From Scorpion Death Lock to Spiritual Life

Now, see the story of Sting's dramatic transformation

From world champion wrestler to champion for Christ

Life was all one big act for Sting, wrestling super star Steve Borden, A.K.A. Sting, who held the World title ten times in World Championship Wrestling including two wins over the wrestling superstar, Hulk Hogan. He created the most outrageous and bizarre personas he could imagine for his career in the ring. The first was marked by fluorescent face paint and buzz-cut blond hair.

In a later phase, he was a black-and-white Sting who descended on the ring from rafters hundreds of feet overhead. He once entered the ring by dropping from a helicopter. His trademark wrestling moves included the Stinger Splash and the Scorpion Death Lock. Stings ingenious re-invention of his character in the ring took him to the peak of the pro wrestling world.

On the home front, however, his marriage faltered on the brink of failure while he took the fast track in his wrestling career and to a radical entertainer lifestyle. This eventually led to an addiction to prescription drugs. Because he often saw his wife, Sue, for only a day or two a month his world began crashing down.

Frustrated and confused, Sue confronted her superstar husband. They had everything the world had to offer, and they were building their dream house. But their family life was in shambles

What's happened to us? Sue asked. What's wrong with you? I don't know you any more. Steve, are you taking drugs or something?

I couldn't lie to her, Steve answered. He admitted he was taking muscle relaxants and pain killers regularly. And he was drinking every day. That confession was the beginning of a process that brought the prideful, self-sufficient wrestling champion to his knees. It was to be the greatest wrestling match of his life and God was taking him to the mat.

God had been planting seeds in Borden's life from the time he entered professional wrestling his brother's conversion and witness, his sister's conversion, his family's prayers, the witness of wrestler Ted Dibiasi, and the peace and joy he saw in the lives of others who had been transformed by Christ.

Now, the confrontation by his wife he didn't want to lose, plus the fear of life without Garrett and Steven, his two young sons, made his fame and fortune worthless. He was humbled to the point of godly remorse, the kind of remorse reflected in 1 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation... (NIV).

That was in August 1998. Sting became a new man in Christ and his marriage was restored. Today, he drops Scriptures into conversation as easily and naturally as he once dropped opponents in the ring. He still loves a challenge. But where he once relied on a fluorescent face and shocking stunts, he now tackles each challenge with a firm faith in Christ alone.