Darby Allin Claims ‘The Cancer Got Cut Out’ of AEW, Says There Were ‘Egotistical Wrestlers’ Who Didn’t Want To Lose

AEW star Darby Allin thinks things have improved in AEW as of late because, as he puts it, “the cancer got cut out” of the company. The former TNT Champion recently appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he talked about why the vibe in AEW is feeling a lot better as of late. Allin credited that to AEW cutting out a “cancer.” While he didn’t name any names, Allin said he was referring to “groups of people” and “egotistical wrestlers that didn’t want to lose.”

Obviously, some fans might assume Darby Allin is referring to former AEW wrestler and AEW World Champion, CM Punk, who was fired from the company after a backstage incident with Jack Perry that took place at AEW All Out in August of that year.

Helwani asked if Allin was specifically referring to Punk, and he denied that was the case, explaining that Punk’s issue with AEW was not about who wins or loses. You can see highlights of Allin’s comments below:

On why the vibe around AEW has improved and become a lot more positive lately:

“The cancer got cut out. [Ariel Helwani asks, “Which is what?”] Just egotistical wrestlers that don’t want to lose.”

On AEW getting rid of “groups of people” who didn’t want to lose:

“No, just the groups of people, like there’s a lot of people. And that’s the thing. People came in. Well, that’s the thing, it’s like that’s what I was saying earlier with wrestling. With climbing Mount Everest, it’s like it kept me so grounded and level-headed. And at the end of the day, this is all staged. It’s the greatest thing in the world, but it’s staged. So, if you’re going to have an ego about that, get out of the ****ing sport. Go be in the UFC, go try, you know what I mean? Like, don’t be bringing that **** here. This is about having fun. This is about like just putting on a good energy, and like it’s like, ‘Come on, man. Just stop,’ and that’s like the biggest thing with me is like once all that got cleared up, I really felt okay, cool, let’s rock, but I just don’t like egos. I can’t stand them, can’t stand them.”

On if this was the same case in AEW in the company’s early days:

“I feel like in the early days, it I feel like the early days was all about throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what was stuck, right? You know, cuz this is a new company and half the people that was on the roster were never on national TV. So, we’re like, what works on the indies, is it going to work on national TV? We’ll find out. So, it was a lot of just throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what’s stuck. So, you know, and the fact that we were able to essentially, in six years to do what we do as a company is incredible. I think people really don’t stop and think, ‘Oh my god, 81,000 plus people at Wembley.’ Like that’s no joke. That is no joke. Yes. Think about that. 6 years in. It’s insane. And that’s like And I feel, you know, I don’t know. I’m just really happy to be a part of this ride.”

On whether he will name the cancer he’s referring to:

“No. No. I mean, it’s pretty obvious. It’s just who has the egos? … No, like who literally has the egos? Who doesn’t want to do what’s best for this company? It’s about doing what’s best for this company. You can pretty — It’s pretty obvious.”

Darby Allin on CM Punk’s issue in AEW and not being the cancer:

“No, Punk’s — the whole Punk thing was just his own thing. It wasn’t about wanting to win or lose. That’s the thing. And honestly, I feel — Like, at the end of the day, some people work better in WWE, some people work better in AEW, some people work better in TNA. Some people work better in MLW, New Japan. That’s the beauty of it.”

On his belief in doing what’s best for AEW:

“I’m not one of these guys that got to be like, there’s one game in town, blah blah blah. Like, I don’t care. I do not care. I just care what’s best for AEW as a whole. And right now, the energy that we have is what’s best for this place. And that’s what the best part about it is right now. Because of course, you’re going to have those growing pains, and you’re going to have those stresses, and like people are going to come in the company and think what’s best for business is what’s best for them. But that’s so not the case. I’m a guy who’s willing to go out there and do anything that this place needs me to do. I’m willing to lose to whoever. I do not care. I just want to have a good time because we are so grateful and just like to be doing this for a living. That never ceases to amaze me that I’m in the spot I’m in. I enjoy this.”

Some wrestlers who previously left AEW and joined WWE earlier this year include Rusev (formerly Miro), Aleister Black (formerly Malakai Black), and Ricky Saints (formerly Ricky Starks). There were rumors of Rusev not wanting to lose or job to other wrestlers in AEW, as reported by Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio. It’s unknown if any of the aforementioned wrestlers are the proverbial “cancer” that Darby Allin is referring to, who left AEW.

Darby Allin finally clashes with his bitter rival, former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley, at this weekend’s AEW WrestleDream 2025 event in an I Quit Match. The event takes place on Saturday, October 18 at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. It will be broadcast live on pay-per-view.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit The Ariel Helwani Show with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.