Professional wrestler Darby Allin, famously associated with fellow AEW star Sting, has admitted to being deeply influenced by another wrestling icon. In an interview with the “Flickering Myth” podcast, Allin disclosed that it was Mick Foley who played a crucial role in inspiring him to take up wrestling as a career.
His exact words were,
“As a kid watching it, I’d probably say I think like Mick Foley in the Hell in a Cell match, just because as a kid — it’s funny because, as a youngster, I used to think some wild stunts, it’s so awesome. But then when I immersed myself into the wrestling world, that’s when I started to appreciate the more technical wrestlers like Dean Malenko.
“But, much like me when I was a child, I want my wrestling to introduce someone who’s not a fan of wrestling and surprise them with, like ‘wow, that guy’s mad!,’ while at the same ensuring that avid wrestling fans can appreciate me for my technical skills and actual knowledge in wrestling. So, I feel it’s an entertaining way to get attention.”
The legendary match Allin alluded to is Foley’s fierce Hell in a Cell match held at King of the Ring 1998 where Foley dramatically hurtled both over and through the cell roof.
Allin, in likeness with Foley, is renowned for his daring approach in the ring. This strategy, albeit mesmerizing, has resulted in several exits from AEW shows due to his injuries.
Interestingly, a prominent WWE Hall of Famer recently tipped Allin as a future AEW World Champion.
Check out the following interview to get additional details about Allin’s career and influences. [Embedded content]