Darby Allin addressed a comparison made by Rob Van Dam in 2024, where Van Dam likened Allin to a modern-day Spike Dudley. During an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Allin explained that he does not identify with Dudley’s style, emphasizing that Dudley was never a technical wrestler while he considers himself much more skilled in that area. This interview provided a chance for Allin to clarify his wrestling identity and distance himself from the popular comparison.
Allin Highlights His Technical Wrestling Skills
When Chris Van Vliet noted that the comparison had more to do with the physicality and willingness to take bumps in the ring, Allin responded by stressing his technical abilities. He stated,
“Yeah. I don’t really see it, to be honest. Because I’m way more of a wrestler’s wrestler. I don’t feel like Spike (Dudley) was ever a technical wrestler.”
He continued,
“Definitely, but I definitely feel like I’m way more of a wrestler’s wrestler than that. I sh*t you not, I feel like I could out-wrestle a lot of people from a technical standpoint but, ain’t nobody wanna see Darby Allin do a lot of technical wrestling but when I do, it’s super fun, because I feel like people always forget that I know how to do this. But I got a ring at my house and I train all the time. So, yeah, I don’t personally see it, but that’s just the nature of the business. I feel like a lot of wrestling stuff is very small-minded. You think about, ‘Oh, he’s with Sting because they have face paint.’ It’s like, dude, it goes way beyond that. I feel like, yeah, a lot of people are very small-minded in wrestling.”
Spike Dudley’s Recent Wrestling Appearance
Spike Dudley made a brief return to wrestling at TNA Wrestling’s Bound For Glory pay-per-view in October, participating in the entrance for Team 3D’s final match. Despite Dudley’s enduring legacy, Allin insists his own style and approach to wrestling are distinct and more technically sound.
Understanding the Impact of Allin’s Perspective
Darby Allin’s rejection of the Spike Dudley comparison highlights the wider conversation about wrestling styles and fan perceptions. By emphasizing his technical skill and personal dedication to training, Allin challenges the tendency to simplify wrestlers into narrow categories based on appearances or isolated traits. His comments underline the complexity of modern wrestling personas and the varied talents performers bring to the ring.
As Allin’s career progresses, his insistence on being seen as a “wrestler’s wrestler” may influence how fans and industry insiders evaluate his matches and contributions. This perspective could reshape the narrative around his wrestling identity and open discussions about the importance of technical skill in contemporary wrestling.
If quoting from this article, credit Insight with Chris Van Vliet with a hat-tip to Fightful for the transcription.
