Darby Allin has revealed which Hall of Famer inspired him to become a wrestler.
The path into the wrestling industry can be a varied one, with some wrestlers like Bret Hart and Randy Orton following in their fathers’ footsteps, while others make the transition from other sports, such as Greco-Roman Wrestling or American Football. Others, such as Darby Allin, were initially inspired from watching wrestling at a young age, and we now know who in particularly motivated Allin to enter the squared circle.
Appearing on the “Flickering Myth” podcast, Darby Allin admitted that he was initially influenced by a certain hardcore legend:
“As a kid watching it, I’d probably say Mick Foley in the Hell in a Cell match.”
Allin naming Mick Foley – a Hall of Famer and the inaugural Hardcore Champion – as his inspiration is hardly a surprise. Similar to Foley, Allin has made a name for himself with his stunts and ability to withstand dangerous moves. Arguably the most notable example came earlier this year at AEW Revolution, when, during Sting’s retirement match, Allin performed a dive off a 15-foot ladder through a pane of glass.
Allin went on to explain how his influences have changed as his career has progressed, moving away from the hardcore side of things and developing more of an appreciation for wrestling technicians:
“As a kid — it’s funny, because I used to think like ‘oh my god, crazy stunts, it’s so awesome,’ but then when I actually got into wrestling, that’s when I started respecting more of the Dean Malenko’s and the technical wrestlers, you know? That’s kind of my goal with my wrestling… someone that’s a non-wrestling fan can be watching me and be like ‘holy s**t that guy’s insane,’ but the fans who are actually wrestling fans can be like ‘well, he actually knows how to technically wrestle too.’ So it’s kind of fun to catch attention.”
Allin is currently competing in AEW’s Continental Classic tournament, gaining six points after his first three matches, including a victory over Will Ospreay. With the final of the tournament at Worlds End in his sights, Allin will have to get past both Claudio Castagnoli and Ricochet.
Darby Allin’s Bold Mount Everest Quest Sparks Concerns, Which AEW Star Tried To Talk Him Out Of It?
For the last handful of years, Darby Allin has been attempting to arrange an attempt to summit Mount Everest. Despite injuries causing delays, Allin still seems set on becoming the first professional wrestler to climb Mount Everest. However, it appears a not everyone is supportive of his quest, with a wrestling legend trying to talk him out of it.