RUMBLE: You’ve toured in Australia before, what were your thoughts about our country?
STING: First of all, I remember being on the bus going from the hotel to the arena and just the beauty of it! I’m a California guy so it’s hard for me to see places that can top California, but when I went to Australia, man it was right there. Then the people, the city, the look, it was just everything. And the wrestling crowd was outstanding.

RUMBLE: Let’s go back a little, tell the readers how you got into pro-wrestling?
STING: I got into pro-wrestling through a health club, a Gold’s Gym, that I co-owned in southern California. A guy came in one day trying to break into pro-wrestling with 3 other guys and was looking for a 4th. He tried to recruit somebody but had no luck and after about a month he asked me to do it. He talked me into it and I ended up going through a wrestling camp in southern California. Within about 2 months got myself booked in Nashville, TN through Jerry Jarrett and that’s where it all started with me.

RUMBLE: When you started pro-wrestling, did you ever think you would reach this status?
STING: I can say this. From the time I was a little kid, all the way until I got into pro-wrestling and made it to where I have, I always pictured myself doing something in front of tens of thousands of people. But I always thought it was going to be football, baseball or basketball. Little did I know it would end up being pro-wrestling.

RUMBLE: Having so many fans screaming for you, how does that feel?
STING: I’m not going to lie to you, who can say that it isn’t awesome? It’s a rush. I’ve heard all kinds of people, from musicians to every type of professional athlete, say that when the crowd is electric the electricity flows through you.

RUMBLE: You’ve had some great moments in your career, what is that one real stand out moment?
STING: Selfishly speaking, it would be the first time I won the World Title wrestling against Ric Flair in 1990 at the Great American Bash. Another one would be Starcade 1997 against Hulk Hogan. That was another incredible night.

RUMBLE: You started off with the name Flash, how did that name come about?
STING: From the old movie Flash Gordon. My last name is Borden so Gordon, Borden. That’s the truth!

RUMBLE: You eventually scrapped Flash and Sting was born, tell us about that?
STING: It was actually Stinger and I just wanted a cool name. I was tag teaming at the time with a guy named Jim Hellwig who later became the Ultimate Warrior. I gave him his first wrestling name also which was, ironically, The Rock. He was the first Rock. I gave myself Stinger but it just ended up being Sting most of the time. People actually still call me both.

RUMBLE: You’ve had many feuds over the years in your career, which is the one that jumps out when you hear the word feud?
STING: Two of them jump out at me. The first is Ric Flair. It’s a feud that has lasted for decades and is actually still going. He helped put me on the map. The other one, which goes with out saying, is Hulk Hogan. He’s right up there with Flair. It’s also a feud that continues to this day.

RUMBLE: Away from the pro-wrestling, what is a typical day like for you?
STING: It’s pretty boring. I’m just trying to keep what I have, trying to stay healthy, trying to eat right and stay in the gym, trying to stay in the best shape that I possibly can, and raise my kids.

RUMBLE: If you could work with anyone in the wrestling industry, who would it be and why?
STING: Here at TNA there are all kinds of the younger wrestlers that I would love to have matches with. There are just so many talented young guys! Outside of here, Undertaker from WWE because with his character I think we have a lot in common. It could be something very cool.

RUMBLE: Take us back to 1990 when you defeated Ric Flair for the NWA World title, this was your first title reign, tell is how it felt to win your first World title?
STING: It was one of the highlights of my whole wrestling career. It was in Baltimore, MD at the Great American Bash. I’ll never forget the noise, the reaction that came from the wrestling fans. It was amazing. It’s a goal finally attained. One of the best reactions ever. It was what I had worked for.

RUMBLE: What’s left to accomplish for the Stinger in the World of Pro-Wrestling?
STING: I would like to be a part of making TNA a household name worldwide. I’d love to see TNA become a huge force, a huge machine, all over the world. And to become one of the biggest, if not the biggest, wrestling organizations. I was a part of that one time at WCW and I’d like to see that happen again with TNA.