AEW dropped the official match graphic for Blood & Guts on November 4th, and wrestling fans are doing a collective double-take.
Nested right alongside top-tier superstars like Will Ospreay, Adam Copeland, and the Young Bucks sits one name that completely sticks out: Steven Borden.
On paper, AEW is trying to sell this as a legendary torch-passing narrative. They are pushing Borden as if he’s a plug-and-play replacement for his iconic father, Sting.
But let’s step away from the cinematic framing and look at the actual reality inside the ring: the dude is green AF, and throwing him into this environment right now is absolute madness.
From a Stretcher Straight into a Double-Cage War Zone
What makes Tony Khan’s decision so unbelievable isn't just Borden’s lack of experience—it’s the immediate timing.
In his last outing at All Out, Borden suffered a scary, legit injury after a basic spot went completely sideways. He had to be checked on by ringside doctors and stretchered out of the building.
In any traditional wrestling environment, a young worker who suffers a scary KO or concussion off a basic move is given time to recover, re-evaluate, and sharpen their fundamentals in low-stakes matches.
Instead, AEW is putting him right into two rings, a double steel cage, thumbtacks, weapons, and total multi-man chaos.
Protecting the Legacy or Reckless Booking?
Blood & Guts is not a standard singles match where a veteran can slow down the tempo and walk a green wrestler through a safe routine. It is fast, unpredictable, and inherently violent.
The Defense: Supporters will argue that surrounding Borden with elite veterans like Okada, Copeland, and Ospreay allows AEW to hide his weaknesses, protect him in short bursts, and give him massive main-event heat.
The Reality: One miscommunication inside a steel cage can lead to disaster. Pretending Borden is already at a main-event level just because of his last name doesn't change the fact that his ring awareness is still in its infancy.
Is Tony Khan taking a calculated promotional gamble to fast-track Sting's son, or is this one of the most reckless booking decisions of the year?
