AEW in Miami and Orlando for two big shows. Darby Allin and Steven Borden talk that and more

Interesting admin October 9, 2026 0 Comments

AEW in Miami and Orlando for two big shows. Darby Allin and Steven Borden talk that and more

All Elite wrestling is invading Florida in October with top shows in Miami and Orlando.

AEW in OIrlando at Addition Financial Arena at the University of Center Florida on Saturday, Oct. 17 for “AEW WrestleDream” on PPV.

AEW in Coral Gables at the Watsco Center at the University of Miami on Wednesday, Oct. 21 for “AEW Dynamite” on TBS and HBO Max.

Here is my video interview (prior to “AEW All Out”) with new AEW tag team Darby Allin and Steven Borden.

Allin, who is the AEW TNT champion, strives to win AEW tag team gold with Borden, after winning it with Borden’s father, the legendary Sting. Allin and Sting never lost the belts as Sting officially retired from pro wrestling as an AEW tag team champion.

I asked AEW co-founder, owner, CEO, general manager, and head of creative Tony Khan about Steven Borden during a media Q&A phone call to hype #AEW All Out.”

Khan: “I first met Steven when he was playing college football…Steven played football at the University of Kentucky, and he was a tight end, and he was a very, very gifted athlete, even then, and he still is a very gifted athlete.

“Several years ago, I actually brought Steven to Jacksonville, and he tried out for the Jaguars. He is a great athlete and a great guy, and that’s the first time I met Steve’s father, Sting.

“I really enjoyed connecting with the two of them, and as Steven’s football career ended, Sting got back into wrestling.

“What a final chapter Sting write for his career. The final three years of Sting’s career were in AEW, and from [AEW] Revolution 2021 to [AEW] Revolution 2024, Sting went undefeated and had this incredible run in AEW.

“Steven was right here for so much of it, and it invigorated his passion for pro wrestling in a way that he never experienced it. He saw his father having so much fun. Steven connected with us in AEW and with his father’s [tag team] partner Darby Allin.

“As we prepared for Sting’s final match, Steven and [his brother] Garrett became part of the story. When Sting and Darby won the [AEW] world tag team championships in there ultimate match together, going into Revolution, it was a celebration, and of course, at the time, Steven and Garrett, Sting’s sons, they were celebrating with their father, they were attacked [storyline by The Young Bucks]. It made things even more personal for Sting and for Darby — to have Sting’s family attacked that way.

“Then we saw Steven and Garrett come to [AEW] Revolution dressed as Sting from different points of his incredible, iconic professional wrestling career [Steven as nWo Wolfpac Sting and Garrett as surfer Sting].

“When I saw Steven out there, I saw a different side of Steven than the tight end that I had watched play for Kentucky, a different guy than I had seen backstage, who’s a very, very nice person and a handsome guy — a fun, engaging person. I saw him for something much more in that [Revolution] match than I’d ever seen as him as a wrestler. What an athlete. I saw Steven out there, and I had chills.

“I was so excited that he wanted to train and get involved in wrestling.

“Darby is such an incredible person, and he is so authentic. He’s been a great mentor to Steven in and out of the ring.

“It was a great bond between Sting and Darby. They learned so much from each other — two great wrestlers, two world champions from different eras coming together and forming what I thought was a perfect team for three years, undefeated together — and now it’s incredible to have Steven Borden come into AEW.”

Borden, 33, began transitioning from football to pro wrestling in 2025, through the guidance of Allin, Sting, FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) and Adam Copeland, aka WWE alum Edge. Borden also worked with Fred Rosser, aka WWE alum Darren Young of NEXUS, at the New Japan Pro Wrestling Academy in Los Angeles.

Football background and more

Borden played his senior season of high school football in Texas as a defensive end at Waxahachie High School, helping the Indians to a 12-1 record and the quarterfinals of the state Class AAAA playoffs. He was named first-team all-district, while coached by David Ream.

Prior, he played three seasons at Santa Clarita Christian High School in California as a quarterback, receiver and linebacker. He was coached by Garrick Moss. He also played basketball in high school.

High school football is huge in Texas with thousands of fans attending games.

Borden was a defensive end during the 2010 season at Southwestern Assemblies of God, an NAIA collegiate school also in Waxahachie, Texas, where he was born. He made 35 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss (including 3.5 sacks).

He moved to tight end and earned second-team all-conference honors for Kilgore (Texas) Junior College. He caught 11 passes as a sophomore for 181 yards (16.5 yards per catch) and four touchdowns, while coached by J.J. Eckert.

Then Coach Mark Swoops came calling. Borden was Swoops’s first signing at the University of Kentucky in the always tough SEC.

Borden recorded three receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown, which was in UK’s win over Alabama State. He raced the sideline to grab a 38-yard touchdown catch. He played in all 12 games, and he made the 2013 SEC Academic Honor Roll. In his senior season, he competed in 10 games, totaling four receptions for 33 yards.

Borden had tryouts with a few NFL teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, which is owned by Shahid Khan, father of Tony Khan, co-founder/owner of All Elite Wrestling.

Borden turned his attention to business, running a successful company.

His dad’s retirement match ignited his interest in pro wrestling.

In October 2025, Borden made his in-ring debut, teaming with JD Drake against Karrion Kross and Allin for ACW. He also wrestled for Defy, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling and NJPW of America.

A passing of the torch moment occurred at AEW All In in Wembley, England, when he and his dad climbed a ladder. The viral sequence saw Borden and Sting near the top of the ladder with Borden the one diving off the ladder, instead of his dad, onto the Don Callis family.

Inside note: The legendary “Icon” set up a ladder and began climbing it, seemingly preparing to execute one of his signature, high-risk dives onto Calllis Family members outside the ring.

However, his son Steven climbed the ladder with him and stopped him from jumping, essentially telling his father that he would handle it. Sting descended the ladder, and Steven instead executed a massive cross-body splash from the top of the ladder onto Brian Cage and Jake Doyle outside the ring, marking that major “passing of the torch” moment – gone viral.

AEW in Orlando and Miami

“AEW WrestleDream” PPV is Saturday, Oct. 17 at Addition Financial Arena at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.

“AEW Dynamite” is Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the Watsco Center at the University of Miami in Coral Gables.

“AEW Dynamite” is 8 p.m. Wednesdays on TBS

“AEW Collision” is 8 p.m. Saturdays on TNT.

Tickets: https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-events.

Website: https://www.allelitewrestling.com/.