Darby Allin is taking a detour from the world of suplexes and steel chairs to tackle a challenge that makes even the Death Riders’ brutal beatdown look like a warm-up: Mount Everest. The former TNT and World Tag Team Champion is officially off AEW programming for the next few months, preparing for an expedition that’s less “ladder match” and more “extreme altitude.”
Darby’s Everest Adventure
After being thrown down steel steps on the December 27 episode of AEW Rampage, Darby Allin hasn’t been seen in AEW rings. Now we know why: he’s training to climb Mount Everest. According to Fightful Select, Allin will be away until spring, as the climb itself and the preparation required demand significant time off.
While Allin’s athleticism might help speed up his training, Mount Everest isn’t exactly forgiving. The climb, according to experts, typically takes six to ten weeks, involving everything from acclimatization to dodging avalanches. Allin previously postponed an Everest expedition scheduled for early 2024 due to a broken foot sustained during a match at AEW Dynamite: Big Business. With that behind him, he’s ready to take his signature fearlessness to literal new heights.
Wrestling Plans on Hold
Before his departure, Allin tied with Ricochet in the Blue League of the Continental Classic on the December 25 episode of AEW Dynamite. Reports suggested Allin was internally slated for a post-Classic push, but those plans are now on pause. Upon his return, Allin is expected to pick up where he left off, presumably reigniting his feud with the Death Riders and AEW World Champion Jon Moxley.
It’s unclear how AEW will handle his absence in-storyline, but given the violent exit courtesy of the Death Riders, they’ve set the stage for a fiery return. Will Darby’s Everest journey give him new heights of momentum in his AEW career? Only time—and oxygen levels—will tell.