Darby Allin’s creative plans have been set for more than a year, so what we are seeing unfold was not a quick pivot.  

AEW president Tony Khan knew from Day 1 that once one of his biggest homegrown stars broke his foot in a match with Jay White at Big Business in March 2024 that he had to alter any creative plans.

Allin was supposed to be off to television for months after he clashed with White to go climb Mount Everest. The injury forced Allin’s trip up to the summit to be delayed until 2025, something Khan said he promised Allin he would let him do, before his return at All In this past June. 

“It was always the plan for Darby to go away and I knew that from the spring of 2024 and was able to make plans,” Khan said.