In his early days , Sting would team up with the Ultimate Warrior , in a team known as Rock n' Sting . When that partnership broke down , Sting concentrated on the singles competition , but didn't really get famous until December 89' , when he won the Starrcade tournament to determine the wrestler of the 90's , defeating the Great Muta , and Ric Flair in the final . From 1989 to 1994 , Sting was WCW's main man , lifting many world titles , and feuding with the likes of Flair , Lex Luger , and Vader.

While WCW was still a long way from matching the WWF's product , Sting showed that there was hope for the second - rate promotion . In 1994 , WCW made its biggest deal ever . They signed Hulk Hogan , and had money - making visions of him repainting the WWF glory days of Hulkamania. While this was good news for WCW , it wasn't such good news for Sting.

With Hogan at the top , Sting moved down the card , although not completely , as he was given a tag - team title partnership with Lex Luger . When the NWO was formed in July 96' , Sting represented WCW , which did boost his career up again by a small amount . However , with Hogan now a heel , and ringleader of the NWO , he was bigger and more profitable than ever.

Fearing that his famous face - paint and tights would no longer fit in , Sting decided to change his image altogether towards the end of 96' . After being blamed for a bogus Sting attack on Lex Luger , and telling the fans to " stick it " , Sting left WCW , and returned with his dark Crow - like character , feeling rejected and hurt by WCW . With the NWO running amok , WCW needed Sting , but " The Franchise of WCW " refused to speak or wrestle . Instead , he would make dramatic entrances from the rafters via harness , stand like a spectre in the crowd , and smash people ( anyone he liked ) with his baseball bat .

About a year after his costume change , J.J Dillon attempted to coax Sting back into WCW by offering him a match with Curt Hennig on Nitro . With a hurt and uncaring look on his face , Sting tore the contract in two , and left the ring. However , throughout this period of time , Sting would attack the NWO when WCW were in trouble , and eventually , at Starrcade 97' , the " new " Sting went at it with the world champ , Hollywood Hogan . The match gave WCW the largest buy - rate in its history ,and Sting raised the title , bringing it " back " to WCW .

With WCW being a runaway train , and Monday Nitro being hugely successful , Eric Bischoff decided to launce a live Thursday night show , Thunder . Sting appeared on many of these shows as the champion , saving Macho Man from the NWO , and dealing out more baseball bat beatings . Four months later , Sting dropped the belt to Macho Man , and shortly after , when WCW introduced the Hollywood NWO V.S. Nash's Wolfpac gimmick , he went from black and white to red and black , the colours of the Wolfpac . Yes , Sting had " sold out " , but as the Pac' was a good guy's NWO , Sting was still a fan favourite .