MASKING HIS PAIN WRESTLER TURNS TO GOD TO OVERCOME DRUGS.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

CANYON COUNTRY - One of the world's most popular and successful professional wrestlers during wrestling's heyday, Sting had it all - millions of dollars, a WCW world championship belt, and a stream of hangers-on willing to grant his every whim.

Yet the man behind the mask, former Hart High basketball standout Steve Borden, now 46, has mostly painful memories from a sport that supposedly pulls its punches.

When he wasn't grappling with the likes of Hulk Hogan or Andre the Giant, Borden battled ongoing burnout from being on the road 340 nights per year, along with serious injuries, severe loneliness and depression, drug and alcohol addiction, and finally the near-breakup of his marriage.

``The best part was being in the middle of the ring because the roar of a crowd in a packed stadium is pretty awesome. But once I had that power, I made all the wrong choices,'' said Borden, a six-time World Championship Wrestling world champion who for several consecutive years was named Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Most Popular Wrestler.

``Let's just say my wife Sue has stuck with me for 19 years through thick and thin, because there was so many times where we almost lost everything,'' he said. ``When she was finally ready to leave, I just couldn't believe what was happening to me. You can't be married and be a father and be apart from your family for so long. I sure don't recommend it, but I got caught up in the whole deal and made all the wrong choices.''

It has taken until now for Borden to finally have peace. After leaving wrestling at the height of his popularity in 2001 - shortly after setting a USA record for pay-per-view buys with a much-anticipated title match against Hogan - Borden is a born-again Christian. These days, he travels the world as a motivational speaker, sharing his life experiences and spiritual guidance.

It's a life Borden has always dreamed about - after living the life so many others dreamed about.

``If I had to do everything over again, I'd probably do a lot of things differently because of the bad choices I made. But then again, I've learned what I've learned, and today I refuse to make certain compromises in my life,'' he said. ``I mean, there was a time where everyone knew who I was, and I had so much influence over so many people that I was on a power trip. My life has changed. Now I put my family first. I'm a husband and a father, which is the way things are supposed to be.''

Borden lives in a sprawling ranch home off Sand Canyon with his wife, sons Garrett, 15, and Steven, 14, and daughter Gracie, 6, plus his golden retriever Levi.

Both of his sons are promising football players at Santa Clarita Christian High. Borden never misses a game and even hosts the team for practices at his second home in Agua Dulce.

``Steve is a great dad who's been so helpful to our program. He's very supportive,'' Santa Clarita Christian coach Garrick Moss said.

Borden also has hired private football coaches Ted Iacenda and Dean Herrington to work with his sons on weekends so they can have every advantage in pursuing the sport they love.

As a young wrestler, Borden wasn't so fortunate.

When he started in his twenties, Borden wrestled for $50 per match, sacrificing everything for a profession that traditionally has eaten its young.

``I was basically living out of my car, and working seven nights a week,'' he said.

In those days, Borden did have an advantage over most wrestlers because as a slam-dunk basketball player he was a natural athlete, and at 6-foot-2 and 260 pounds he was bigger and more acrobatic than most newcomers.

``I first got into wrestling because I wasn't doing much and was bored, working as a bartender and bouncer, and looking for something to do,'' he said. ``But once I got into it, I did move up fast because I had a strong work ethic and came up with the right look and the right moves in the ring.''

Borden culled his image as Sting by wearing face paint, bleaching his hair and, he now admits, ingesting steroids to help add about 60 pounds of muscle since his Hart days. His big break came when a fellow wrestler was injured and Borden was called upon as a late replacement against legendary Ric Flair.

``I was just starting to gain popularity. Ric was a bad guy, and we just had this chemistry together in the ring,'' Borden said. ``Ric is the one who really made me. We wrestled each other for four years all over the country.''

As the No. 1 good guy in the WCW, Borden had quite a ride, winning and re-winning championships, selling out arenas and headlining pay-per-view cards.

But Borden's dark secrets outweighed the glory, and at one point he was a complete mess because of his gripping addiction to painkillers.

``I severed a tendon in my knee. I detached a pectoral muscle. I broke ribs and ankles and separated my shoulders. I was just in so much pain I couldn't sleep,'' he said. ``That's what happens from years on the road and two knee operations and two elbow operations. I started taking a lot of painkillers and muscle relaxers - plus alcohol - and that's what started it all.''

Searching for answers, Borden found God, and in 1998 became a born-again Christian and eventually left wrestling - along with his addiction and the dark pursuits that went with it, he said.

``Some people believe in a 12-step program, and there's nothing wrong with that, but I did a one-step program to Jesus Christ, and I stopped cold turkey,'' he said.

After leaving the WCW, Vince McMahon of the World Wrestling Federation called Borden with promises to make the Sting character bigger than ever, but Borden didn't budge. His mission was to serve God and not to fly off the top rope, and Borden resisted the temptation to revive his wrestling career.

``It wasn't easy. I'd see my friends wrestling on TV and think to myself, `Wow, I could fit in right there so easily,''' Borden said.

Instead, Borden dedicated his energy to motivational speaking and to Church On The Rock in Canyon Country, where he serves as an elder. His brother, Jeff, is a pastor there.

Just recently, Borden decided it was time for Sting to make a comeback - albeit in moderation. He's joined a fledgling wrestling organization, TNA, which is based in Orlando and requires just a few days' work per month.

``TNA is a lot cleaner than the other popular wrestling companies, and that's something that's important to me because the others are pushing the envelope too far with sexual storylines and things like that,'' he said. ``We're going prime time on the Spike TV network in April, so we'll see what happens. We'll see how much I have left in me.''

Borden continues to work out five days a week. He's still got a great body. The difference these days is he's got a mind and soul to match.

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Steve Borden of Canyon Country is now a motivational speaker after overcoming a drug addiction as a WCW wrestler.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color in SAC edition only) Canyon Country's Steve Borden was once Sting, WCW's world-champion wrestler. Borden credits Christianity for helping him overcome an addiction to painkillers.

(3 -- ran in SAC edition only) Steve Bodern

(4 -- color -- ran in AV edition only) Steve Borden of Canyon Country is now a motivational speaker after overcoming a drug addiction as a WCW wrestler.