In the past, Darby Allin has explained why he ultimately chose AEW over WWE, citing being able to control of his character in AEW as his main reasoning over choosing the big promotion.
The 27-year-old dives deeper into his mindset regarding his thoughts about the big wrestling company and in his opinion, WWE tryouts are a joke and details having no interest in being classified as a cruiserweight for 205 Live (Transcript courtesy of wrestlinginc.com):
“They asked me if I was interested in coming down. At the time, I'm not trying to sound like I'm too good for it, but I was already....you either want me or you don't. I'm not gonna tryout because you already know what I can do based off the company I was working for [EVOLVE], they work so close with WWE. I was already wrestling all their wrestlers like Chris Hero and Velveteen Dream.
The people I see get tryouts is such a joke, it doesn't mean anything anymore. I'm not gonna sit here and be this clown. Then I thought about it and I didn't want to go there anymore. I started to talk with Cody more and more. I was like, 'I see the writing on the wall. I'm not gonna go there and play this game where I be a cruiserweight, 205 Live person.
Then my body of work, my art, my promos would never see the light of day.' I'm not gonna play games. There are thousands of people there and you forget they even exist half the time. I'm not gonna be locked in a Performance Center. I made that very clear to Cody and the rest is history," said Allin on AEW Unrestricted.
Check out the full interview where Allin talks about meeting Cody Rhodes for the first time, his views on the independent scene, and so much more!