Steven Borden didn’t beat Josh Alexander on Dynamite just to disappear again. Sting’s son is sticking around, and AEW apparently has every intention of letting him build a wrestling career of his own.
According to a report by Fightful Select on September 12, Steven Borden is now moving forward as an on-screen wrestler for AEW, as he’s now a full-time talent. This also isn’t something he decided to try overnight.
“Steven Borden is full steam ahead as an on screen wrestler for AEW. He’s been training for over two years.”
Fans finally got to see some of that work on the September 9 Dynamite. Steven Borden made his AEW in-ring debut alongside Darby Allin against Don Callis Family members Mark Davis and Josh Alexander.
Before the match, Borden spoke about spending his life in Sting’s shadow and wanting to find his own path. The Athens crowd seemed willing to give him that chance, greeting him with “Steve” chants once he tagged into the match.
Borden threw his power around against Davis and Alexander, body slamming both men and planting Alexander with a Samoan drop. Alexander nearly ended his night with a rack bomb, but Allin saved the match before the three-count. Borden eventually got the biggest moment himself. He hit Alexander with a Scorpion Coffin Drop while Allin took Davis out with a dive, allowing Borden to score the pin in his first AEW match.
There had already been signs that AEW was investing in Borden before putting him on Dynamite. He had been regularly working dark matches, and the belief within the company in August was that he was already under contract after his status had remained unclear for months.
The September 9 match finally put Borden in front of AEW’s television audience. With more than two years of training behind him and the company ready to keep him on screen, now comes the harder part: finding out what Steven Borden looks like when he isn’t simply introduced as Sting’s son.
What did you think of Steven Borden’s first AEW match, and do you think he can build an identity outside of Sting’s shadow? Let us know in the comments.
