Professional wrestling is scripted but the injuries are real, and another well-known and loved character, Sting (real name Steve Borden), is leaving the industry because of a neck issue sustained last September at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Night of Champions. 

TMZ Sports first reported Sting's rumored retirement. The wrestler just came to the WWE in 2014 after spending his entire wrestling career, which began in 1985, outside the company. 

According to the report, Sting was diagnosed with cervical spinal stenosis, the same injury multiple-time champion and WWE Hall of Famer Edge had that also forced him to abruptly end his career. TMZ Sports added that after getting evaluated by a number of doctors, Sting was told to stop competing because it was "too risky."

During that match at Night of Champions, there was a spot where then-WWE world heavyweight champion Seth Rollins (currently sidelined due to injury) threw Sting to the corner of the ring and the latter's neck and upper back hit the protected turnbuckle hard. After that, Sting had difficulty standing up but still gave a decent finish to the match. 

This news is devastating to the world of sports entertainment since Sting was only starting his career in the biggest wrestling company in the world. For years, hardcore wrestling fans craved to see "The Icon" in the WWE and when he arrived, it looked like he was going to have a great push for one last time before he calls it a career. But the injury gave him an early retirement plan which no one saw coming. 

Before dabbling in the WWE, Sting was known for his stints with two of the company's fiercest rivals, the defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and Total Non-Stop Action (TNA) Wrestling a.k.a. Impact Wrestling. In both organizations he achieved success and won multiple titles. It is sad that Sting no longer has the chance to capture a WWE belt, although his storied career will have a great ending, as he is part of the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016.