Jim Cornette recently evaluated the in-ring performance of Steven Borden, and he expressed some potential barriers for the progeny of Sting in terms of a long future in wrestling.
While the legendary wrestling managerwas impressed with Borden’s physique and general athleticism, he noted the AEW upstart is beginning his in-ring career at a much later age than most grapplers.
Cornette also took issue with Borden receiving training from Darby Allin, a star Corny has been very critical of over the years.
His comments came on the most recent episode of his Jim Cornette Experience podcast when he evaluated Borden’s official AEW debut match, which found him teaming with Allin in a winning effort over the Callis Family on the September 9th edition of AEW Dynamite.
“I don’t know what has taken this guy, this kid, this long,” Cornette said of Borden, noting Sting’s son is 34-years-old.
He continued: “He’s that big. He looks that good. He has the pedigree. He has a famous father.”
Cornette added more compliments, saying Borden is “an incredible athlete” and “apparently has some aptitude” as well as “doesn’t cut a bad promo for a complete beginner.”
However, Cornette then shared his reservations.
“I hate to say this, but he’s still doomed, but g*****n, he could have been a contender,” he said.
A major issue for Cornette is Borden “being trained and mentored by Darby and the rest of these indie-minded f**ks.”
As for having Sting for a father, Corny noted of the wrestling legend that “he was never either particularly a fan of the wrestling business or more importantly very particularly smart to the wrestling business.
“If it didn’t have to do with what he [Sting] was specifically doing, you know, he wasn’t that particularly well-versed or interested. He didn’t have the old-timers respect for it.”
In terms of his debut on Dynamite, Cornette said that while Borden’s “got all the tools,” he’s also “too green right now” and shouldn’t be on national TV.
The always-outspoken podcaster suggested Borden may have been better off wrestling under a mask on the independent circuit for a period of time first before signing with AEW.
Cornette contended that Borden would have to go through NXT first if he ever wants a WWE run in order to “retrain” from what he’s learned in AEW.
“So then you’re talking he might debut when he was f**king 40,” Corney said. “I think he’s going to be an AEW lifer. and he’s going to make a lot of money here. But if he’d have started 12 years ago and gone through the maybe the indies and then gone to the WWE training program, he might very well be one of the top guys in the business right now if he’s got it in his heart.”
In summation, Cornette said: “I hate to be pessimistic, but I wish this guy had started 10 years ago.”
Do you agree with Corny’s take on Borden? Let us know in the comments.
