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On June 13, 1987, Sting has a UWF Heavyweight Title contention match against Terry Taylor. This is Sting’s first opportunity to become top contender for the UWF Title and the odds seem stacked in his favour as “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert is the special referee. Before the match can begin, Sting asks for a microphone and says that he lost the UWF Tag Team Title because Gilbert made a mistake, and he doesn’t want to lose any more matches because of him. Sting demands a new referee, much to the delight of the crowd, and gets one thanks to Eddie’s dad, senior official Tommy Gilbert.

Unfortunately, during the course of the match, that referee gets bumped. Gilbert returns to the ring and hands Terry Taylor his cowboy boot. Taylor uses the boot to knock Sting out and steal the match. Gilbert & Taylor are ready to beat on Sting when “Gentleman” Chris Adams makes the save with a steel folding chair.

Terry Taylor had recently turned on his tag team partner Chris Adams and the two are now engaged in a blood feud. With Gilbert turning on Sting and aligning himself with Taylor, Adams offers his partnership to fight their common enemies. 

This is the birth of babyface Sting. Over the course of the past few months, Sting has shown a lot of charisma and crowd appeal. The swerve where Sting was given a shot at Gilbert’s TV Title only to forfeit, proved that the people would get behind Sting if he was to turn on Gilbert. Finally it has happened and after being a supporting character in Eddie Gilbert’s story (even as a champion) Sting will now be the star of his own.

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After stating they’ve run through every team in UWF, Sting & Steiner face the team of Brad Armstrong & “White Lightning” Tim Horner, the Lightning Express, who are fresh in the territory from JCP. Airing on June 6, 1987, the match sees the challengers give the champions their toughest match of their careers, lasting 3 television segments, and featuring a lot of shine for the babyfaces. Eddie Gilbert provides assistance with cheapshots from the outside but it ultimately backfires as a belt shot behind referee Tommy Gilbert’s back intended for Armstrong takes out Sting instead, allowing the Express to take the belts.

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In April 1987, failing to compete with Jim Crockett Promotions and the World Wrestling Federation, Watts ultimately sold the company to Crockett. The UWF universe (on tape delay) is beginning to blend into the NWA universe here as JCP aligns the UWF to its agenda. No longer is the UWF Heavyweight Title the top prize in Sting’s world, the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage through Hackenschmidt, Gotch, Thesz, Jack Brisco, the Funks, Harley Race, and now “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, is the top of the mountain.

Hot Stuff International are doing pretty well on the card to say the least. They hold most of the gold in the UWF: the Tag Team and Television titles. Only Big Bubba Rogers (who came into the territory after JCP bought UWF) holds the remaining championship. On May 23, 1987 Sting & Steiner demonstrate their dominance in front of some big JCP faces like Magnum T.A.; Dusty Rhodes; and J.J. Dillon, manager of world champion Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen.

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Jim Ross catches up with the UWF Tag Team Champions, Rick Steiner and Sting on the May 9, 1987 episode. Sting, who has been mostly silent until almost recently, is suddenly cutting a promo about how Hot Stuff International have driven all their competition away, the wimps didn’t stand a chance, and they’re ready for whoever’s next. Sting even throws in a signature “OW!” at the end. 

Now that he’s cutting promos it really feels like the evolution from Blade Runner Sting into Surfer Sting is complete. Aside from the flat top and the face paint this feels like a totally different character than the scary body builder henchman that helped Gilbert lay a Russian flag on Bill Watts.

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On the May 2, 1987 episode we are informed that Sting & Rick Steiner defeated Terry Taylor & Chris Adams at the Omni in Atlanta on April 12. Due to tape delay, this has not yet been revealed on television until now. Sting pinned Adams after Gilbert grabbed a leg, similar to how Taylor was eliminated from the tournament. H&H International now hold the majority of the gold in the UWF.

On the same episode, Sting & Rick Steiner (without the belts, probably more tape delay) wreck the enhancement team of Jeff Raitz & Mike Reed with another creative combo finisher.

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By the end of April, Rick Steiner has returned from his tour of Japan and H&H International goes on a rampage. Sting & Steiner attempt to ambush Terry Taylor during a match and they attack Chris Adams during an interview. They also handcuff Savannah Jack to the top rope so Parsons can whip him with a belt. Are any of their enemies safe? 

On April 25, 1987, Eddie Gilbert defends his Television Title against Sam Houston in a rematch for his non-title loss two weeks prior. Things aren’t going Gilbert’s way so he punches the referee to get disqualified.

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On April 11, 1987, H&H International (minus Hyatt who is in New York recording her WWF tryout interview segment ‘Missy’s Manor’; and minus Steiner who is still on tour in Japan) cut promos in the ring. Parsons, who hung his rival Savannah Jack by a noose recently, gets some deeply uncomfortable heat by saying Jack should ask his mammy about the family tree. It’s hard to watch Sting be involved with this.

Gilbert lauds himself as Television Champion and says he is prepared to fight anyone, anywhere. Ken Mantell walks down to the ring and says if he’s prepared to fight anyone from the UWF Top Ten anytime anywhere then tonight he will face Sting. Sting gets a big babyface pop from the crowd.

Later that night, they come back down to the ring for the match and the bell rings. Sting grabs a microphone and, usually silent, he actually speaks! He says he wouldn’t be here where he is today with Gilbert, they’ve been through thick and thin together, they’ve been tag team champions together, and he can’t fight his friend. He walks out to boos and gets counted out. 

This brings out Sam Houston who doesn’t like this stunt at all and he challenges Gilbert to a match right there. He manages to defeat Hot Stuff with a Bulldog but the match was non-title and the referee returns the belt to Eddie.

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Sting & Iceman Parsons are scheduled for a shot against Taylor & Adams for the UWF Tag Team Title on April 4, 1987. Taylor has been delayed somewhere and has not arrived to the building by bell time. In a karmic twist for their “now or never” stunt against Gilbert (forcing him to take his title shot with Mike Boyette), the UWF official Ken Mantell tells Adams he can forfeit the title or defend it on his own. He would rather defend the titles by himself than hand over the belts to the bad guys.

In a firey babyface performance, Adams gets the shine early on, catching Sting & Parsons in pinning predicaments with ease. Parsons hits a sneaky knee from the apron that turns the tide against him. Adams takes a beating and gets busted open. He absorbs the punishment until Taylor finally arrives at the last minute in his suit. He attacks the heels with his steel briefcase, causing a disqualification.

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Once a former rival as part of Dark Journey’s stable, “Iceman” King Parsons has joined Hyatt & Hot Stuff International in mid-March. He brings a new flavour to the group with his territorial experience and knowledge of their rivals, including UWF Television Champion Savannah Jack. 

New partnerships always seem to pay off for Gilbert: on March 21, 1987, the referee is bumped in his Television title match with Savannah Jack. Iceman takes advantage, putting Jack to sleep with a chemically-treated rag. Gilbert covers his unconscious body and wins the belt. Following this, while still under UWF contract, Missy would go for a tryout in the WWF and spend several months there. Her interview segement “Missy’s Manor” would be a total flop.

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Sting & Hot Stuff are being giving a shot at the UWF Tag Team Title. In an interview with Bruce Pritchard, Eddie Gilbert calls Terry Taylor an illegitimate champion, that he was already eliminated from the tournament and he shouldn’t be champion. Sting actually speaks during the interview and shows he’s very a charismatic and likable character when he gets fired up.

Sting is rated the #9 singles contender this week in the UWF Top Ten.

When it comes time for the title match on March 7, 1987, Sting comes to the ring in his street clothes with a bandaged arm. Gilbert explains that Sting tore a bicep when he was lifting weights. The doctors said he would be cleared to compete in 24 hours but Taylor & Adams said it’s now or never.

Gilbert thinks that’s a rotten thing for the champions to do, so with Sting & Steiner unavailable (he’s on the NJPW Spring Flare Up ‘87 tour), he is going to team with Mike Boyette. Boyette has been trying to get into H&H for a while behind the scenes so this is his opportunity to join the group, if he wins.

Before the match can start, Iceman Parsons comes down. He also contests the legitimacy of Taylor & Adams claim, since Taylor was allowed back into the tournament after Parsons left. The officials have to escort the Iceman out of the arena.

The match sees the champions dominating, but only winning at the last minute, as Adams superkicks Boyette while the credits are rolling and pins him.

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Sting gets a singles squash on February 14, 1987 against Bobby Walker that makes him look like a dominant competitor. He wins with a second-rope Flying Fist Drop.

He is then in “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert’s corner on February 21, 1987 for a squash over Ken Massey.

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In the UWF Tag Team Championship Tournament the night of February 7, 1987, No. 3 Seeded Steiner & Sting faced No. 5 Seeded Chavo Guerrero & The Missing Link (with Hyatt-nemesis Dark Journey) in the first round. Throwing an opponent over the top rope is an illegal maneuver in the UWF: Sting & Steiner get away with dumping Chavo over the top behind the ref’s back but when Chavo retaliates, he gets caught and Chavo & the Link are disqualified.

In the second round, Sting & Steiner faced No. 7 Seeded (incumbent champion) Terry Taylor & Sam Houston. Dirty tricks once again pay off and Gilbert trips Taylor in the middle of a suplex and holds his foot down on the rope to secure the pinfall.

Before the final round, the team of “Gentleman” Chris Adams & Iceman Parsons having a falling out allowing Taylor to take Parsons’ place in the match. Taylor gets his revenge for H&H’s tricks by knocking out Steiner with the Fivearm and winning the championships.

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In February 1987, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan is gone after losing a Loser Leaves Town match against the One Man Gang. The stipulation was for 90 days but Hacksaw would sign with the WWF and not return. He was reigning UWF Tag Team Champion with Terry Taylor at the time of his departure so UWF President “Cowboy” Bill Watts strips the title and organizes a tournament to crown new champions on February 7th in Fort Worth, Texas. Rick Steiner & Sting are seeded No. 3 in the tournament.

H&H International are happy with their placement in the tournament, and for the opportunity to drive the Fantastics out of UWF in a match that aired the morning of February 7th, 1987. Fulton has Sting pinned after a(n illegal) Flying Crossbody from the top rope while the referee is distracted. Steiner then sneak attacks with the Gucci purse and H&H are victorious. The Fantastics would leave for Dallas and World Class Championship Wrestling and not return.

Duggan and the Fantastics departures leave big spots open at the top of the singles and tag divisions.

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Sting & Steiner are building momentum as a team in January. On January 31, 1987 they squash the team of Jeffs: Raitz & Gaylord. One thing of note is Sting & Steiner aren’t using the same finish in every match. They’ve been trying new combination finishes: in the last match, Steiner slung Sting from the apron into a gnarly flying headbutt (may have been a body press that fell short); in this match Steiner hoists the man up and Sting rocks him with a leaping clothesline. This is a nice variety of athletic stuff from a guy who couldn’t work a decent match a little over a year ago. 

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On January 17, 1987, H&H International declare they can take all the belts: any combination of them could win the Tag Team titles, and any one of them individually could take the Television or Heavyweight titles.

Sting & Steiner face Gary Young & Jeff Raitz and Sting gets the win with a gnarly Slingshot Headbutt.

Later, Missy has a match against Dark Journey but she claims to have a broken thumb. Sting & Steiner carry a pillow to rest her poor hand. Journey comes down with ehr boys Iceman Parsons & the Missing Link. She gets a hold of Missy’s loaded Gucci purse and clocks her with it.

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Sting & Gilbert’s first competition of the new year are their old rivals the Fantastics. Fulton & Rogers get the shine early then just as Sting is able to build some momentum, Terry Gordy hits the ring and attacks the Fantastics causing a disqualification. Freebirds Hayes & Roberts have been feuding with the Fantastics recently without Gordy and now the big man is back.

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Sting’s final televised match in 1986, on December 27 in a tag with Steiner against “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan & Terry Taylor. Sting gets caught in a small package for the pin.

Duggan & Taylor are two of the biggest babyfaces in UWF so finishing the year against them leaves Sting in an excellent position on the card to finish out the year. Sting finished 1985 at the bottom in Memphis as Flash the Freedom Fighter, so he has grown substantially as a wrestler over the past 12 months. 

He debuted in UWF as a scary bodybuilder with the future Ultimate Warrior, became a henchman in Eddie Gilbert’s Russian co-conspiracy against Bill Watts, became a tag team champion twice over with Gilbert, and was the friend in Gilbert’s love triangle with Missy Hyatt and John Tatum.

One thing Sting has not been yet is the protagonist in any of the stories he’s a part of on television, but that will come in 1987.