AEW: Darby Allin is a bigger star for losing to Jon Moxley than winning
After this past episode of AEW Dynamite, Darby Allin came out of the main event a bigger star in defeat vs Jon Moxley than he would have with a win.
Darby Allin is the ultimate underdog. Even before he signed with AEW, I always believed that and I have always said that playing that underdog babyface was his biggest strong suit. In the past, I have likened both his devil may care persona and babyface fire to a young, daredevil-esque Jeff Hardy and seeing him get the snot kicked out of him is what has endeared him to so many fans across the globe.
In the past, seeing him scratch and claw his way to a victory, but come up just a little bit short against the likes of Adam Cole, Mustafa Ali, Kassius Ohno and Keith Lee is what helped so many fans like myself grow a soft spot for Darby Allin over the years. That never say die attitude was on full display this past Wednesday when Allin competed in the main event of AEW Dynamite against Jon Moxley.
As he has done so many times against opponents, Allin flung himself at Mox any which way he could like a madman with complete disregard for his own body. The Lunatic Fringe threw his best at The Invisible Man and every time, Allin took every blow for a surprising kickout after kickout. It took a Paradigm Shift from the top rope to finally slay the skater once and for all.
The dynamic of matches like this work in Allin’s favor because so many people walk into the match thinking that the small, 5’8 Seattle native couldn’t possibly score an upset over bigger, stronger, more experienced competition like Moxley.
Yet, when he is able to sneak a roll-up for a near fall (especially after taking a merciless beating for several minutes), there’s a small hush over the crowd as if the the thought, “Holy crap, Allin might win this.” When the ref just barely taps the mat for a count of 2.9, a stunned crowd erupts as if they witnessed an upset.
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Last Wednesday’s match did more to put over Allin than a simple win ever could have. If he keeps delivering underdog performances like this in defeat, then it will mean so much more to the crowd and the fans watching at home for when he finally pulls off that big win he’s itching and clawing for.