Last year, AEW wrestler Darby Allin successfully reached the summit of Mt. Everest, a feat he has openly discussed since completing the climb. During a recent appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Allin shared insights into what drove him to undertake such a daunting challenge, pointing to his frustration with backstage politics in professional wrestling as a major factor.
In wrestling, you can politick and you can lie and kiss ass all you want, but I never wanted to be that guy,
Allin said.
It’s not just in wrestling, it’s in day-to-day life, all kinds of businesses, there’s a lot of ass-kissers and politickers. But I figured when you do something like Mt. Everest, you can’t politick your way to the top because you’ll die trying. You have to actually put the work in, and that’s what was so great, because I was sick and tired of just being around fake ass f***ing people.
– Darby Allin, AEW Wrestler
Overcoming Setbacks to Achieve the Goal
Allin’s expedition was temporarily delayed by an injury, but he ultimately embarked on the climb early last year. Throughout his journey, he documented the experience before returning to AEW during the summer. The challenge served as a personal test of his limits and resilience, proving to himself that reaching Everest’s peak was possible, even with the risk of life-threatening conditions.
Lessons Learned During the Mountain Journey
The climb provided Allin with valuable perspective on his personal struggles, helping him to view many concerns as less significant than previously thought. He reflected on how survival situations strip away superficial worries about appearances or comfort, leading him to re-evaluate his ego and priorities. This transformative experience reinforced his disdain for the ego-driven theatrics common in wrestling backstage environments.
A Shift Away from Ego and Materialism
Since returning home, Darby Allin has grown even more disillusioned with the politicking and inflated egos associated with professional wrestling. He has expressed a decreased attachment to material possessions and a stronger focus on living authentically and meaningfully, rather than getting caught up in false facades and status games.
