Ricky Starks Shocks Fans with Surprise WWE NXT Appearance

Just one day after officially parting ways with AEW, Ricky Starks made an unexpected splash in WWE, appearing live on NXT and delivering a fiery promo from the crowd at the WWE Performance Center.

With no entrance music and no prior announcement, Starks stepped into the spotlight as the ring crew set up for the night’s steel cage main event. The only cue for fans at home was a stunned “Holy crap!” from commentator Vic Joseph, as the NXT crowd erupted in chants of “Ricky! Ricky!”

Grabbing a microphone, Starks wasted no time in making his intentions clear:

“If ‘NXT’ is the future of professional wrestling, well guess what? You need an absolute superstar of the future. If this is the hottest brand, well, you need the hottest free agent right now, baby. Everyone’s been asking when the revolution will be televised again. Well, I’m right here, aren’t I?”

Free Agent Starks Lands in WWE

News of Starks’ AEW departure broke earlier this week, with reports confirming that his contract had expired and that he was free to sign anywhere without a non-compete clause. AEW had previously exercised the option year on his deal, but Starks had been largely absent from television leading up to his exit.

His NXT appearance raises plenty of questions about his future. While he didn’t confirm whether he’d be involved in Saturday’s Vengeance Day premium live event, his presence alone signals that WWE may have big plans for the former AEW standout.

For now, all eyes are on what’s next for Starks—will he make an impact in NXT, or is this just the first step toward an even bigger stage on Raw or SmackDown?