain confidence inside the ring.
Khan explained, “Steven isn’t on AEW television yet, but he’s someone we’re actively developing, and I have a lot of respect for him. He’s a promising young wrestler who played college football at the University of Kentucky. I’ve followed his football career, and now he’s joining AEW’s wrestling roster. AEW boasts one of the greatest wrestlers ever—Sting—who stayed undefeated here, and nurturing Stephen for the future is a top priority for me and the entire AEW team.”
A special nod for fans watching Borden’s dark matches is his use of his father’s classic WCW-era entrance music, “Turbo Charged,” which was favored during the “Surfer Sting” times. Khan revealed it was his idea to have Borden entrance with this track, saying, “I have a licensing agreement for ‘Turbo Charged,’ and I’ve loved that song since I was a kid. It feels fitting and cool for Steven to come out to it.”
Regarding training, AEW doesn’t have centralized dojos like New Japan Pro Wrestling or WWE but relies on several wrestling schools operated by AEW talent across the U.S. Khan noted, “We have training facilities where Steven has spent significant time. Trainers like Pat Buck in New York, QT Marshall at the Nightmare Factory in Georgia, and Dustin Rhodes in Texas are developing AEW talent. Steven has trained extensively in Texas and Georgia, working closely with QT Marshall on his development.”
Khan also emphasized the importance of gaining experience in front of live audiences, which is why much of Borden’s growth has happened during AEW dark matches. While no specific plans were mentioned regarding Borden’s AEW TV debut, Khan expressed strong optimism about Borden’s future and the role he will play in AEW’s growth.
If quoting from this article, please credit “Battleground” and give a hat tip to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: This news excites AEW fans because the promotion is actively investing in the next generation by developing a legacy talent like Stephen Borden, blending wrestling heritage with fresh talent. His growth under top trainers and gradual exposure hints at a promising future that could enrich AEW’s roster and add depth to the sport’s evolving narrative.
