Darby Allin successfully climbing Mount Everest lives up to his wrestling and real-life character. He embodies the independent spirit, so it’s no surprise that he gravitated more toward AEW than WWE when he was a free agent.
The daredevil wrestler was a guest on “The Ariel Helwani Show” and spoke about his insatiable desire to be a part of AEW when it first launched.
“The moment I heard AEW was starting, the moment I heard the term ‘creative freedom’ and I was starting this new company, I thought, that’s my chance, that’s the only way I’m going to make it, I don’t even care about anything else right now, I thought, I need to be there. And then I literally didn’t stop until I got there.”
The conversation then turned to whether or not Allin considered the idea of ​​going to WWE in the days leading up to AEW. He pointed out the direction WWE was taking with the smaller guys on the roster at the time, which was to put them all on the newly released “205 Live.” From there, Allin knew that his future was not in WWE.
“I was part of their sister company called Evolve, I was part of that. And then I saw the writing on the wall. ‘205 Live,’ I saw the writing on the wall. Where my money is is in the David vs. Goliath matches. Then as soon as I heard AEW was starting, I was like, no, I have to go.”
During the interview, Allin praised the backstage culture at AEW at this time, in particular saying that a cancer had been removed from the AEW locker room. He immediately made sure the audience knew he wasn’t referring to CM Punk, leaving many wondering who that comment was directed at.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “The Ariel Helwani Show” and provide ah/ta Wrestling Inc. for transcription.