Sports Then and Now

AEW, or All Elite Wrestling, is doing well these days. They’ll start touring again in July, and at that point, their fans around the country can see all their favorite wrestlers again live, something they couldn’t do during the pandemic’s early stages. This is also a chance for management to see who the live crowds are cheering for and who has not “gotten over” in wrestling parlance.

One guy who seems to have gotten over is Darby Allin, the former TNT Champion. Despite dropping the title to Miro a few days ago, Allin seems poised for bigger things. One question remains, though: can an undersized individual make it to main event status in a company full of larger, more muscular specimens?

Who is Darby Allin?

The non-wrestling fan can easily spot someone like Hulk Hogan if they see him walking through an airport. People know Hogan’s name and face worldwide, but he’s also a large, physically intimidating individual. Darby Allin, by contrast, is a mere 5 foot 8 and weighs 170 pounds.

Darby’s real name is Samuel Ratsch, and he’s from Seattle, Washington. He made a name for himself on the independent circuit, participating in gruesome matches with “All Ego” Ethan Page. Allin was one of the first signings when AEW officially opened its doors in 2019.