WWE sent out the following:

Sting says farewell to the WWE Universe in heartfelt speech

DALLAS – It was “Showtime” at the 2016 WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony when The Icon, Sting, was welcomed into sports-entertainment’s most elite fraternity.

Inducted into the Hall by his greatest rival, “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair, The Man Called Sting captivated the crowd at the American Airlines Center as he reflected upon his career and thanked his family, friends, fellow champions and competitors, and fans for helping him reach truly historic levels during his career.

Known as The Franchise of World Championship Wrestling, Sting won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship six times, both the WCW International Heavyweight Championship and United States Championship twice, and held the WCW World Tag Team Championship on three different occasions with three different partners.

Long heralded throughout his career as the greatest performer never to compete in WWE, The Icon finally stepped into the light, and inside a WWE ring, at Survivor Series 2014. That unforgettable moment set off a chain reaction that resulted in The Black-and-White Knight competing against Triple H at WrestleMania 31, challenging for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions 2015, and now being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Addressing the rumors and speculation that surrounded the weeks leading up to his induction, Sting officially retired from in-ring competiton, shocking the WWE Universe in the American Airlines Center and prompting massive chants of “Thank you, Sting.”

However, as he concluded his speech, he put on a pair of sunglasses and grabbed his signature black bat, assuring the WWE Universe that “this isn’t goodbye, but see you later.”