Sting Makes Shocking Return at WrestleDream 2025 – AEW WrestleDream delivered one of the most chaotic and violent main events in company history, headlined by Darby Allin versus Jon Moxley in an “I Quit” match. The bout reached shocking levels of brutality before a major moment occurred — the surprise return of Sting, who came to Allin’s aid in dramatic fashion.
The match opened with Darby laying down the AEW flag he once waved atop Mount Everest, only for Moxley to wipe his feet on it, igniting a furious start. From there, the two men waged war with chains, guardrails, skewers, and even an aquarium. Moxley repeatedly targeted Darby’s hands and face, using every weapon in reach to inflict punishment. At one point, Moxley stabbed a skewer beneath Darby’s fingernail, drawing gasps from the crowd.
Despite the punishment, Darby kept fighting back, landing a Code Red and even attempting to hang Moxley with the same flag. Moxley escaped by gouging Darby’s eye and responded with a series of vicious moves, including a Piledriver and a Paradigm Shift onto a steel chair. Interference from Claudio Castagnoli and PAC further tipped the odds against Allin, who was launched through tables and left battered in the ring.
The turning point came when The Death Riders filled an aquarium in the ring and tried to drown Allin. As Moxley held him under, the arena lights went out. When they came back on, Sting appeared to a massive ovation, armed with his trademark baseball bat. He attacked Moxley, shattered the aquarium, and took out the Death Riders before tossing his bat to Allin. Sting then carried Marina Shafir out of the arena as Darby regained control.
Allin delivered a Scorpion Death Drop, a Coffin Drop, and a Scorpion Death Lock using the AEW flag to force Moxley to utter “I Quit.” As the show closed, Darby raised the flag high while the crowd cheered his victory and Sting’s shocking return.
This marked Sting’s first televised appearance since AEW All In 2024, following his retirement match at AEW Revolution earlier that year, where he teamed with Allin to defeat The Young Bucks.
Sting Makes Shocking Return at WrestleDream 2025
