Ariel Helwani’s had an interesting relationship with AEW over the years. It wasn’t particularly noteworthy until a 2022 interview with president and head of creative Tony Khan went off the rails.
Then it was on Helwani’s show where CM Punk dropped multiple pipe bombs on Khan and his entire operating last year. But neither the promotion nor the host and interviewer ever decided to cut off ties completely, and today (Oct. 13) Darby Allin was on The Ariel Helwani Show to talk this weekend’s WrestleDream
PPV.
During their conversation, Helwani asked about “the vibe” at AEW, saying that “it feels like there’s a lot of positivity”. Allin responded:
“Oh, it’s amazing. I’m not just saying that… like a few years ago, it was like — you definitely felt, like, this tension. But now it’s like, everybody’s on the same page. Let’s make this place as good as possible.
”And I feel like a lot of people have to truly understand how good they have it. Cause Tony doesn’t — he wants everybody in the ring, and in their personal life, to be happy… That’s a really good energy, where it’s like, ‘Hey, everybody, be the best versions of yourself.’
“And I feel like right now, more than ever, everybody’s on the same wavelength. Everybody has the same goals.“
Asked what changed, Darby replied with a smile:
“The cancer got cut out. [Which is] Just egotistical wrestlers that don’t want to lose.”
The host pushed for some information that would confirm rumors and reports of former, and now once-again current WWE names like Aleister Black (fka Malakai Black) and Rusev (Miro) who didn’t want to lose or had issues with their booking. Elsewhere in the interview, he also specified that none of his criticism applied to CM Punk, who Allin said he’s still friends with. Darby said he was talking about “groups of people”, then described how his recent trek to the top of Mount Everest changed his perspective — and how he really hates egotists now:
“That’s the thing, that’s what I was saying earlier with… climbing Mount Everest — it kept me so grounded and level-headed, and at the end of the day, this is all staged. It’s the greatest thing in the world, but it’s staged. So if you’re going to have an ego about that, get out of the fucking sport.
”Go be in the UFC. Go try — you know what I mean? Don’t be bringing that shit here. This is about having fun. This is about, like, just putting on a good energy and, like, come on, man. Just stop. And that was like the biggest thing with me — once all that got cleared up, I really felt, ‘Okay, cool. Let’s rock.’ But I just don’t like egos. I can’t stand them.”
Allin and Jon Moxley will look to put on a good energy in their I Quit match Saturday (Oct. 18) at WrestleDream. Check out today’s entire Ariel Helwani Show — also featuring Hornswoggle — here.
