Add as a preferred source on Google Darby Allin, the current AEW World Champion, is excited about Mick Foley’s AEW debut, which is set for this Sunday’s Double or Nothing.
Foley will make his first official appearance for Tony Khan’s company on the pay-per-view’s Buy In, alongside Renee Paquette. The pre-show will air for free on AEW’s YouTube channel and HBO Max ahead of the event at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.
Speaking recently with Fox News Digital, Allin said Foley was one of his biggest influences growing up as a pro-wrestling fan.
“He was one of my guys growing up. I didn’t feel like I could relate to a lot of wrestlers, but I could relate to him. That Evel Knievel, stuntman side of him, doing something every night, was really inspiring to me.”
Darby Allin spoke about Mick Foley’s upcoming AEW appearance.
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) May 23, 2026
“He was one of my guys growing up because he was one of those guys, you flip through the TV and you’re like, ‘wait.’ Growing up, I don’t feel like I could relate to a lot of wrestlers, but him, being like this, Evel… pic.twitter.com/V4DZXkGMQR
Allin also said having Foley around on Sunday will be “awesome,” while making it clear that he has always viewed the WWE Hall of Famer as someone who directly inspired him.
Foley’s appearance also carries extra weight because Allin will be involved in one of the biggest matches of his career. At Double or Nothing, he will defend the AEW World Championship against MJF in a Hair vs. Title Match.
Tony Khan, meanwhile, has already made it clear that he is not ruling out Foley wrestling in AEW, but said that would only happen if Foley felt physically ready.