This AEW Star Should Have Been Signed In Year 1

One of AEW’s original stars has picked another name who should have been in the company in its first year.

Darby Allin was one of the first names signed in Tony Khan’s upstart AEW in 2019. Allin was part of the very first Fyter Fest show in June 2019 when he went to a 20-minute time limit draw with Cody Rhodes. One year later, Allin defeated Rhodes to capture the TNT Title at Full Gear.

Allin then formed a partnership with WWE Hall of Famer Sting when he debuted in AEW at the end of 2020. Together, they went undefeated as a tag team and captured the AEW Tag Team Championship, holding it until Sting retired from the ring at Revolution in 2024.

Such is Darby Allin’s standing in AEW, he is considered one of the four pillars of the company, along with Sammy Guevara, Jack Perry, and current world champion MJF. But Allin thinks a current star in the company could and should have been part of AEW much earlier than they joined.

Darby Allin Heaps Praise On AEW’s Brody King

Speaking to The Orlando Sentinel, Darby Allin explained why he thinks Brody King should have been in AEW in its first year:

He’s a guy who I thought should have been in AEW from year one. He understands that there’s no phoning it in, no taking it easy. Every night he goes out there, he performs literally to his limit, and it’s cool to see that he’s finally taking off.

When AEW launched, Brody King was still a part of the Ring of Honor roster and also did some work with the NWA. King was one-third of the Villain Enterprises group alongside Marty Scurll and PCO. Brody King eventually made his AEW debut in January 2022, teaming up with Malakai Black.