Following Sting’s Match at Halloween Havoc ‘98 with Bret Hart, Sting was not seen for a long time. Sting finally made his return at Spring Stampede ‘99 to take part in a 4 Corners Match for the WCW World Heavyweight Title. The other three participants were Ric Flair (Champion), Diamond Dallas Page, and Hulk Hogan. Randy Savage was the special guest referee. Diamond Dallas Page won the Match when he caught Flair with the Diamond Cutter. Also in that Match Hulk Hogan was injured when Page put him in the Figure Four around the ring post. The rest of April would be a huge month for the Stinger. The following night on Nitro, Sting defeated Ric Flair with the Scorpion Deathdrop. This Match was close in comparison to some of their best Matches. On April 26, 1999, Sting defeated Diamond Dallas Page to win his Eight World Heavyweight Championship. However, Sting’s Title reign would not last long. Sting lost the Title in a 4 Corners Match the same night to Page. The 4 Corners Match led to Sting vs Goldberg at Slamboree ‘99. That Match ended in a No Contest when Bret Hart attacked both men with a chair. Earlier in the night, The Steiner Brothers reunited. Sting and The Steiner Brothers had always been good friends, but that changed on this night. After Bret Hart’s attack, The Steiners entered the ring to attack Sting and Goldberg. Sting fought Rick Steiner in a WCW World Television Title Match on Nitro the following night. Sting won by Disqualification. That Match led to two more Matches. The first was a Cage Match on Nitro with UFC fighter Tank Abbott as referee. Abbott cost Sting the Match, and Steiner continued to beat Sting down. The next Match, a Pinfalls Count Anywhere Match, was signed for the Great American Bash ‘99. While fighting in the back, Scott Steiner and Tank Abbott released three dogs on Sting to attack him. The next night on Nitro, Sting finally got his revenge. Sting beat Rick Steiner down with a baseball. The night for the Stinger wasn’t finished though. There was more to come.

Later on in the same night that Sting got his revenge against Rick Steiner, Kevin Nash was scheduled to defend the WCW World Heavyweight Title against a returning Sid Vicious. Nash was about to win the Match, but Randy Savage interfered. This led to a 2 on 1 attack by Savage and Vicious. Sting then entered the ring, and helped Nash. This led to a Tag Team Match at Bash At The Beach ‘99. Which ever Wrestler made the pinfall would become the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Savage ended up winning the Title by pinning Nash. The next night on Nitro, Hulk Hogan returned to WCW to challenge Savage for the World Heavyweight Title. Hogan won the Match with a little help from Nash to become WCW World Heavyweight Champion. During that Match, Sting stopped Sid Vicious from attacking Hogan. This led to a Match between Sting and Sid Vicious at Road Wild ‘99. Sting lost the Match when Sid caught Sting with a Choke Slam for the pinfall after trying a Stinger Splash. During a Hulk Hogan vs Sid Vicious Title Match, Rick Steiner ran in to make sure Hogan didn't cleanly defeat Sid. Sting entered the ring to make the save, and Hogan made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Hogan offered Sting a WCW World Heavyweight Title Match for the following week. Lex Luger made his return and he warned Sting not to trust Hogan. Sting didn’t pay any attention to Luger’s warnings and went on with the Match. Sid Vicious and Rick Steiner both interfered causing a No Contest. Sting and Hogan were signed to a re-Match at Fall Brawl ‘99. In the re-Match, Sting did something nobody expected. Sting hit Hogan with a baseball bat to get the pinfall and, to become a Nine Time World Heavyweight Champion. Sting had become a Bad Guy for the first time since 1987 in the process. Sting defended the Title successfully against Chris Benoit and a re-Match with Hogan was signed to Halloween Havoc ‘99. When it was time for the Match, Hogan walked out and layed down so Sting could pin him. Sting then came out later in the night and challenged anybody to a Match. Goldberg accepted, and he defeated Sting in about four minutes to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title... or so it seemed. The following night on Nitro, J.J. Dillon announced that the WCW World Heavyweight Title was vacant due to what happened at Halloween Havoc ‘99. A 32-Man Tournament was then started to crown a new WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Sting defeated Brian Knobbs, Meng, and Lex Luger to advance to the Semi-Finals that would take place at Mayhem ‘99. Sting lost his Semi-Finals Match to Bret Hart after the Match was re-started due to Lex Luger attacking Sting. Hart would win the WCW World Heavyweight Title later on in the night. Luger’s involvement in the Semi-Finals Match led to a Match between Sting and Luger at Starrcade ‘99. Miss Elizabeth turned on Sting, helping Luger get the best of Sting. Luger put Sting’s hand in a chair and smashed it.

Information provided by:
David's Sting Tribute