On a recent edition of Tony Schiavone’s “What Happened When” podcast, former WWE Superstar Hornswoggle lavished praise on AEW wrestler Darby Allin, comparing him to the daredevil Jeff Hardy.
Hornswoggle said, “He’s something special man. I say it all the time, he’s this generation’s — I mean Jeff Hardy is still going obviously, but he is this generation’s Jeff Hardy. The stuff he does is stuff that’s never been seen or shouldn’t be done on a national weekly level and it just blows my mind. He’s incredible.”
In a recent interview with NJPW1972.com, Mayu Iwatani discussed working with Mercedes Mone and praised the former WWE Superstar for the athlete she is.
Iwatani defeated Mone to win the IWGP Women’s Championship at STARDOM’s All-Star Grand Queendom on April 23, 2023.
Iwatani said, “I was so happy! In the moment I really felt for the first time that it was a good thing I wasn’t the first champion. You know, I’d actually said to a lot of people there was no point in me going for that belt if I wasn’t the first, I wouldn’t challenge after losing in the tournament. I was encouraged not to give up, and sure enough little by little I started feeling ‘you know, I do kinda want that title’ and then ‘I’ll win it, I’ll definitely win it!’ And when I did, I felt in a way that it was better I never won it the first time. Someone the presence that she has, it doesn’t seem real that I would be able to face her, right? Like it shouldn’t happen, but it did, and it was such an important experience. Mercedes is amazing. The way she carries herself, she’s just such a pro’s pro. The way she’s so good at getting a rise out of opponents and the people. Io Shirai and Nanae Takahashi are the two women I’ve always respected the most in wrestling, but Mercedes definitely joined that list. I’m not really one to show frustration, and I’ve got a pretty long fuse. A lot of girls will grab hair at press conferences and go for that trash talk and I’m not the type to do that. With Mercedes I got really hot. She made me want to tear her apart, and that’s to her credit (laughs). That’s the superstar in her, she can do that and then when the time is right make sure all of the attention is on her and her alone in that ring.”
In a recent interview with Irish Wrestling and Entertainment, former WWE Superstar Lio Rush recalled his debut for OTT Wrestling back in 2017 ahead of his upcoming return to the promotion.
Rush will face Scotty Davis at OTT Gaffy Party Night 2 next month.
He said, “I remember OTT was like a dream honestly, because I didn’t have it really in my plans. This was something that happened last minute. I remember getting a phone call saying, ‘are you free?’ I was in America. They ended up booking me a flight. I flew out within two days. I ended up teaming with Will and Smile and just having a blast. I remember just looking out and seeing just a sea of people. It was so many people there. The energy was incredible. We wrestled the Elite that night, Kenny Omega. I was a 21-year-old hot prospect that a lot of people got to hear about. But this was my first time being in Ireland and being there for OTT, and the energy was just incredible.”
In the world of professional wrestling, there are always new stars emerging and making a name for themselves. Two such wrestlers who have recently received high praise from their peers are Darby Allin and Mercedes Mone.
Former WWE Superstar Hornswoggle recently spoke highly of Darby Allin on Tony Schiavone’s “What Happened When” podcast. Hornswoggle compared Allin to the daredevil Jeff Hardy, stating that Allin is “this generation’s Jeff Hardy.” He praised Allin for his unique and innovative wrestling style, saying that the things he does in the ring have never been seen before or shouldn’t be done on a national weekly level. Hornswoggle described Allin as incredible and someone special.
Another wrestler receiving praise is Mercedes Mone, who was recently defeated by Mayu Iwatani in a match for the IWGP Women’s Championship at STARDOM’s All-Star Grand Queendom. In an interview with NJPW1972.com, Iwatani spoke highly of Mone’s athleticism and professionalism. She expressed her happiness at winning the championship and felt that it was better she didn’t win it the first time. Iwatani commended Mone for her presence and the way she carries herself, calling her a pro’s pro. She also mentioned that Mone has joined the list of wrestlers she respects the most.
Former WWE Superstar Lio Rush also shared his memorable experience with OTT Wrestling in a recent interview with Irish Wrestling and Entertainment. Rush recalled his debut for the promotion back in 2017, which happened last minute. He described OTT as a dream come true and mentioned the incredible energy he felt from the crowd. Rush teamed up with Will Ospreay and Marty Scurll to face The Elite, including Kenny Omega. He expressed his excitement at being in Ireland for the first time and being part of OTT, stating that the energy was amazing.
These recent interviews highlight the talent and impact of wrestlers like Darby Allin, Mercedes Mone, and Lio Rush. Their peers recognize their skills, professionalism, and ability to captivate audiences. As the world of professional wrestling continues to evolve, these individuals are making their mark and leaving a lasting impression on fans and fellow wrestlers alike.