10 Most Exciting Young Prodigies In WWE & AEW Right Now

6. Darby Allin

Hangman Page
AEW

One of the first wrestlers AEW fans will be itching to see when live crowds return is Darby Allin, who ignites every building he steps into as soon as Wicca Phase Springs Eternal hits the speakers and the former EVOLVE standout skates down the ramp.

The guy is a ball of kinetic energy. This always translated well in smaller-scale indie promotions, where wrestlers are far closer to the to their audience, allowing stronger connections to form faster, though such things can't always be transplanted into cavernous basketball arenas. Darby has proven himself undeniable, however. He appeals as much for his alt. look and background as his propulsive style of wrestling that reveals layers of depth beyond the immediate and eye-catching the closer you look, with expert selling, refined mat work, and great pacing making Allin a wrestling polyglot.

The bumps and highlight-reel moments are what draw the biggest pops, but that Darby has proven himself capable of so much more means he won't have to rely on thrashing his body to pieces forever. Throw his marketability into the mix and you have one of the next era's most bankable babyfaces.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.