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STING: Sting has been living in Waxahachie for the last eight years (Dallas Observer)

-5/4/2017

Posted on 5/04/117 by Mike Informer

Steve Borden doesn't fit the mold of the typical Waxahachie
resident, unless when you think of Waxahachie, you think of
a pro-wrestler who frequently travels to Dubai and Qatar for
appearances.

Borden, better known by the name of his wrestling alter ego,
"Sting," was the face of World Championship Wrestling in the
mid-'90s. He grew up in Southern California, but relocated
to Texas after a divorce eight years ago.

This weekend he'll make his first appearance as Sting at
Texas Frightmare Weekend, a convention that primarily caters
to horror fans but has also introduced wrestlers into its
lineup over the last few years.

Borden who will be joined by his longtime rival, Ric Flair
has done comic cons before, so he has a pretty good idea
of what to expect.

Fans at these conventions seem to be so appreciative and
respectful and courteous, he tells the Observer over the
phone from his property in Waxahachie on a windy Tuesday
morning. I love interacting with them. Im looking forward
to this.

The convention will take place at the Hyatt Regency at DFW
Airport, just an hour from Borden's new home base. He spent
time here, as well as Tennessee, Louisiana and Georgia,
while building his career in professional wrestling in the
mid-'80s.

Borden is fairly tight-lipped about what prompted him to lay
down roots in North Texas permanently.

Unfortunately, divorce is a part of the story, and I ended
up here with my family," he says. "Its a lot easier,
travel-wise. In Dallas, youre right in the middle of
everything.

The first house he bought in Texas was in Valley Ranch, near
the Dallas Cowboys' training facility. He remembers the
legendary Sportatorium, where the Von Erich family wrestled
in the late '80s and early '90s. Borden never wrestled there
himself, although he says he did wrestle at the Reunion
Arena a few times.

He returned to Southern California for a short time in the
mid-'90s, before deciding to make a permanent move to
Waxahachie.

Even though he retired from wrestling in April of last year,
he continues to make a living off of the Sting character. He
makes most of his appearances in street clothes and
sunglasses, but occasionally he'll don the black and white
Crow Sting paint that was his trademark during the second
half of his career.

Borden draws a comparison to Robert Englund, who rarely
makes appearances in the Freddy Krueger make-up.

Im kind of doing the same deal, he says.

As far as the Surfer Sting" look, for which Borden died his
hair bleach blond, he says he doesn't receive much flak for
leaving that one behind.

I think nobody is expecting early '90s Sting at this
point, Borden says. I think everybody wants the Crow Sting
anyway. Thats the one most fans will remember. It was more
of a worldwide deal at that point. Surfer Sting was a
worldwide thing, but it wasnt as globally strong. I dont
have enough hair on my head to grow a flat top anymore.

Even now that he's living a more rural existence, Borden
still frequently gets recognized.

Sometimes I cant go anywhere, he says. I dont know what
causes it, how or why if its my demeanor or what Im
doing but I always have my baseball cap and sunglasses on.
Sometimes I go under the radar. Other times, every single
person wants an autograph or picture.

He laughs when asked what retirement has been like for him.

The word retirement is like, What does that mean? Borden
says. For me, it means Im not a human super ball anymore.
Im still very active and busy. Last year and this year, Im
picking and choosing, but Im still out there doing
appearances. I just got back from the Middle East, Qatar and
Dubai. Im going to the U.K. in September. Im still doing
stuff with the WWE.

He's also involved in real estate ventures.

Some people can get in the chair and kick back in the sand
and look at the water all day long, Borden says. I cant
do it. I gotta be living and staying busy.

Sting at Texas Frightmare Weekend, Saturday, May 6, at the
Hyatt Regency at DFW Airport, 2334 N. International Parkway.
Tickets are $30 to $83.95 at texasfrightmareweekend.com.

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