Darby Allin Says He Carries Chip On His Shoulder Into Every Match, Talks Keeping Himself Authentic

Darby Allin says he walks into every match with a chip on his shoulder and ready to prove himself anew to wrestling fans. Allin is one of AEW’s most popular performers, in no small part to the wild risks he takes in the ring. But he’s spoken about how his authenticity on TV has helped fans relate to him.

Allin weighed in on those topics — his stunts and his authenticity — in a new interview with the Orlando Sentinel. You can see some highlights below:

On Doing a Coffin Drop At An MLW Show In Orlando:

“That was a very pivotal point in my career, where every single night I was going out there, it didn’t matter if it was 10 people or 200, I was on a mission to show what I was capable of. I lived in Orlando for a total of about nine months; that was the first time I thought about being homeless and the first time I actually did it.”

On the Authenticity Of His Persona:

“When I first wanted to get into wrestling, I thought there was no way someone like me could fit into this world. But if you don’t bring the real thing and don’t stay true to yourself, you look so fake and people see right through it. So I decided to say, ‘Screw it, let’s get it.’ … I would rather fail as Darby than do anything else that wasn’t me.”

On Creative Freedom In AEW:

“Once that bell rings, it’s pretty much 100% what you want to do as a performer. I wouldn’t imagine having the restrictions they have in other companies. And no other company is going to let me climb Mount Everest or do crazy stunts with Tony Hawk or Travis Pastrana. I take full advantage of that.”

Mick Foley & Others Serving As Inspirations:

“I like to watch wrestling matches that really stand out without a lot of moves, because I’m not a fan of doing 100 big moves a match. It’s fun to see the emotion and how they carry themselves through a match without relying on big moves or big (false finishes). I just watch how they paced things back then. I’d rather sell and do my thing and have emotions.”

On Treating Each Match Like His First:

“Every time I make an entrance, I have a chip on my shoulder that I have to show everybody what I’m capable of, because I never want to get complacent. It’s my biggest fear. I watch these guys get somewhere and then start going through the motions. When people in the locker room treat it like spring break, it (ticks) me off. … I have to give everything to wrestling because wrestling changed my life, so I’m going to treat it with the respect it deserves.”