One of All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW’s) biggest fans, a young Dreamer named Steven, met his wrestling idol, Darby Allin, for his Shine Dream. Having battled through two brain surgeries and living with several severe physical disabilities, Steven's interest in wrestling has provided an exciting video hobby that continues to grow thanks to his experience at AEW’s Forbidden Door event.
Twelve-year-old Steven's YouTube channel became a platform where he regularly interviews wrestlers, asking about their favourite hobbies, favourite foods, and memorable wrestling experiences. One of his interviews includes a virtual conversation with AEW great, Darby Allin, whom Steven considers one of his top three favourite wrestlers.
At the AEW event in 2023, hosted at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, Steven’s experience went beyond meeting his idol and announcing him into the ring. His mom shares that “His Shine Dream brought back a spark that had faded. He recently found out that he might need surgery again and this was a bright point in that news.” Steven spent hours behind the scenes interviewing over ten wrestlers, collected autographs and pictures, made new friends with the security team, and was given even more opportunities to talk with famous wrestlers the following day.
On his second day, with a press pass in hand, wrestler Dustin Rhode’s security guard accompanied Steven everywhere he went. He got to ring the bell, spend time with the announcer, and was gifted a flag from one of the matches. His confidence soared as he egged on a wrestler for a video promotion and was later mentioned in the wrestler’s press conference that night. By the end of the day, everyone was cheering for Steven. His family feels that the wrestling community has become his second family.
Reflecting on the events, his mom adds, “People have since come up to him to say that they saw him on the pay-per-view and he feels like he is part of wrestling history. Steven is becoming more and more recognized as a prominent fan, which makes him feel important. It makes him feel like he’s not defined by his medical condition, but for his involvement in wrestling.”
Steven’s Shine Dream continues to grow. All the connections he made have enhanced his video interview repertoire and his fame, building a brighter future that he feels will land him in the field of wrestling promotion one day.
