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New TNT Champion Gives Heartwarming Speech After AEW Dynamite Goes Off The Air [Video]

By Sondra Ruth • Published 5th January 2023
AEW TNT Championship

After a huge win in the main event of Dynamite, the new AEW TNT Champion gave a heartwarming address to his hometown crowd.

Samoa Joe has reigned as AEW TNT Champion since defeating Wardlow and Powerhouse Hobbs in a triple threat match at AEW Full Gear. Last week, he defeated Wardlow again in singles action, albeit after attacking the former TNT Champion’s leg with a steel pipe backstage, rendering Wardlow unable to compete at full strength.

During a post-match beatdown, another former TNT Champion in Darby Allin came out to make the save for Wardlow, and on the January 4th episode of AEW Dynamite, he faced Samoa Joe in the main event of the show. To the surprise of many, Allin was able to defeat Joe and become a two-time TNT Champion in his hometown of Seattle, WA. Sting came out to celebrate with his ally as the show went off the air.

After the broadcast ended, the new champion took to the microphone to address his hometown crowd, cutting a heartfelt promo about his time growing up in Seattle and telling everyone to follow their dreams.

“I remember coming to this arena back when the Sonics played. I used to catch the 150 metro from Kent Station down here. Had a lot of fun times on that Metro Bus; almost went to jail a few times too.

“But it’s crazy, because I’d never thought I’d be here. Because when I told people I graduated high school at 115 pounds…well sh*t I’m 120 now. It’s crazy, because I really never believed in myself. And I’m telling everyone here, whether you have kids or it’s yourself, if someone has a f*cking dream, you live it. Don’t listen to anybody! Nobody! You listen to yourself, and god, it’ll get you further than you’ve ever known. But I’d like to introduce some people real quick.”

Allin then proceeded to call out Nick Wayne, who at the age of 17 has already taken the world of independent wrestling by storm. Allin reminded the audience that he’d given Wayne an AEW contract at the Seattle-based Defy Wrestling earlier this year before noting that Wayne’s father had trained him. He then held up his newly-won championship and continued:

“And maybe one day my friend, it’ll be you and me for this. But until then, you gotta graduate high school.

“Thank you Seattle. We got a whole show on wrestling to come. So stay in your seats. And let’s show the AEW locker room what Seattle is all about!”

If you use any quotes from this transcription, please link back to this article with a h/t to TJR Wrestling.