Darby Allin talks Sting, AEW future, Double or Nothing, More

AEW Star and Former two-time AEW TNT Champion Darby Allin spoke with Fightful Select for an exclusive interview before his upcoming Anarchy in the Arena match at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 26th. Darby and Sean discussed numerous topics.

Sean mentioned to Darby that when they last spoke, Darby talked about how he would like kids to go as “Darby Allin” for Halloween. Sean shared a story about a child showing up at his house for Halloween as Darby.

Sean asked if he’d seen any photos of those who went as him for Halloween. Darby said he has and that it was awesome to see kids be him for Halloween. Darby mentioned the positives of being someone who can impact another person’s life. Tony Hawk and Bam Margera were two people who impacted him growing up.

Sean asked Darby how he was feeling [physically]. Darby said he was not feeling great and said he was in Montana when he heard Eddie Kingston would miss the Anarchy at the Arena match at Double or Nothing.

Darby said he spoke with Tony Khan and said, “Tony, I don’t know what it will take, but if I can get cleared by my foot doctor and nose doctor to be in this match, can we make it happen? Darby said Tony Khan replied, “Yeah, absolutely.”

Darby also told Sean that while working on getting cleared, he thought, “What am I doing? Why are you doing this? However, he added that he felt compelled to be there [Double or Nothing]. 

The former AEW Tag Team Champion said the mental pain of watching the shows and knowing he couldn’t do anything was killing him.

Darby said he got cleared right after getting to the building (Angel Of The Winds Arena). He also stated that it was the first day he took off his walking boot. Darby told Sean he did not know what would happen in this match. He hadn’t bumped or run the ropes. He still has a limp and says his nose is killing him.

Sean asked Darby if there had ever been any bumps, spots, or stunts that were easier than anticipated for him. Darby said it was in Sting’s last match. He said it was going through the glass in Sting’s last match. Darby said he had a hole in his side afterward and, ‘I need to do something that is reasonable as to why Darby Allin can’t be in this match right now’ because everybody has seen me do so much.

Darby also told us there was a plan B for the finish, and it was Sting winning the match himself. After the match, Darby said Sting approached him and said it was one of his top three favorite matches of his career.

Sean asked Darby if he still talks with Sting. The nine-year veteran said, “Every week.” Darby noted that Sting is an awesome guy and is so happy to see him ride off into the sunset and life after wrestling.

Darby mentioned to Sean that Sting’s son Steve Borden Jr. is training to be a professional wrestler and staying outside his house in a tent. Darby said Borden never considered being a wrestler, but that changed after the AEW Revolution. He said after talking to Sting and Borden, Darby told him to come down.

Sean asked Darby what the worst stunt or spot Darby’s ever taken was. Darby said in the ring that it was when he broke his foot in his match against Jay White. It was just a front flip from the top rope, and it was the first injury in the five years of AEW he could not walk away from and needed to go to the hospital. Darby said some people told him maybe it was a sign that he shouldn’t climb Mt. Everest. Darby told Sean it sucked because he was two weeks away from going after his injury.

Darby said the person who hit him the hardest was probably Brody King. He added that Brody is intense, but he loves him.

When mentioning a past conversation, Sean mentioned that Darby Allin told him how loyal he is to AEW. Sean asked if Darby was going to be in AEW long-term. Darby said he would be there long-term and is having the time of his life. Darby mentioned he’ll be directing a feature film soon as well. 

Darby told Sean that with the stuff he gets to do outside of the ring, no other company is going to let him do things like Nitro Circus. Darby says he wants to be the poster child for wrestlers with other interests instead of just wrestling. Darby says AEW gives him that platform. Darby also said no company would let him climb Mt. Everest or skateboard with Tony Hawk. 

The Seattle Native talked about how a person can work from the ground up in AEW. Darby said, “A lot of people feel, ‘It’s a safe bet if I go somewhere else that is established and been around for 30-40 years,’ but I feel if you’re as good as you think you are, you can build this house from the ground up.”

Sean asked if Darby could share more about the upcoming film he is directing. Darby told Sean that "I want to make a crazy violent film where it’s not like ‘Darby was playing it safe.’ I want to offend people." Darby mentioned dropping out of film school because his teacher told him he could not make certain movies.

In closing, Darby spoke about the short films before his PPV matches that air. Darby told Sean, “​​I directed them. I did everything. It was my friend Max Yoder and me."

This Sunday, Darby Allin will be teaming with Bryan Danielson and FTR as they represent Team AEW in their Anarchy in the Arena match against The Elite’s Young Bucks, Jack Perry, and Kazuchika Okada on AEW’s Double or Nothing Pay-Per-View.

Edited for context.

If you aggregate portions of this interview, please link to this youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvWvG8y5LtI