Steve Borden a.k.a. Sting made a rare appearance after Thursday’s Collision taping for an impromptu tribute to the late Eddie Gilbert.
Tony Khan spoke to the audience at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia and introduced Doug Gilbert, while also joined by Tommy Rich and Jeff Jarrett.
Sting was the final one to join the ceremony and spoke about Gilbert’s impact on his career, going back to the UWF.
Sting cut a promo to honor Eddie Gilbert following #AEWCollision
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Gilbert was a third-generation wrestler and the son of Tommy Gilbert, beginning his own career as a photographer before wrestling.
He began his career in Memphis and worked for Central States, Mid-South, and went to the WWWF before a severe neck injury sustained in a car wreck in 1983.
After returning, he teamed with Tommy Rich as The New Fabulous Ones before turning on Rich.
When he returned to Mid-South, Bill Watts assigned booking duties to Gilbert and replaced Ken Mantell. On screen, he led Hot Stuff Inc., which included a young Steve Borden.
After Watts sold the company to Jim Crockett Promotions, Gilber briefly returned to JCP but did not last long.
Other booking stints occurred in Alabama for Continental, a return to WCW’s booking committee, and Eastern Championship Wrestling for Tod Gordon before exiting in 1993.
While working in Puerto Rico, Gilbert died in February 1995 at age 33 after being discovered in his apartment.
