Ricky Starks contract update
Added 2024-11-26 13:00:07 +0000 UTCRicky Starks hasn’t been used on AEW TV, but is still under contract.
Ricky Starks recently appeared a Glory Pro Wrestling, ending a wrestling absence of over six months, as well as GCW where he said he was being frozen. It’s led to questions regarding his status in AEW, as well as his wrestling future.
Starks hasn’t been injured, has been cleared to compete, but hasn’t been at recent AEW shows outside of AEW Full Gear since the absence started. Those that we spoke to say he hasn’t been factored much into pitches or creative since then, but he remains under contract. We’re told that his presence backstage at Full Gear was welcomed.
Fightful Select learned via numerous AEW sources that AEW had an option year in the spring of 2024 in which they picked up. This extends Ricky Starks’ stay into the spring or summer of 2025. Those that we spoke to said that prior to the option being picked up, he was hoping to test the open market.
Thus far we’ve not learned of any plans involving AEW and Ricky Starks.
Comments
I don’t see him as great but I see him as a lot better than some they are currently pushing
Christopher Demars
2024-11-27 06:16:44 +0000 UTCFucking....push the man to the MOON, TONY!!!
CSDX
2024-11-27 03:32:45 +0000 UTCJust spitballing here. They could use both Ricky and Miro here to help advance the storyline. Have Mox call them out for sitting at home not showing up to work, challenge them to a fight and if they lose, they're fired, no more sitting at home collecting checks. That isn't how he does business in AEW. They get a program, get to leave, and helps Death Riders. Or have someone like OC do a promo saying if you're at home complaining you don't have work, show up and do something about it and help him win the Trios Belts, they aren't successful, then turn on him creating a story too. Doesn't have to be real, but can certainly seem real.
Robbie Wray
2024-11-27 00:44:02 +0000 UTCHasn’t been done since Vince left. Next.
T Mar
2024-11-27 00:14:15 +0000 UTCITS LITERALLY WHAT VINCE WOULD DO AND WE ALL HATED IT
Collin Ingram
2024-11-26 22:11:20 +0000 UTCHasn’t been done since HHH took over. TK said in the past he wouldn’t do such practice but yet here we are.
T Mar
2024-11-26 21:43:52 +0000 UTCAnd WWE would NEVER do such a thing correct?? Lol
Troy A Palek
2024-11-26 21:31:36 +0000 UTCIt was smart by ricky. Jumping from face to heel to face every few months makes no sense but people keep running with the "refused creative" to simp for Tony.
Keith Kripke
2024-11-26 19:11:18 +0000 UTCAs many have said, we don't know the whole story. While I don't think Ricky is as great as some do (Certainly don't see him as a main event star), he is a good worker with charisma. Even if he is likely going to leave, make use of him with the time you have left. As has been said before: If some don't want to be there, use them to put over other talent in exchange for an early departure. Maybe AEW needs to add a couple more folks on the talent relations side to improve communication. They are still not a large company and some things do appear to fall between the cracks. With Miro, it sounds like ego and attitude (Very protected during his AEW run and apparently has been picky about who he works with. Last I heard, he had wanted Mox, but I don't see him anywhere near the level as Mox), but I don't think that is the case with Ricky. That said, Ricky made some recent comments that are a tad on the salty side, I hope this is not the start of a public spat.
Lynchman
2024-11-26 18:53:00 +0000 UTCSo many people are spouting off aspects of this story as objective fact. It's not shocking anymore, but it's also silly. I hope they get in a room and figure this out. Kinda got my hopes up that him being backstage this weekend as leading to that.
Insomnia Inc
2024-11-26 17:37:24 +0000 UTCIt’s also possible that, and hear me out here……we all have NO IDEA what is 100% going on. So maybe instead of just going off on reported rumors we should wait and see what happens.
Matt Rain
2024-11-26 17:22:26 +0000 UTCThey’re keeping them in spite of not using them and knowing they are going to WWE
T Mar
2024-11-26 17:17:58 +0000 UTCOne you don’t have to be a dickhead about it & have your nose up TK ass. Two Ricky said he suffered a stinger got checked on by a doctor he’s healthy & has been so for nearly the last 9 months. Three he turned one creative idea & that was the split with Big Bill he was fine with the spilt but didn’t wanna go back to being a face because he only recently turned heel & he didn’t see how him beating Big Bill in a feud would benefit Bill turning on him he pitched an amicable split from Bill where they both remained heel & Tony didn’t use him for nearly 9 months & during that time period of not using him decided to pick up his option year The tribal AEW & WWE fans are the worst the amount of mental gymnastics you’ll use to defend these companies when they do crappy things to the wrestlers is ridiculous
Matt Hennessy
2024-11-26 16:48:46 +0000 UTChe refused the Big Bill fued
Matty Nice
2024-11-26 16:46:11 +0000 UTCi mean its AEW that looks bad so thats the positive here
Leo Chirichiello
2024-11-26 16:28:04 +0000 UTCHe had a stinger, said he was fine that night and also said he hadn't refused anything given to him
Osuman Massaquoi
2024-11-26 16:07:46 +0000 UTCThe only creative known that he had issues with was the Big Bill breakup. And he didn’t want Bill to lose to him. Tony isn’t always right, people can admit when he’s in the wrong.
Trevor D.
2024-11-26 15:43:12 +0000 UTCHa! That’s a stretch on that Aubrey comment
ItsWildBoy
2024-11-26 15:39:12 +0000 UTCWhole situation kinda reminds me of Brian Cage a year or so ago. Most of us including him thought he was absolutely on his way out, and then AEW picked up his option year and started using him heavily. Maybe Cage was just willing to play ball more than Ricky with creative ideas. That said, Ricky Starks was white hot when CM Punk was doing a program with him and that’s the last time he was super over. I hope he gets back to telling fun stories cause his charisma is amazing and I love his character and style.
Andrew Bates
2024-11-26 15:36:30 +0000 UTCHe refused creative, and isn't pitching ideas to get back on TV, so he obviously doesn't want to work.
Raymond Slover
2024-11-26 15:32:03 +0000 UTCThey were using him until he got injured, then turned down creative. They wanted to use him, but he doesn't want to work.
Raymond Slover
2024-11-26 15:30:53 +0000 UTCIf he wants to work, why did he refuse creative? Why isn't he pitching ideas to get back on TV?
Raymond Slover
2024-11-26 15:30:06 +0000 UTCReading must be difficult for you. He's been off TV for six months after being injured. He was picked up and was working. But he's refused creative.
Raymond Slover
2024-11-26 15:29:20 +0000 UTCThey picked it up, used him, then he got injured, then turned down creative without offering any other ideas. That's why he's sitting out.
Raymond Slover
2024-11-26 15:28:02 +0000 UTCI love AEW and Tony but this shit is so weird to me. Picking up his option to ice him for a year is nasty work. If Starks Fenix penta miro all these guys wanna go to wwe use them and have them lose on the way out. This isn’t it
Anthony Ramos
2024-11-26 14:59:12 +0000 UTCProbably not to punish the talent but to punish the online grifters who have been grifting off this topic for two years in the dark places of youtube that sadly people pay too much attention to
david gardner
2024-11-26 14:55:04 +0000 UTCWhen did they become prisoners? They signed the contract. So they and the fans have nothing to be upset about
david gardner
2024-11-26 14:52:23 +0000 UTCProbably so you won’t see him in Royal Rumble and Wrestlemania. If I was Tony Khan I would ice him too. I mean it won’t matter much because online WWE fans have already shown that if Ref Aubrey showed up they would instantly say she was a superstar and that AEW fumbled her. So Tony Khan is wise owl making WWE fans suffer waiting to treat Starks like Roman Reigns
david gardner
2024-11-26 14:50:52 +0000 UTCi watch a tv show so i definitely know how to manage talent better than aew does.
BugabooJonez
2024-11-26 13:38:36 +0000 UTCIf nothing else I don’t understand the economics of extending contacts for wrestlers not being used
Kvon Dudley
2024-11-26 13:33:30 +0000 UTCSo basically even though AEW weren’t using him or haven’t used him in checks notes nearly 9 months they picked up his option year even though he was looking to go elsewhere. Realistically if your not using him & you know he’s likely heading to WWE why pick it up. Your just being petty to Ricky
Matt Hennessy
2024-11-26 13:27:45 +0000 UTCThis just all seems weird. He wants to work and they just won’t bring him in, yet they picked up his option. Meanwhile, they have others at home without creative to the talents doing. I get you don’t want a precedent set, but if you aren’t gonna use the guy willing to work, let him go.
Trevor D.
2024-11-26 13:27:16 +0000 UTCI was wondering the same thing
Taylor Cannon
2024-11-26 13:26:20 +0000 UTCSerious question! If your not using him why pick up option?
Steve M
2024-11-26 13:24:50 +0000 UTCWelp, welcome to WWE, Ricky Starks and Rey Fenix circa summer 2025.
Matthew McMillen
2024-11-26 13:22:25 +0000 UTC#FreeRickyStarks #FreeReyFenix
T Mar
2024-11-26 13:08:58 +0000 UTCHonestly at this point let him go, espically if AEW dosent want to use him.
Ali Khan
2024-11-26 13:05:42 +0000 UTC
