AEW President Tony Khan recently shed light on the reasons behind a major star’s unexpected hiatus during the ongoing Continental Classic tournament.
Darby Allin, one of AEW’s top stars known for his daring in-ring stunts, was a highly anticipated participant in this year’s tournament. Fans watched eagerly as he faced Kevin Knight in the opening match. Unfortunately, Darby lost that match and was then declared unfit to continue in the tournament. Jack Perry stepped in as his replacement for the remainder of the competition.
Reports revealed that Darby Allin suffered a leg injury during his latest match, which required immediate hospitalization. Speaking with TV Insider, Tony Khan described the injury as serious and explained that medical professionals advised against Darby continuing to compete.
“It was a serious enough injury at the time that Darby Allin had. He is one of the toughest people in the world in my opinion and had to step out of the tournament. He didn’t want to be taken out. The doctors felt that he shouldn’t continue,” Khan said.
He added, “It was certainly from an accumulation of injuries from all the crazy things he has done in the ring and outside the ring, ringside area and backstage and all the crazy fights we’ve seen Darby in. They take their toll.”
This year’s incident echoes last year’s Continental Classic tournament when Juice Robinson had to be pulled out due to a leg injury. Tony Khan recently discussed the impact of Darby Allin’s absence on AEW’s booking plans during the Worlds End media call.
He revealed that losing the former TNT Champion midway through the tournament caused scheduling challenges and disrupted the overall flow of the event — issues the promotion had not encountered the previous year.
As of now, there is no confirmed timeline for Darby Allin’s return. Fans and the AEW community remain hopeful for his recovery and eventual comeback to the ring.
[H/T TV Insider]
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