Hindsight Edition: Joker Sting Is Underrated

 

The Icon Sting is often identified and associated with two distinct looks and personas in his 40 year career. The "Surfer" Sting look that propelled him to be the franchise of WCW. 

And The Crow inspired look that he took on as he started his battle against the nWo in 1996. It's the look he has maintained with touch ups here and there since. One persona of Sting that is overlooked is Joker Sting.

Joker Sting came to be during his time in TNA in the early 2011. Inspired by Heath Ledgars performance in The Dark Knight. Sting really leaned into his role as a maniac who has lost his marbles.

At the time Joker Sting was not well received. I'm not sure if it's because fans felt it was a balant ripoff of Heath Ledgar. They just weren't buying Sting in the role. Or because it was TNA they automatically washed their hands off it.

Looking back one thing is for sure, Joker Sting was a damn entertaining act. Dare I say it was some of Sting's best work, primarily because it was so different from what fans were use to seeing from Sting. Sure Surfer Sting was always hyped up and positive, while Crow Sting was primarily brooding and stoic. While Wolfpac Sting was a combination of both.

Joker Sting allowed him to really dial things up and use some acting chops. He was off his marbles, played mind games with foes, and displayed hints of schizophrenia in his act. It was honestly a gold act that may have just been bad timing alongside it being TNA that people were like nah this ain't it.

In hindsight if you take a moment to look back at that character. It was a damn good run for Sting that helped him become more versatile in his career and reinvent himself.