For the second consecutive year, AEW’s Continental Classic tournament has encountered early adjustments. During last Saturday’s "AEW Collision," it was announced that Darby Allin, a Gold League competitor, was hospitalized and not medically cleared to face Kevin Knight in the opening match. Jack Perry, a former AEW TNT and tag team champion and Allin’s rival, stepped in as his replacement, marking Perry’s debut in the Continental Classic.
The day before this news was made public, Dave Meltzer revealed in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Allin had sustained a head injury during his match with Knight, likely a concussion. On Monday’s Wrestling Observer Radio, while discussing Allin’s promo on "Collision," Meltzer provided further insights, reinforcing that Allin’s injury appears to be related to his head. Meltzer noted, “I think Darby was there because he did an interview. He can travel. He said he couldn’t use his legs. Of course, we know it was a head injury, but with a head injury, you never know. But he was there. I think that’s a good sign. He was like, ‘Well, the doctors won’t let me wrestle.’ That’s fine. But he said he had to go to the hospital because he was really scared. So that’s never a good thing.”
No estimated timeline has been provided regarding when Allin might return to wrestling, leaving his status uncertain. Despite his high-risk wrestling style and significant impacts, this marks only the second time in his six years with AEW that Allin has missed a match due to injury concerns. Earlier this year, he was sidelined for seven months while preparing for and ultimately completing a climb to the summit of Mount Everest.
If quoting from this report, please credit "Wrestling Observer Radio" and attribute the transcription to Wrestling Inc.
Fan Take: This update is crucial for AEW fans as Darby Allin is a fan-favorite known for his daring style, and his absence could shift momentum in the Continental Classic. It also highlights the growing importance of injury awareness and athlete health in professional wrestling, signaling a positive move toward prioritizing wrestler safety in the sport.
