Darby Allin Talks Teaming With Sting, AEW Revolution, Climbing Mt. Everest

WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.480 --> 00:00:10.919 Why From the Parts Unknown Studios to the Battle Crown, Battle the Battle Bound, 2 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:18.079 the Battle Crowd. Welcome to the Battleground Podcast, your place for all 3 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:27.359 things pro wrestling. The Battle the Battle Brown now making their way to the 4 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:32.200 microphones. Give it up for your hosts. Welcome to the Battle Crown. 5 00:00:35.759 --> 00:00:40.240 What's up you guys? Welcome back into iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, the Battleground 6 00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:43.159 Podcast. And today we have a guest on the show that I think is 7 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:49.399 about to actually break his bosses records of most appearance on our podcast. We've 8 00:00:49.399 --> 00:00:51.799 got Darby Allen on the show. Back again, Darby, how are you 9 00:00:51.880 --> 00:00:56.759 doing, sir, honesty, I can't remember being here. Well, the 10 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:00.280 last time I was like, I've been here before. The last time we 11 00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:06.760 ran into was in Nashville at Dynamite. You met battles Sun backstage. So 12 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:12.359 your battle fun, no kid? Yeah, yeah, you met my. 13 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:15.439 You met my my six year old at the time. He a big fan 14 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:19.120 of yours and uh, before we do get started the whole thing, Uh, 15 00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:22.719 he's a big fan of wrestling. And I told him that I was 16 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:26.640 interviewing you today and he's like, please make sure you show Darby this And 17 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:30.680 I want you to know that he has your action finger and I had to 18 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:34.920 take it away from him because he's like, please make sure. He's already 19 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:37.480 lost the skateboard that came with it, but he found a coffin and a 20 00:01:37.519 --> 00:01:41.519 sledgehammer, and he's like, Darby likes coffins, so show him the coffin. 21 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:44.000 I was like, I'm not going I do. Yeah, yeah, 22 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:49.120 thanks thanks for supporting and getting absolutely for sure, So let's go ahead and 23 00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:52.519 get this out of the way real quick. With all due respect to the 24 00:01:52.519 --> 00:01:56.480 T and T Championship, how does it feel to be introduced as a world 25 00:01:56.599 --> 00:02:00.680 champion in ae WS, being one half of the World Tag Team Champions Oh, 26 00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:04.959 it's amazing. And the fact that I was never setting out to be 27 00:02:05.040 --> 00:02:07.199 a tag wrestler, Like in my career, I never even thought of being 28 00:02:07.240 --> 00:02:14.759 a tag wrestler, let alone being a tag wrestler with thing, that's amazing. 29 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:20.360 Sure, it's awesome. Yeah, it's it's crazy. And I couldn't 30 00:02:20.360 --> 00:02:23.439 have had a better partner. Absolutely, And of course a lot of people 31 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:27.120 were excited when you two tagged together, and you know, it's kind of 32 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:31.159 bittersweet coming up aw Revolution coming to us Live Sunday, March third, from 33 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:37.479 the Greensboro Coliseum with the Marque announcement of this being Sting's final match. Of 34 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:40.240 course, there's still some tickets to remain aw ticks dot Com, where, 35 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:43.960 of course, you can watch it live from home on pay per view, 36 00:02:44.039 --> 00:02:47.879 Bleacher Report Live and in the US and Triller TV Plus internationally. What are 37 00:02:47.919 --> 00:02:52.960 some of the ideas that you had in your head about how Sting's final match 38 00:02:53.240 --> 00:03:00.919 could play out. Ah, it scares me because I uh, you know, 39 00:03:00.599 --> 00:03:04.639 this is the very last match, so there's nothing left to lose, 40 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:09.120 and I think someone might go to the hospital. I think it's gonna be 41 00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:14.520 it's gonna be a wild fight, and I know I'll stop it nothing to 42 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:17.719 make sure that it's probably one of the most rememberable matches that he's ever had. 43 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:22.759 So yeah, man, people are always going to remember this. If 44 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:27.159 you crap the bet on the last match, people are always going to remember 45 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:34.080 that. So it's my mission statement right here that I am going to make 46 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:38.400 sure this man's career ends with the respect it deserves. And if I have 47 00:03:38.439 --> 00:03:45.400 to sacrifice myself, so be it. A sacrifice must be made. Yeah. 48 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:49.599 Well, and you know, heading into the final match on this road 49 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:52.280 we're on you know, you guys did become TEG team champs, and I 50 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:54.360 think both of you would say, you know, was really on your radar. 51 00:03:55.479 --> 00:04:00.319 This mark Stink's first and only championship within aw What does it mean to 52 00:04:00.360 --> 00:04:04.719 you to be a part of his final championship within the world of professional wrestling? 53 00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:11.599 And you know, what does a post championship victory party look like for 54 00:04:11.719 --> 00:04:14.639 Stinging Darby? Like what do you guys go out for pizza? Like? 55 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.600 What what do you guys do for big big events and stuff? Well, 56 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.759 when we when we won the Tag Championships, I didn't really get to see 57 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:26.480 him because I was in the back getting stitched up with my head. So 58 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:29.120 by the time I was done, he was long gone. So I was 59 00:04:29.120 --> 00:04:35.160 like, there's our after parties spent bloody thanks. I think I think the 60 00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:43.480 whole thing with you know things final as the tag champion and everything like that, 61 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:46.240 it's awesome because he was never supposed to come to a w as a 62 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:50.360 wrestler. It was more like an ambassador type role. And the fact that 63 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:55.279 he took my word and took a chance on me when I convinced him to 64 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:58.839 come back to wrestling and actually get in the ring, and you know, 65 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:01.920 he just you never want to get out there, and everyone's like, oh, 66 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:04.240 he should have stayed you know, he should have stayed out. But 67 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:10.399 he got back and then he meant he's he's going crazier than ever. Never 68 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:14.000 in his career was he jumping on for fifteen foot balconies. No, so 69 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:16.920 let's just let's just wait till you're sixty plus years old to start that. 70 00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:21.639 It's awesome, you know, I'm very I'm very grateful for the whole experience. 71 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:26.240 The man is wild. His work ethic is insane. He busts ass 72 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:30.439 more than some of the young guys do. So everybody on the roster watching 73 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:34.839 this step your game up because sting Is is outperforming you guys, and he 74 00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:39.600 has nothing to prove. He could have just came to a ew and rode 75 00:05:39.600 --> 00:05:43.319 out into the sunset playing the greatest heads. But no, man like he's 76 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:47.079 got he's just showing everybody that you can't phone it in. And that's awesome 77 00:05:47.199 --> 00:05:50.720 for a guy like me because every time I go out there, it feels 78 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:55.519 like the very first time I walk out there, and I have everything to 79 00:05:55.600 --> 00:06:00.360 prove. I had that chip on my shoulder every single night so I'm yeah, 80 00:06:00.439 --> 00:06:03.519 I love learning from the best, absolutely, and it's like for me 81 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:09.720 being a fan since since these days, you know, he probably still has 82 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:13.720 enough gas in the tank. I mean he could still continue doing that. 83 00:06:13.800 --> 00:06:16.399 I mean he's performing at a very high level right now. That's the kind 84 00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:21.160 of surreal thing about it. All I think is just that he's he doesn't 85 00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:26.079 look his age in the ring, you know. Yeah, he told me, 86 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:30.439 he looked at me and he said, hey, you let me know 87 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:33.800 when it's time to retire, because I don't want to stay along too. 88 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:38.439 I don't want to stay around too long and then almost be a parody of 89 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:44.439 myself. And I just feel like with everything, man, like we got 90 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:47.680 nothing left to prove in aw, we did the Wembley, you know, 91 00:06:47.720 --> 00:06:53.000 we won the Tag Championships. You know, We've had so much amazing matches 92 00:06:53.160 --> 00:06:57.079 with some of the best tag teams like FTR, and it's just like, 93 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:01.959 let's just end it right now. Like, and you know that was he 94 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:06.759 felt comfortable with it and like it's time. So it's gonna be It's gonna 95 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:12.439 be bittersweet once it all happens, because I almost forget what life was like 96 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:19.439 before sting. He's been every single day. I've learned to like know him 97 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:25.240 so much outside of the ring, which is like the most important part is 98 00:07:25.279 --> 00:07:29.480 that that's the thing that fans don't get to see as our relationship outside of 99 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:33.480 the ring, and the fact that he's done everything there is to do in 100 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:39.639 wrestling, and he hasn't like no ego. He's he doesn't have a big 101 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:44.000 head. He's not arrogant. He's the nicest, humblest guy. And I've 102 00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:47.920 met so many people that have done far less than he ever will have the 103 00:07:47.959 --> 00:07:53.800 biggest head and the biggest egos. And I'm just like, screw you guys, 104 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:58.680 like stay humble, Like how why is it so hard to be a 105 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:01.120 normal person? Like why is it so hard to like stay humble and kind? 106 00:08:01.199 --> 00:08:05.000 Why do you have to have this carne ass atmosphere about you? Like 107 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:09.879 trying to backstat people because that promo I cut last night talking about family, 108 00:08:09.199 --> 00:08:11.920 I meant every word I said of that. You know, the fame, 109 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:16.519 we chase, the spotlight and material things like everything, but when you're on 110 00:08:16.560 --> 00:08:20.800 your deathbed and then you realize what was really important. I wish more people 111 00:08:20.879 --> 00:08:24.839 have that because they just they're living in this fake asked world of just like 112 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:28.680 backstabbing each other for what for what? Like I thin can buy a new 113 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:31.759 boat, Like I don't. I really have no clue. I'm just sick 114 00:08:31.799 --> 00:08:35.519 of the Carney' shit. And the fact that Sting has done everything there is 115 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:41.639 to do in wrestling and it has no ego. Yeah, that's the example. 116 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:46.120 That's the example we need for the next generation of wrestlers. You don't 117 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:50.279 have to grow up trying to screw each other over so exactly for sure. 118 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.679 Yeah, Well, speaking about Dynamite this past Wednesday, the promo, a 119 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:01.840 lot of people were talking about you and Sting, you know, just incredible 120 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:03.399 mic work for both of you. A lot of people are saying that could 121 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:07.960 be one of Sting's best promos of all time, especially after the month he's 122 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:11.759 had in the last few weeks. What is it like being that close to 123 00:09:11.799 --> 00:09:16.600 someone delivering a promo like that, knowing the gravity of everything that's going on 124 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:26.360 right now, The fact that he wanted to talk about it is like, 125 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:30.639 you know, I feel like he's just like I just want to show the 126 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:37.360 world, like what I'm going through, and and just like once we started 127 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:43.440 rolling and I said my piece and then it was all him I kind of 128 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:48.240 just closed my eyes and listened and was taking it all in because the fact 129 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:52.639 that he was talking so much from the heart, and I feel like the 130 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:58.519 whole realization of not just his career ending, but his life ending, you 131 00:09:58.559 --> 00:10:03.200 know, like real life, you know, because I'm gonna speak right now, 132 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:05.120 I'm still on that stage of my life where I feel like I'm gonna 133 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:11.600 live forever, you know, I haven't, you know, so he it's 134 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:16.159 like it's just really seeing what's most important in life and to hear that from 135 00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:20.559 him, and it's just like, man, it's it's wild to be a 136 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:24.240 part of this whole thing. But just let the man speak from the heart. 137 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:26.799 And I try to like stay out of it and just let him be 138 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:30.279 in the spotlight after I said my piece. And that's all I want is 139 00:10:30.360 --> 00:10:33.039 I don't I don't want to take anything away from him. I just want 140 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:37.759 this to be about him, so right for sure. And of course, 141 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:43.480 uh, you know, it's Sting's last match at ae W Revolution. And 142 00:10:43.840 --> 00:10:46.840 the question I guess I have for you is, you know, after this 143 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:48.759 is all said and done, once we're all done with this, how do 144 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:54.799 you plan to honor Sting and your legacy? Together. After he hangs his 145 00:10:54.799 --> 00:10:58.240 boots up and you're back out there on your own, I'm gonna get a 146 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:01.080 big ask we're being tattoo on my face? Is that for real? Is 147 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:05.399 that? No? No? No, I mean I bet you. I 148 00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:09.279 mean I was gonna say, I bet you he's thrilled about that. Yeah, 149 00:11:09.440 --> 00:11:13.240 No, I think it's it's gonna be really interesting, you know, 150 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:18.720 after that, because I've forgot what life was like before Sting. You know, 151 00:11:18.759 --> 00:11:24.639 he's always been there now and that's where I'm kind of going on that 152 00:11:24.759 --> 00:11:30.759 vision quest after he hangs up the boots and go climb Ount Everest and kind 153 00:11:30.759 --> 00:11:33.320 of remind myself what I'm capable of, you know, when I dig deep 154 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:37.000 down inside, and you know, I'm just gonna have a lot of time 155 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:39.799 on that mountain to remind myself exactly who Darby Allen is and what I'm capable 156 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:43.320 of. And once I come back down, you know, I'm gonna be 157 00:11:43.360 --> 00:11:48.360 a whole different beast, and I'm looking forward to it. But uh, 158 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:52.600 I just I feel like right now it's the perfect time for Sting to retire. 159 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:58.960 You know, he has every he's just he's been rocking, so let's 160 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:03.600 just end it. While we're hot. Absolutely yeah, and uh, you 161 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:07.440 mentioned you're you're about to get ready to train climb Mount Everest. How's the 162 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:13.159 training going for that while wrestling at the same time. Yeah. I don't 163 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:18.039 think anybody will truly understand how hard this has been if everyone thinks I'm like 164 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:22.519 super reckless and I just just go to Mount Everest with zero mount experience. 165 00:12:22.919 --> 00:12:26.240 So I signed up. I sign up with the company. The idea came 166 00:12:26.360 --> 00:12:31.960 late last spring, so I sign up with a company called Adventure Consultants. 167 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:35.279 They're like the premier Mount Everest climbing group. And then I said, I 168 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:39.000 want to climb Mount Everest and there do you have any experience climbing? And 169 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:43.000 I say absolutely not. And then they're like, well, the next climbing 170 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:48.200 is happening in April, So you got six months to train for the biggest 171 00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:54.159 mountain in the world with zero mount experience on top of all the crazy stuff 172 00:12:54.200 --> 00:12:58.440 you do in the ring and outside the ring. We're gonna be honest, 173 00:12:58.480 --> 00:13:03.399 we don't think you capable of that. And I said, all right, 174 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:05.960 well put me up to the test. Any training program you have, like, 175 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:11.000 let's go. And I flew to so many different countries and so many 176 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:16.200 different mountains I've climbed. It's been gnarly. It's been so gnarly. I 177 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:20.279 could talk for an hour about what happened on those mountains and how gnarly people 178 00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:28.000 were coughing up blood, crapping their pants. Meanwhile, I felt completely fine. 179 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:31.720 I was just tired. And then there's people that have climbed mountains, 180 00:13:31.759 --> 00:13:35.879 throwing up blood all this stuff, and they're like, what's your secret? 181 00:13:35.919 --> 00:13:41.759 And I was like, I honestly have no idea. I just think it's 182 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:45.440 like what I've put my body through for my whole life and has got me 183 00:13:45.559 --> 00:13:50.000 ready for these moments like that. So it's been crazy. But by the 184 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:54.039 end of the training, I finished everything with Flying Colors and they told me, 185 00:13:54.279 --> 00:13:58.240 you have what it takes to claim out Everest. So the only thing 186 00:13:58.279 --> 00:14:03.600 that's going to stop me is either avalanche or a yetnie. So we'll see, 187 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:05.320 we'll see, we'll see. Well, we don't want to take up 188 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:07.519 too much your time. I know you got a you got a lot of 189 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:11.919 things going on today. It's it's great to have you back on the show. 190 00:14:11.279 --> 00:14:13.799 I know my seven year old's gonna get excited about this when I show 191 00:14:13.840 --> 00:14:18.639 him the clip of me showing you his action figure and uh, Darby, 192 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:22.960 we wish you nothing but the best, good luck with climbing Mount Everest, 193 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:26.360 and once you accomplished that, we get you back here and we uh we 194 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:33.840 could spend an hour talking about you climbing Mount Everest. One. We hope 195 00:14:33.879 --> 00:14:37.919 you enjoyed today's episode of the Battleground Podcast. Make sure you give it five 196 00:14:37.960 --> 00:14:41.720 stars and a nice review. To stay up to date with the show, 197 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:56.519 follow them at Battleground Podcast on Instagram,