Sting's "Joker" Gimmick Officially Comes to an End After Bound For Glory

by Brian Phelps

Well, it now appears that Bound For Glory was the end of Sting's explosively popular "Joker" gimmick. Back during the Summer, Sting transformed from "The Crow" into "The Joker", taking on an even darker character in order to combat Hulk Hogan and his Immortal faction. His goal was to lead Hulk Hogan back from the dark side. He stated that he wanted to see the Hulkster, "not the Hollywood one". After defeating arch-nemesis Ric Flair in order to set up a match between himself and Hulk Hogan at Bound For Glory, Sting went on to defeat Hogan at the pay-per-view. After the conclusion of the match, Hogan's cronies came out and brutalized Sting. Sting cried out for Hogan's help, and Hogan seemingly having an epiphany came to the Stinger's aid. Hogan fended off his own Immortal members in order to save Sting. In essence, Hulk Hogan turned good again. The "Joker" Sting accomplished what he set out to do and thus it makes sense for the character to come to an end so that the normal Sting can return to the surface. Sting returned to Impact after Bound For Glory as normal old Sting, and was promoted to essentially a "General Manager" type of role on Impact.

It makes sense because Sting only became the "Joker" because he was driven to insanity by Hogan and his Immortal faction. If you recall, Sting tried to warn Dixie Carter about Hogan a year and a half ago and she wouldn't listen to him. Sting saw Hogan and Bischoff coming to TNA and taking over, and immediately had deja vu back to the mid 90's when Hogan and Bischoff came to WCW and took it over with their NWO faction. Sting foresaw the same thing happening in TNA and tried to warn the company, but no one would listen. Once Hogan and Bischoff swindled Dixie Carter out of the company, and formed the Immortal faction... he was driven over the edge. That's what prompted the change to the maniacal "Joker" gimmick. With Hogan returning to the side of good, there is no further need for "Joker" Sting.

However, back in the 90's Sting went from his "Surfer" gimmick to the "Crow" gimmick in order to defeat Hogan and his NWO faction and keep them from taking over WCW. After the NWO ended, Sting remained in the "Crow" gimmick and has carried it all the way to the present. Who knows... maybe one day we will see a return of the "Joker" gimmick. Only time will tell.

World Title Promo: Kurt Angle vs "Joker" Sting at Hardcore Justice 8/7/2011

This is a pretty good promo for the upcoming epic main event at Impact Wrestling's Hardcore Justice PPV. The Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle takes on The "Joker" Sting for the Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Title.

Sting's "Joker" Transformation Now Complete

by Brian Phelps (http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com)




It appears as though Sting has finally completed his transformation into Heath Ledger's "Joker" character. This past Thursday on Impact, Sting showed up in complete Joker face paint, but this time came sporting a red and black suit to match. The only thing left for Sting to do is revamp his theme song to fit his persona. 

"Joker" Sting Unleashes Clown Henchmen, Wins World Title From Mr. Anderson

by Brian Phelps (http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com)




The psychotic carnival of Joker Sting continues. On Impact last night, Sting appeared during Immortal's celebration of Mr. Anderson's alliance with them. He appeared sitting at a card table putting fear into Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan and the rest of Immortal. He vowed to bring back Impact Wrestling to its rightful owner... Dixie Carter. When Hulk Hogan threatened to beat him within an inch of his life, the lights went out... and when they came back on there were four clowns in trench coats holding black bats up in the rafters... It was the ace of Sting's sleeve. Throughout the show, the clowns appeared back stage taking their bats to members of Immortal. When the time came for Mr.Anderson's World Title match with Sting... it went back and forth. Just when it seemed that Bully Ray was going to cost Sting the match by hitting him with a chain, the lights went out and one more clown appeared taking out Bully Ray and distracting Anderson as Sting hit the Scorpion Death Drop and got the pin and won the Impact Wrestling World Title. Why so serious Sting?

Sting Debuts New "Joker" Face Paint

by Brian Phelps (http://wrestlersway.blogspot.com)




The next evolution of Sting continues as this past Thursday on Impact Wrestling, Stings face paint has now fully transitioned into The Joker. No more 'Crow' design lines on his face, just Heath Ledger's Joker eye paint and red mouth paint. Sting interrupted Hogan and Anderson's argument, and cut a great promo on Hogan forcing him to actually eat vitamins. A great moment on Impact.

Sting Takes On Heath Ledger "Joker" Gimmick

by Brian Phelps
http://www.wrestlersway.blogspot.com

It's now 2011 and the winds of gimmick reinvention are in the air. Two weeks ago on Impact Wrestling, Sting snapped in Hulk Hogan's office, smearing paint on Hogan's face and laughing psychotically. Then on this past edition of Impact, Eric Bischoff called out the Stinger... but when Sting came out something had changed about him. His face paint was distorted, and resembled Heath Ledger's 'Joker' character from The Dark Knight. He got in Bischoff's face and even talked like Ledger's Joker before brutalizing Bischoff and smearing red paint on his face. Later that night, he continued his havoc as he butchered Abyss's face with a glove wrapped in barbed wire. So, it appears that we are watching the transformation of 'The Crow' Sting into 'The Joker' Sting, and I'm loving it. However, this isn't the first time Sting has changed...

In 1996, the man called Sting began what went on to become the greatest gimmick reinvention in pro wrestling history. At that time, the nWo were taking over and many of Sting's closest allies believed he had gone rogue. Feeling betrayed, Sting went into hiding. When he finally did reemerge from the shadows a few weeks later, gone was the colorful face paint and surfer persona that the Stinger was famous the world over for. In its place was a brooding avenger donning a trench coat and wielding an unforgiving black bat. The colorful face paint was replaced by black and white paint resembling author James O'Barr's character Eric Draven. In essence, Sting became the squared circles take on The Crow.

Don't forget to subscribe to the Wrestler's Way Youtube Channel by clicking here