Darby Allin’s bond with Sting became one of the defining partnerships of Sting’s final chapter in professional wrestling. The two stood together through a celebrated AEW run that allowed Sting to add a different dimension to an already historic legacy, culminating in a farewell period that showed the WWE Hall of Famer was still willing to take extraordinary risks.
Now, Allin is helping guide another member of Sting’s family into the industry. Steven Borden has begun building his own career in wrestling, and Allin believes the most important resemblance between father and son is not simply appearance, presentation, or the obvious family connection. It is an approach to the work.
Speaking with Good Karma Wrestling, Allin identified Steven’s appetite for improvement and refusal to coast as the traits that most strongly remind him of Sting. For Allin, those qualities were impossible to miss during Sting’s late-career resurgence, when the veteran could easily have relied on familiarity and nostalgia but instead continued challenging himself.
“Just his hunger and the tenacity to never want to take an off night [is the similarity between Borden and Sting],” Allin said. “You know, with Sting’s last run, everyone was like, ‘Oh, you could have just rode out, played the greatest hits, rode off in the sunset.’ No, this man was like reinventing himself at 64, jumping off balconies and going crazy.”
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That description captures why Sting’s final run resonated so strongly with AEW audiences. A performer with his stature had nothing left to prove in terms of longevity, accomplishments, or influence. Sting had already established himself as a cornerstone figure across multiple generations of wrestling, from his rise as one of the industry’s biggest stars to his longevity through changing eras and promotions.
Yet his final stretch was not presented as a passive victory lap. Sting remained closely associated with the energy and unpredictability that characterized his partnership with Allin. Rather than merely making ceremonial appearances, he continued taking part in physical, high-profile action and embraced moments that underscored his willingness to give fans something memorable on the way out.
Allin’s reference to Sting “reinventing himself at 64” speaks to more than individual stunts. It reflects a mentality that has long separated Sting from many legends who move into farewell mode. Sting’s final run became an example of how a veteran can honor a career while still adapting to the needs and style of a new environment. His connection with Allin was central to that equation, blending Sting’s iconic presence with Allin’s fearless, unconventional identity.
Steven Borden’s Different Path Into Wrestling
Allin also sees value in the fact that Steven Borden did not enter wrestling as a very young prospect simply following the expected path of a famous parent’s child. In Allin’s view, Steven arrived at the decision after having already lived a life outside the business, giving him a fuller understanding of the commitment the profession requires.
“And I see Steven, and the fact that he’s entered it later in life was, to me, kind of a good thing, so he understands exactly what he’s getting into,” Allin said. “It’s not like a young kid who, you know, is just like, ‘Ah, I don’t want to go to college, so I’m going to follow my father’s footsteps.’ This man had a whole life before this. And he gave it up for this. So, he understands the magnitude of what you need to put into this. So it’s really exciting to see that hunger.”
That perspective is particularly notable given the weight attached to the Borden name. The children of major wrestling stars can face an immediate set of expectations before they have taken a meaningful number of bumps, developed a ring identity, or had the chance to make mistakes away from public attention. A famous surname provides recognition, but it can also invite constant comparisons to a parent whose career is already secured in wrestling history.
Allin’s comments do not suggest that Steven should be evaluated as a replacement for Sting. Instead, they point to a foundation that could help him establish himself over time: an awareness of the sacrifice involved, a willingness to learn, and an understanding that professional wrestling demands consistency beyond the visible moments in the ring.
For someone beginning a career, hunger can matter as much as natural ability. Wrestling requires performers to develop timing, conditioning, ring awareness, character work, promotional skills, and the ability to respond to live crowds. Those lessons are not mastered overnight, regardless of a wrestler’s family background. Allin’s praise centers on Steven’s willingness to put in the work necessary to improve rather than assuming the Borden name will carry him.
Allin Has Been Present From the Start
Allin is not viewing Steven’s development from a distance. He has been involved throughout Borden’s early journey, helping train him and later standing alongside him when Steven made his wrestling debut last year. That involvement has continued during Steven’s AEW run, giving the newcomer a familiar mentor with direct experience working alongside Sting at the highest level.
The connection gives Allin a unique perspective. He knows what it was like to share the ring with Sting during the legend’s final matches, including the responsibility of helping make those appearances feel worthy of Sting’s reputation. At the same time, he now has a role in assisting Steven as he takes his first steps in an environment where the audience will naturally be aware of his father’s legacy.
There is also a meaningful difference between being mentored by a legend and learning under someone who was Sting’s final major in-ring partner. Allin can offer Steven insight into the qualities that made the elder Borden effective in the modern era: preparation, trust, presence, and a willingness to commit fully to a moment. Those lessons can be valuable without forcing Steven to mirror Sting’s exact style.
Steven’s progress will ultimately depend on his own development, but the support system around him is significant. He has his father’s experience and reputation as a resource, while Allin offers a more contemporary viewpoint rooted in AEW’s fast-moving, physically demanding setting. For a new wrestler, that combination can provide both perspective and practical guidance.
A Family Legacy Continues to Grow
Steven is not the only member of Sting’s family pursuing opportunities in wrestling. His brother, Garrett, has also begun wrestling and has competed on AEW Collision. That development opens the possibility that Allin could someday find himself sharing the ring with another member of the Borden family as well.
For now, the story is less about predicting where either brother will be years from now and more about the early work being done to earn a place in the business. The Borden family name will always attract attention, especially because Sting’s influence spans generations of fans and performers. But Allin’s comments emphasize a quality that cannot be inherited: the daily desire to get better.
Sting’s farewell run demonstrated that reputation alone was never enough for him. Even at 64, he continued to seek out challenges and create moments that defied conventional expectations for a performer at that stage of a career. Allin believes Steven has entered wrestling with a comparable seriousness about the task in front of him.
That is high praise from a wrestler who saw Sting’s work ethic up close during the final run. It is also a reminder that the next chapter of the Borden family’s wrestling story will be shaped not just by legacy, but by the commitment Steven and Garrett bring to their own paths. As Steven continues his AEW journey with Allin in his corner, the hunger Allin sees may prove to be the most important trait he carries from his father.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.