Steven Borden Jr., son of legendary wrestler Sting, stepped into the professional wrestling world with his debut match on Friday night. The bout occurred at 52W Hardway, a unique event in New York that blends art, music, and wrestling, highlighting the occasion of Darby Allin wrestling debut.
Tag Team Match Highlights Artistic and Wrestling Collaboration
Borden teamed with JD Drake of The Workhorsemen to face Darby Allin and Killer Kross in a tag match, staged inside an art gallery environment curated by Allin alongside Raymond Pettibon and AEW’s Charlie Ramone. This exhibition, which explores themes of masculinity and spectacle through Pettibon’s wrestling-inspired drawings, runs for two weeks with live wrestling scheduled only on October 3 and 10.
During his match, Borden opted for simple black pants without any face paint, contrasting with his previous appearance as Wolfpac Sting at his father’s retirement match against The Young Bucks at AEW Revolution 2024.
Art and Wrestling Intersect Through Unique Gallery Event
ARTnews detailed the event’s atmosphere and participants, emphasizing its combination of visual art and live wrestling. The publication reported,
“Last night, live wrestling took over 52 Walker. As part of the gallery’s newest exhibition—a showing of Raymond Pettibon’s wrestling drawings—Pettibon’s friend and former two-time AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin staged matches inside a ring installed in the gallery. He was joined by Killer Kross, Steven Borden, Sid Ellington, Kiran Grey, and Timothy Thatcher, with Los Angeles band Purest Form opening the night. Organized by Ebony L. Haynes, the two-week presentation—part exhibition, part event—centers on Pettibon’s critique American myths of masculinity, power, and spectacle. Catch the next and final match on October 10 at 52 Walker, and follow ARTnews for more.”
—ARTnews
Upcoming Matches and Future Prospects for Darby Allin
Following this event, Darby Allin is scheduled to compete at AEW WrestleDream on October 11 in St. Louis, where he will face Jon Moxley in an I Quit match. This upcoming contest marks another pivotal moment in Allin’s wrestling career shortly after the debut event at 52W Hardway concluded.
Social Media Share Highlights Steven Borden Jr.’s Debut
On social media, fans and wrestling observers took note of Borden’s entry into professional wrestling. One post stated,
“The Pro Wrestling Debut of Steven Borden JR the son of #Sting 🦂 from last night in New York! His first match a Tag match against Darby Allin and Killer Kross! 👊🏽🔥”
—Steve 9, Twitter
Significance of the Debut within Wrestling and Art Communities
Steven Borden Jr.’s debut blends wrestling lineage with contemporary artistic settings, reflecting growing intersections between sports entertainment and cultural exhibitions. This introduction is not only meaningful for his personal career but also enhances the traditional wrestling format by engaging with art and community-focused events, suggesting a broader cultural appeal for the sport’s future.
The Pro Wrestling Debut of Steven Borden JR the son of #Sting 🦂 from last night in New York! His first match a Tag match against Darby Allin and Killer Kross! 👊🏽🔥 pic.twitter.com/PXqjUB36xX
— Steve 9 (@SteveMedici9) October 4, 2025
