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Samuel Ratsch (born January 7, 1993),[5] better known by the ring name Darby Allin, is an American professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) where he is a former two-time AEW TNT Champion and former one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion (with Sting). Ratsch is also known for his appearances in World Wrestling Network promotions also wrestling for Evolve.
| Darby Allin | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Allin in 2019 | |
| Birth name | Samuel Ratsch |
| Born | January 7, 1993 Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) |
|
| Billed height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)[2] |
| Billed weight | 175 lb (79 kg)[2] |
| Billed from | Seattle, Washington[3] |
| Trained by | Buddy Wayne[4] |
| Debut | 2014 |
Growing up, Ratsch took part in track and field and played football as one of his grandfathers played in the NFL.[6] He also took part in amateur wrestling, but only because he assumed it was professional wrestling.[6] He later attended a film school in Arizona, dropping out to pursue a career in skateboarding.[7] Through his connections with Matt Schlager, Ratsch regularly appeared in video clips with his friends on Ridiculousness, until one video was too extreme for the program to air.[6] He also appeared on an episode of Sex Sent Me to the ER, later admitting in an interview with Chris Van Vliet that the story was fabricated, as he needed the money.[8] For about three years, Ratsch was intentionally homeless.[9]
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Independent circuit (2014–2019)
Ratsch made his professional wrestling debut in late 2014 for Blue Collar Wrestling in Portland, Oregon under the ring name Darby Graves, before changing it to Darby Allin.[10] Between the years 2015 to 2019, Darby Allin wrestled for wrestling promotions like EVOLVE Wrestling, The Wrestling REVOLVER, Full Impact Pro, Pro Wrestling Guerilla, and Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).[11]
World Wrestling Network (2016–2019)
Allin debuted for World Wrestling Network at Evolve 59 in April 2016, losing to Ethan Page.[12] At Evolve 74, Allin was defeated via countout by Brian Cage after Cage had powerslammed Allin over a barricade.[13][14] Allin made his Style Battle debut in January 2017, losing to Dave Crist.[15] Allin made his Full Impact Pro debut in early 2017 at FIP Everything Burns, losing a Fight For All match. On the same show, Allin, along with A. R. Fox, Dave Crist and Sami Callihan defeated Sammy Guevara, Dezmond Xavier, Jason Kincaid and Jason Cade.[16] At Evolve 93, he was defeated by DJZ.[17] in January 2018, Allin faced Zack Sabre Jr. for the Evolve Championship at EVOLVE 98, in a losing effort.[2]
On August 30, 2018, it was announced that at Evolve 113, Allin would be facing NXT wrestler, the Velveteen Dream.[18] At Evolve 113, Allin was defeated by Dream.[19] At Evolve 116, Allin was defeated by Mustafa Ali.[20] At Evolve 117, Allin was defeated by Kassius Ohno.[21] The next night at Evolve 118, Allin was defeated by Roderick Strong.[22]
During WrestleMania weekend, he wrestled his last match for Evolve at Evolve 125, in a defeat to Anthony Henry.[23] He also wrestled at Amerika Ist Wunderbar, promoted by Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw), and in conjunction with WWN, where he was defeated by Avalanche.[24] The following day at WWN Supershow Mercury Rising, he teamed with his wife Priscilla Kelly, where they were defeated by Austin Theory and Brandi Lauren.[25] That same weekend, it was revealed he was going to be ending his three-year relationship with Evolve and WWN.[12]
Major League Wrestling (2017–2018)
Darby Allin debuted at the MLW One-Shot pay-per-view as a heel, in a victory against Jason Cade. His next feud would be against John Hennigan & Shane Strickland at Never say Never, alongside Jimmy Havoc which lead to a victory against the latter, with Darby hitting Henningan with a Coffin Drop strapped to a chair from the top of the balcony. He would have various feuds with the likes of Joey Janela & Sami Callahan before departing in April of 2018, due to various commitments.
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (2018)
On June 3, 2018, Allin made his Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide debut at Verano de Escándalo in a six-way match which was won by Aero Star. Other competitors in the match included Drago, Sammy Guevara, Australian Suicide and Golden Magic.[26]
Progress Wrestling (2018–2019)
In 2018, Allin wrestled for Progress Wrestling during their American tours. He made his debut for the promotion at Chapter 66: Mardi Graps, held in Louisiana, in a Thuderbastard match which was won by Jeff Cobb.[27] He later appeared on day five of the Coast to Coast Tour, teaming with Jack Sexsmith and Toni Storm in a six-person tag team match.[28]
On March 14, 2019, Allin was announced as a participant in the Super Strong Style 16. At the event, he was defeated by Paul Robinson.[29] On day two, he teamed with Chris Ridgeway and Lucky Kid in a six-man lucha rules tag team match, defeating Artemis Spencer, Chris Brookes and DJZ.[30] On day three, Allin took part in a scramble match, which was won by Brookes.[31]
All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)
Early storylines (2019–2020)
On April 12, 2019, Allin signed with the newly launched All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[32] He made his AEW debut at the Fyter Fest event on June 29, where he wrestled Cody to a time-limit draw.[33] The following month at Fight for the Fallen, Allin teamed with Joey Janela and Jimmy Havoc in a losing effort to Shawn Spears, MJF and Sammy Guevara.[34] After the match, the three men would blame each other for the loss and brawl backstage.[35] Subsequently, a three-way match was arranged for the All Out pay-per-view on August 31, which Havoc won.[36]
In October, Allin entered contention for the AEW World Championship,[37] and would challenge Chris Jericho for the championship on the October 16 episode of Dynamite, but lost.[38] At Bash at the Beach on January 15, 2020, Allin competed in a four-man tournament for number one contendership to the AEW World Championship, but lost in the first round to Pac.[39] Following this, Allin began a feud with Sammy Guevara, an ally of Jericho's.[40][41] The two faced at Revolution on February 29, where Allin emerged victorious.[42] In April, Allin competed in a tournament to crown to the inaugural holder of the AEW TNT Championship.[43] After defeating Guevara in the first round,[44] he was eliminated after losing to Cody in the semi-finals.[45]
On May 23, Allin participated in the first-ever Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing in a losing effort as the match was won by the debuting Brian Cage.[46] After an absence, Allin returned at Fight for the Fallen on July 15, attacking Cage with a skateboard.[47] On the July 29 episode of Dynamite, Allin teamed with AEW World Champion Jon Moxley to defeat Cage and Ricky Starks in a tornado tag team match, with Allin subsequently being granted a match against Moxley for the championship.[48] The match took place on the following week's episode of Dynamite, where Allin was defeated.[49] On August 29, a 30-second black-and-white segment of Allin doing a promo walking down a forest road with thumbtacks in his back, and then proceeding to climb up to the top of a bridge and jump off it into a river. On September 5, Allin competed in the 21-man Casino Battle Royale at All Out, but was eliminated by Cage.[50] On the September 30 episode of Dynamite, Allin faced off against nemesis Ricky Starks in a winning effort.[51]
TNT Champion; teaming with Sting (2020–2024)
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On November 7, 2020, Allin won the AEW TNT Championship at Full Gear by defeating Cody Rhodes.[52] Rhodes and Allin would afterwards unite in a feud with Team Taz. On the November 18, 2020 episode of Dynamite, Will Hobbs turned heel after assisting Taz, Brian Cage and Ricky Starks in attacking both Allin and Rhodes.[53] On the December 2, 2020 special Winter Is Coming, Allin and Rhodes teamed up to defeat Hobbs and Starks, and after the match, Sting made his AEW debut and ran off Team Taz when they jumped Allin and Rhodes, after which Allin and Sting stared each other down.[54] On the January 13, 2021 special New Year's Smash Night 2, Allin made his first successful title defense against Brian Cage.[55] On January 21, it was announced that Allin and Sting would be taking on Team Taz's Ricky Starks and Brian Cage in a street fight at Revolution.[56] At Revolution, Allin and Sting were victorious over Team Taz in a cinematic pre-taped match.[57] On March 10, 2021 episode of Dynamite, Allin successfully defended the AEW TNT Championship against Scorpio Sky.[58]
On March 17, Allin issued an open challenge to the Dark Order as a tribute to the late "greatest TNT Champion of all time" Brodie Lee, which was responded by John Silver. The next week, Allin defeated Silver to retain the title.[59][60] He made further successful defenses of the TNT Championship against JD Drake on the April 7 episode of Dynamite[61] and against The Butcher at AEW's first non-televised event two days later,[62] while also starting a feud with Matt Hardy. On April 21, Allin successfully defended the AEW TNT Championship against Jungle Boy. On April 28, Allin successfully defended the title against Dark Order's 10, before being attacked by Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page. Sky and Page would then themselves be attacked by Lance Archer and Dark Order's 10, saving Sting and Allin in the process.
On the May 12 episode of Dynamite, Allin lost the TNT Championship to Miro, ending his record-setting reign at 186 days. At Double or Nothing Allin teamed up with Sting to defeat the team of Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page. He defeated Page in AEW's first ever Coffin Match at Night 1 of Fyter Fest on July 14, putting an end to their feud.[63]
On the August 20 episode of AEW Rampage titled The First Dance, Allin was challenged to a pay-per-view match at All Out by CM Punk, who had made his AEW debut after an absence of seven years from professional wrestling.[64] Allin lost the match to Punk.
At Revolution 2022, Allin would win a Tornado tag team match with Sammy Guevara and Sting over Andrade El Idolo, Matt Hardy, and Isiah Kassidy.
On the May 11, 2022 episode of Dynamite, Allin wrestled Jeff Hardy. Despite losing, Allin performed a jump off a tall ladder which got media attention.[65][66]
In December 2022, Allin would start a feud with reigning TNT Champion, Samoa Joe. On the January 4, 2023 episode of Dynamite in his home town of Seattle, Washington, Allin defeated Samoa Joe to win the TNT Championship for the second time.[67] After successfully defending the title four times over the span of four weeks on Dynamite and Rampage, Allin lost the title back to Samoa Joe in a No Holds Barred match on the February 1 episode of Dynamite, ending Allin's second TNT title reign at 28 days.[68] At Double or Nothing on May 28, Allin competed in a "Four Pillars" four-way match for the AEW World Championship against champion MJF, "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry, and Sammy Guevara, which saw MJF come away the winner.[69] At All In on August 27, an event held in London's Wembley Stadium, Allin and Sting defeated Swerve Strickland and Christian Cage in a tag team coffin match.[70]
On the February 7, 2024, episode of Dynamite, Allin and Sting defeated Ricky Starks and Big Bill to win the AEW World Tag Team Championship. After the win, they were attacked by The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson).[71] The Young Bucks then became the number one contenders for the title, with Allin and Sting scheduled to defend the AEW World Tag Team Championship against them in a tornado tag team match at Revolution in March for Sting's retirement match.[72] At the event, Allin and Sting retained, thus Sting retired undefeated as a tag team with Allin. As a result of Sting's retirement, the AEW World Tag Team Championship was vacated, ending their reign at 25 days.[73] Allin expected to take some time off to climb Mt. Everest and after his match at Big Business against Jay White, Bullet Club Gold (Jay White, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn) attacked him to write him off. However, Allin revealed that he had suffered a broken foot during the match.[74]
Championship pursuits (2024–present)
On the May 15 episode of Dynamite, Allin made a surprise return, coming to the aid of Bryan Danielson and FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) from an attack from The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Matthew Jackson, Nicholas Jackson, and Jack Perry). It was later announced that Allin would replace the injured Eddie Kingston to team with Danielson and FTR on Team AEW to face The Elite in Anarchy in The Arena at Double or Nothing on May 26, where Team AEW was defeated.[75] [76] On the July 10 episode of Dynamite, Allin returned by attacking Brandon Cutler and sent a warning to The Elite.[77] On July 24 at AEW Dynamite - Blood & Guts, Allin was part of Team AEW and defeated The Elite in a Blood and Guts match.[78] Two days later, Allin won a 20-man Royal Rampage Battle Royal for a shot at the AEW World Championship match at Grand Slam.[79] On August 25 at All In, Allin was unsuccessful in capturing the AEW TNT Championship from Jack Perry in a Coffin match.[80] On the September 11 episode of Dynamite, Jon Moxley, who had been calling out Allin for the past number of weeks, demanded that Allin hand over his AEW World Championship opportunity so that Moxley could take the championship from Bryan Danielson, but Allin refused; Moxley instead offered to earn it by challenging Allin to a match at Grand Slam on September 25 with the championship opportunity on the line, which Allin accepted. At Grand Slam, Allin was defeated by Jon Moxley and lost his right to challenge for the AEW World Championship. On October 12 at WrestleDream, Allin defeated Brody King. After the main event, Allin, along with Wheeler Yuta, came to the aid of Bryan Danielson from an attack by the Blackpool Combat Club. However, Allin was blindsided by Yuta and was forced to watch as the Blackpool Combat Club continued their assault on Danielson.[81] On November 24, Allin was announced as a participant in the 2024 Continental Classic, where he was placed in the Gold league.[82] Allin finished the tournament with 7 points, but failed to advance to the playoff stage.[83]
Pro Wrestling Noah (2023)
On January 23, 2023, at The Great Muta Final "Bye-Bye", Allin and Sting made their Pro Wrestling Noah debut, teaming with Keiji Muto in Muto's final match as his Great Muta character.[84] Allin, Sting, and Muta defeated Akira, Hakushi, and Naomichi Marufuji in a trios match.[85]
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Ratsch incorporates many elements of his personal life into his wrestling persona; a longtime fan of punk rock, Ratsch's current ring name Darby Allin is derived from the frontman of the Germs, Darby Crash, and the transgressive musician GG Allin,[6] while his signature face paint, in which he paints half his face in a skull design, is born out of Ratsch's sentiment that he has been "half dead" since surviving the car accident in which his uncle died.[86] Another aspect of Ratsch's background he incorporates into his wrestling is skateboarding, as he rides a skateboard to the ring during his entrance, and occasionally uses it as a weapon. Previous to his career taking off in professional wrestling, Ratsch also sought to be a professional skateboarder. Ratsch was initially hesitant to integrate his skateboarding into his pro wrestling work, fearing that both the wrestling and skateboarding fandoms would perceive it as inauthentic; however, he overcame his doubts following encouragement and advice from Chris Jericho.[87][88]
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Ratsch lives a straight edge lifestyle,[89] which he adopted in part due to a traumatic incident during his childhood: as a five-year-old, Ratsch was a passenger in a car when his uncle was driving while intoxicated; his uncle lost control of the vehicle and was killed in the resulting crash.[86]
In the early 2020s, Ratsch developed an interest in mountaineering and announced to the public that he would attempt to climb Mount Everest in March 2024. Ratsch spent much of late 2023 and early 2024 training to ascend Everest, however, in his final professional wrestling match before he was due to depart for Everest, Ratsch legitimately broke his foot during a match. Ratsch stated afterwards he would endeavour to climb Everest during the 2025 climbing season.[90][91]
On November 21, 2018, Ratsch married fellow wrestler Priscilla Kelly, who currently wrestles for WWE as part of the NXT roster under the name Gigi Dolin.[92] On August 10, 2020, the couple announced they were divorcing.[93] In December 2020, Kelly confirmed during an appearance on Vickie Guerrero's Excuse Me podcast that they were no longer married, but remain friends.[94]
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Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Sex Sent Me to the ER | Himself | Season 1, Episode 14 "Drama Down Under"[95] |
| 2021 | Rhodes To The Top | Himself |
- All Elite Wrestling
- AEW TNT Championship (2 times)[96][97]
- AEW World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Sting[98]
- Royal Rampage (2023, 2024)
- Dynamite Award for Breakout Star – Male (2021)
- Northeast Wrestling
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Style Battle
- Style Battle 7 (2017)[102]
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Non-Heavyweight MVP (2021)
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