Darby Allin says Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium Wednesday night could be the stepping stone to one of the most important moments in his career.
Allin is an AEW standout star who not only became a fan favorite for his high-flying, hard-hitting style, but also for being uniquely and unapologetically himself. He has been a staple of the company since it was founded and a home-grown talent that has accomplished a great deal over the years from becoming TNT Champion to teaming up with legendary wrestler Sting in his retirement match, something AEW CEO Tony Khan told amNewYork Metro was one of his favorite moments in the company’s history.
Like Khan, Allin said that was a core memory for him, in part because it took him some time to realize his own self-worth. In just a few short years, Allin said, he went from feeling out of place to understanding the value of his talent to help give one of the business’s greatest athlete an epic sendoff.
“It was incredible. Just five years ago, I had no confidence that I belonged in a spot like that, but now I’m like… not deserve because that’s a funky word to say, but I don’t feel out of place,” Allin said. “I knew I wanted to make that special, hence why I wanted to jump off a ladder through glass, you know what I mean? You only get one shot at a retirement match, and I was treating it with the respect it deserved. It was a big deal, but it was validation for everything I’ve put into this.”
Determined to be himself no matter what, the high-flyer says he now feels comfortable and confident in his own skin, risking it all as long as he stays true to himself. And with all his accomplishments, he says he is now looking for his next big one that will solidify his position as a top guy in the industry and the face of AEW by possibly facing Bryan Danielson and becoming the world champion in his home state of Seattle, Washington.
“That’s the passing of the torch moment because once he loses, he’s done full-time. He says that he’s retired full-time. And if I was the guy on paper to do that, you can’t argue that that isn’t the biggest passing of the torch moment,” Allin said.
But, in order to get to that moment, he first must defeat Jon Moxely at Grand Slam in Queens. The battle is expected to be brutal and fast-paced but for Allin it also has a deeper meaning. He has never beaten Moxely and is looking to prove that he can overcome the obstacle and climb to the top of the roster and shoulder AEW as the top guy.
“I’ve wrestled Moxley twice now in AEW and I’ve lost twice. He says I wasn’t ready five years ago. I wasn’t ready two years ago, but I know in my heart right now I’m ready to carry this place. I’m ready to be the face of this place,” Allin said. “I was the number one contender, but I don’t want to take any shortcuts. I want to prove to him that I belong. So, if I put my number one contendership on the line against him, that’s just me proving myself that I’m ready to become world champion.”
This journey to Moxley and possibly Danielson connects to Allin’s roots in AEW and seems to have seen the company shift to more narrative-based wrestling. The grappler says he is excited to see this, and sharing that the prospect of leaving an impact on the viewer means a great deal to him.
“I come from the world of film, so I love a good story. I went to film school, I dropped out but I love a great movie. I want to leave an impact on somebody that watches wrestling from a story standpoint and then the match to be like, whoa, that was an emotional ride,” Allin said.
Over the years, Allin has come a long way from a little boy sitting in front of the television screen in Washington, watching the legends of wrestling duke it out. He says it was almost like a mythical mystery trying to comprehend a way to get on the other side of that screen with no connections in the industry, but also a dream fueled with unbridled passion.
“I want to inspire people that may have been in the same shoes I was growing up in. Like, yo get off your a** and you can do something with your life. I knew nobody that was on the other side of the TV screen growing up. It was like a mystical world to me, I did not know how to get there but the moment I started getting a taste of it, I kicked the door down,” Allin said.
For those who look to follow in his footsteps, Allin stresses that no matter what be true to yourself. Pointing to a tattoo on his arm, he told amNewYork Metro that he listens to himself and not what others told him he should be.
“Don’t listen to anybody except yourself. I got a tattoo here on my arm. It says, there’s no authority but yourself. Stay true [to yourself,]” Allin said. “A lot of people in wresting search for a voice of what they should be. But I believe the best things in life are right in front of you.”
AEW Grand Slam will be held at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sept. 25.
