On the Thanksgiving Eve episode of AEW Dynamite, Darby Allin was defeated by Kevin Knight in the Gold League during the 2025 Continental Classic. Unfortunately, Allin sustained several injuries, which AEW commentator Tony Schiavone stated would prevent him from continuing in round-robin tournaments. During Saturday’s AEW Collision broadcast, Schiavone announced that former AEW TNT and Tag Team Champion Jack Perry would be stepping in as Allin’s replacement at the Continental Classic. Despite the setback, Allin sent Perry his best wishes for the competition ahead.
In a backstage promo, Allin shared his thoughts: “Wrestling Kevin Knight for the first time was intense. I felt my legs go numb and was rushed to the hospital. The doctors likely want to sit me out of this classic, and that’s okay. If it’s to protect ‘The Derby,’ so be it. I’m not bitter. Jack Perry embodies a similar spirit to mine. Although we’ve never seen eye-to-eye, I hope he wins it all since he’s taking my spot. As for me, I’m not done yet.”
Currently, there is no update on when Allin might return to in-ring action following his injuries. Perry begins with zero points in the Gold League and has upcoming matches against “Speedball” Mike Bailey, “Protostar” Kyle Fletcher, Kazuchika Okada, and PAC. Fletcher leads the C2 Gold League standings with six points.
Fan Take: This development is significant for AEW fans as Darby Allin is a fan-favorite known for his fearless style, and his absence shifts the tournament dynamics. Jack Perry’s entry adds fresh excitement and unpredictability, potentially shaking up the competition and keeping AEW’s storytelling compelling.
