Professional wrestling legend and WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall recently commented on coming up with the idea of the famous Crow gimmick of the six times WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting.
Steve Borden did not start his career as the character that made him famous in the world of professional wrestling. He earned his first recognition as a tag team along with none other than the Ultimate Warrior. Together they were known as the Freedom Fighters, later they changed their name to the Blade Runners.
Scott Hall Reveals How The Crow Gimmick Of Sting Was Pitched
He got his famous gimmick of Sting after he arrived to the Jim Crockett’s promotion which later became World Championship Wrestling. His new character was really loved by the fans and soon he became fan favourite.
In 1996 he got a gimmick change. This was the first time he adopted the famous Crow gimmick. After getting the Crow gimmick his popularity among the fans started reaching the ultimate height of success. He never changed his gimmick after that.
WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall recently appeared on the 83 Weeks podcast of Eric Bischoff where he revealed how the idea of the crow gimmick of sting was pitched. Here is what he had to say;
“It was my very first TV in Macon. Of course, the boys get there early, and we’re there early. I’m wearing the denim vest and jeans for my opening segment and stuff, and I’m in there and Sting is applying his makeup. At this time, he’s still wearing his surfer color – neon and happy guy tights.
“But he’s letting his hair grow out. I didn’t really know Sting, and I never really had any heat with him. But he was a top guy when I was there before, and I was a bottom guy. We didn’t move in the same circles, we never wrestled, and we never interacted. I’m one of those guys that if I think it, I say it. I don’t care what our relationship is.
“He’s putting his makeup on, and I said, ‘You’re growing your hair out, huh?’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘I guess frying it all those years is hard on you.’ He goes, ‘Yeah, it was really starting to damage it.’ I said, ‘That’s cool, but are you still gonna wear the happy guy tights?’ He goes, ‘Yeah.’ I’m thinking, now I remember why we didn’t hang out.
“I said, ‘Have you ever seen The Crow?’ He goes no, and I said it’s this dark character with the white face paint and the dark lines. I said, ‘I ain’t telling you to rip off Taker, but rip off Taker.’ Different territory, it’s not quite as bad. The way I heard it, he ran it by [Eric Bischoff], they went yes, and we’re off to the races.
“To me, I don’t need any credit for it. It’s just the right thing to do. I never knew Sting, and we’re a little friendlier these days. To me, once you give a guy an idea and it works, you have a connection with that guy. I never made a road trip with Sting, and we may have eaten dinner once or twice.
“But I can look across the locker room after that and point at him and go, ‘There’s my boy.’ You get that kind of bond. I don’t know if it happens in other businesses because I’ve only been in the wrestling business, but you connect with guys on different levels. You might give a guy of an idea of a move to do, and it gets over for him. Or something to say in an interview that works. You don’t forget the guys who help you, and you don’t forget the guys who screw you over.
Credit: 83 Weeks. H/T 411Mania.