After months of speculation, it seems to be official — Sting is retiring from professional wrestling.
TMZ is reporting that the "Icon" has never recovered from the neck injury he suffered in his WWE Night of Champions match against Seth Rollins last September and that several doctors who evaluated him all agree that it's too risky for him to return to action, so Sting is retiring.
This report comes just over two months since WWE announced that Sting will be inducted into its Hall of Fame, as part of the 2016 class on April 2, a day before WrestleMania 32. It was also reported that Sting will be inducted by none other than two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who had legendary battles with the "Icon" during their days with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling.
Sting suffered the injury in the September match after taking a buckle bomb from Rollins.
"Bottom line, I had tingling, numbness down both arms, all the way to my fingertips. And then, later in the match, I just fell wrong, whatever it was, and this time [the tingling and numbness] went down both arms and into my legs, and I couldn't feel my legs too well," Sting would later tell WWE.com. "They just felt like rubber. I don't know how to describe it. I had to go down on all fours there for a minute, get my composure. I was a little ... I was worried."
TMZ says the 56-year-old pro-wrestling legend was officially diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, which affects the nerves, causing extreme pain. It's the same condition that caused Edge to retire in 2011.
The celebrity news website adds that Sting will formally announce his retirement during his WWE Hall of Fame induction speech, but that he's open to some sort of non-physical role with the company moving forward.
It's a shame that his short-lived stint with WWE just never seemed to work out. However, a legend is a legend, and Sting's moments in the ring will live on.
It's so fitting that Flair will be inducting him into the Hall of Fame, too. Just that moment in itself should be very special to see.
