Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 29: Sting vs. Steven Regal (Nitro 5/6/96)

Sting always had the benefit of getting great workers to have matches with on Nitro (at least, this set makes me feel stronger in that opinion). Regal really was a talented versatile guy that never got his due until a second WWE run. I’ve seen his early European stuff, and he was always two things: a bit awkward and a heck of a worker.

I dig the story right away as Regal draws heat from the crowd, Sting milks their adulation, and when they go at it Sting goes right for the Scorpion Death lock. Sting looks motivated work-wise, but I think a lot of that is Regal’s willingness to bump for the guy. His ability to make an arm wringer interesting and then sell the reversal astounds me. Lots of short cut cheating to work over Sting. They use the so-called Japanese Strangle hold more than I’ve seen in any Sting match. Seems like Regal is calling the shots, which makes sense, because the match is both good and Regal is the heel. When they turn it on for the stretch run it’s as good as any main event stuff from that time period. Seriously. Sting wins with some crazy back breaker suplex. It’s criminal this went under eight minutes and a commercial stole time from us. I’m in awe of how different a worker can be with Regal in there to guide. 3 ¼ and 6.4/10.