Darby Allin reveals rising standards within AEW

AEW has been finding some momentum in recent weeks. After a tough start to 2024 that saw attendance and viewership tumble, the product has got itself back on track. Tony Khan has cut the production budget and allowed storylines to develop for multiple talents. Those changes have given the product a new vibe that is resonating with fans.

However, Darby Allin believes it's more than just tweaks to the storylines and visual changes. During a recent interview with Raj Prashad of UPROXX, the AEW veteran cited the rising standards within the company, especially in terms of Dynamite. 

“To get on Dynamite, you really have to be good," Allin said. "It’s no longer, ‘Oh, you know, I’m friends with this guy, so I’m gonna give him a hand out and just put him on the show,’ it’s not about that anymore. You gotta put up, you gotta perform and you gotta actually bust your a-s or you’re not gonna get on the show and a lot of the people that were not good were weeded out the first couple of years...This isn’t a friggin’ spring break for your buddies to hang out. We’re putting our souls in that ring."

To begin 2024, AEW made multiple big-time additions to its roster. Will Ospreay, Mercedes Mone and Kazuchika Okada are all signed with the rising brand. Their additions built on the strong 2023 recruitment drive that saw the likes of Adam Copeland and Jay White join the company. 

With so much elite talent coming through the doors, AEW's standards had no choice but to rise. Copeland is a WWE Hall of Famer, while Okada is a legend in Japan. That type of talent has certain expectations for how things are done behind the scenes. They ensure there's a level of professionalism within the locker room. 

Of course, AEW's homegrown leaders have also stepped up. However, Allin has missed a significant portion of time due to injury, which then led to him being hit by a bus in New York. MJF, another leader within AEW, missed multiple months due to a shoulder injury, too. 

Now that the roster is getting back on track and Khan finally has most of his elite talent available, AEW is picking up steam. Nevertheless, as Allin noted, it all started with a rise in standards, especially on the flagship show.