Steven Borden has been encouraged by the reception he has received during his early appearances around AEW, though he admits he did not necessarily expect fans to embrace him as readily as they have.
Borden, the son of WWE Hall of Famer Sting, has been regularly working dark matches at AEW events this year while also appearing on company programming. In a conversation with Good Karma Wrestling alongside TNT Champion Darby Allin, Borden reflected on the reactions he has heard in arenas and seen online. He said he is still processing the experience, but described himself as grateful for the generosity fans have shown him.
“Man, I don’t even know if I’ve had a chance to take it in. I think for me, even this year, I’ve been doing dark matches every week, every show, and you just never know. I think it’s tough with second-generation guys. It’s really easy for the fans, kind of understandably so, to turn on you a little bit, and I think every week I’d walk out in these dark matches and the crowds have been, I would say, generous to me, and every week I’m a little bit surprised. I think that’s surprising as well — the social media reaction — so I’m definitely grateful so far.”
Borden’s comments underscore the particular pressure attached to entering wrestling with a famous family name. The connection to Sting naturally creates immediate attention, but it also places expectations on a performer before they have had the opportunity to establish their own body of work. Borden acknowledged that reality directly, noting that fans can be skeptical of second-generation wrestlers and that such skepticism is understandable.
For more background on this topic, read Steven Borden Calls Early AEW Wrestling Journey a ‘Fun Ride’ Ahead of All Out.
Rather than presenting the positive reception as something he expected, Borden made clear that it has caught him off guard on a weekly basis. His reference to dark matches is especially significant. Those bouts are often where wrestlers gain valuable experience in front of live audiences, test their presentation, and develop comfort performing in the AEW environment. While the matches may not always be part of the featured televised card, the audience response remains meaningful for a developing talent.
Borden’s AEW Opportunity Continues at All Out
The next major step comes at AEW All Out on September 26, when Borden will team with Darby Allin against Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight. The winning tandem will earn the right to challenge for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, giving the match substantial competitive stakes beyond Borden’s personal momentum.
For Borden, the contest represents an opportunity to perform in a prominent pay-per-view setting beside a wrestler with an important connection to his family’s AEW history. Allin and Sting were closely associated throughout Sting’s final run, developing a partnership that became one of the company’s most enduring pairings. Teaming with Allin now places Borden in a high-profile spot while also allowing him to continue carving out his own place on the roster.
Fletcher and Knight provide a demanding opposition. Both are athletic, fast-paced competitors capable of making a tag match move at a relentless pace. The bout is not simply a showcase for Borden; it is a pathway toward the AEW World Tag Team Championship. That adds an added layer of urgency for Allin and Borden, who will need to function as an effective unit against a team determined to secure a title opportunity of its own.
The stakes also make the fan reaction relevant in a practical sense. A crowd that is receptive to Borden can help establish the atmosphere around a match, particularly when a newer performer is competing in a featured environment. Borden did not claim that the support has eliminated the nerves or uncertainty associated with his role. Instead, he described it as a welcome surprise and something for which he remains thankful.
The Challenge of Carrying a Legacy
Second-generation wrestlers frequently arrive with an unusual combination of advantages and challenges. Name recognition can make a debut immediately notable, and family history can provide a point of emotional investment for longtime fans. At the same time, audiences often demand proof that a new wrestler can stand on their own rather than rely solely on a recognizable surname.
Borden’s remarks suggest he understands that dynamic. His concern was not framed as bitterness toward fans or as a complaint about being judged through the lens of Sting’s legacy. Instead, he said fans have reason to be cautious. That perspective may be one reason he has approached his appearances with appreciation rather than entitlement.
The weekly dark-match work he described is also a sign of steady repetition. Professional wrestling development is not limited to moves or conditioning; it also involves finding rhythm in front of a live audience, responding to reactions, and learning how to connect with a crowd in real time. Borden has been receiving that kind of experience consistently, and he has noticed that the fans in attendance have responded positively.
His comments about social media are notable for the same reason. Online reaction can be immediate and unforgiving, especially when a wrestler is associated with an established name. Borden said he has been surprised by the response there as well. He did not detail specific messages or reactions, but his overall assessment was that the feedback has been more generous than he anticipated.
Darby Allin Partnership Brings Added Attention
Allin’s presence adds another important dimension to Borden’s immediate AEW direction. As TNT Champion, Allin enters the All Out match with championship stature and a well-established identity within the company. His history with Sting makes him a natural partner for Borden, but the pairing will still need to prove itself between the ropes against Fletcher and Knight.
That distinction matters. Familiarity and history can make a team feel emotionally logical, but winning a tag-team match with championship implications requires timing, trust, and the ability to handle opponents who are prepared to exploit any miscommunication. Borden’s dark-match experience may have helped build his confidence in front of crowds, but All Out will bring a different level of visibility and pressure.
It is also an opportunity for Borden to show more than gratitude for fan support. Support can open the door, but performances determine what comes next. A victory alongside Allin would place Borden in a match connected directly to the AEW World Tag Team Championship and would further establish him as a competitor worth watching. A loss would not erase the positive reactions he has received, but it would delay that potential championship route.
For now, Borden is approaching the moment with an awareness of both the scrutiny and the goodwill surrounding him. He knows his lineage will remain part of the conversation, and he knows that audiences can change their minds quickly. Yet he has also found that AEW crowds have met his early work with a level of openness he did not take for granted.
All Out Match Has Clear Stakes
The September 26 match is straightforward in its implications: Borden and Allin must defeat Fletcher and Knight to move into contention for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. There is no indication that Borden is overlooking that challenge. His recent comments focused on appreciation for the response he has received, while the All Out contest offers the clearest test yet of how that reception translates into a major AEW moment.
As Borden continues to work in front of live crowds, the question will be how he develops beyond the initial curiosity surrounding his surname. He has already identified the central issue facing many second-generation performers: audiences will ultimately decide whether they believe in the individual wrestler, not simply the legacy attached to them.
At this stage, Borden says the reaction has been encouraging. The crowds have been generous, the online response has surprised him, and he remains grateful for the chance to keep building. At All Out, he and Allin will try to turn that early momentum into a victory with immediate championship consequences.
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.