Rob Van Dam Compares Darby Allin To Spike Dudley

Darby Allin has made a career out of being thrown around like a rag doll, with the All Elite Wrestling standout recently getting ‘messed up’ after being launched by Konosuke Takeshita and Powerhouse Hobbs.

Allin’s apparent disregard for his own wellbeing has made him popular with fans, and for ECW legend Rob Van Dam, the punishment Allin receives reminds him of Spike Dudley:

"He's one of those guys I have to assume that he loves the business, because I see him beat the f*** out of his body," Van Dam said on the 1 of a Kind podcast. "It takes a lot of heart to do what I've seen him do. Some of the stuff I've seen ... do not seem safe by any stretch of the imagination. Either some of that stuff is completely reckless and dangerous, or they're working." 

RVD continued, making the comparison to former ECW roster mate Spike and how the ‘runt of the Dudley litter’ used to get thrown around like he owed his opponents money:

"A newer 2024 version [of Spike]," Van Dam said. "If you look him up and you look at his highlight reel, everyone used to love picking him up for a chokeslam over the rope and throwing him to the floor."

Spike was memorably tossed from the ring into the ECW crowd by Bam Bam Bigelow, a spot Ethan Page and Allin recreated at AEW Double or Nothing 2021.

H/T: Wrestling Inc.