Tag: Ricky Starks

WWE May Give Ricky Starks A New Name

Ricky Starks wasted no time making an impact in WWE, debuting on NXT just one day after receiving his release from AEW. The former AEW World Tag Team Champion shocked fans by appearing through the crowd and declaring himself the “absolute superstar of the future.” However, one detail stood out—commentary and WWE’s social media team never actually referred to him by name during the broadcast.

According to WalkwayFight.com, this omission was due to how quickly the deal came together. Starks’ WWE signing happened so fast that there wasn’t even time to produce merchandise for him. Additionally, with Starks previously filing to trademark his in-ring name through his company, Dream Palace LLC, there’s now speculation that WWE may rebrand him under a new name.

WWE’s Approach to Superstar Names

WWE has a long-standing preference for owning their talents’ ring names, ensuring exclusivity if they leave the company. However, there have been exceptions in recent years. Stars like Ethan Page and Jade Cargill have kept their AEW names, while others—such as Brian Pillman Jr. (now Lexis King) and Bea Priestley (now Blair Davenport)—underwent rebranding.

Given Starks’ established reputation, it would be surprising if WWE opted to change his name. However, history suggests it’s still a possibility. Whether he remains Ricky Starks or adopts a new persona, one thing is clear—his NXT arrival has already turned heads, and fans will be eager to see what’s next.

Stay tuned for updates as more details emerge about Starks’ WWE future.

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?

Malakai Black, Ricky Starks And Miro Depart AEW: What’s Next for These Stars?

The wrestling world has seen a wave of roster shake-ups lately, and AEW is no exception. Following a series of WWE releases, it has now been confirmed that three notable AEW names—Miro, Malakai Black, and Ricky Starks—are no longer with the company. Even more intriguing, they are free to sign and compete anywhere immediately, as their contracts do not include non-compete clauses.

According to Fightful Select, AEW removed all three from its official roster page on Monday, signaling their official departure. Let’s break down the situation for each of these now-former AEW stars.

Malakai Black’s Unexpected Exit

Black’s AEW run seemed poised for longevity, with AEW President Tony Khan previously suggesting his contract could keep him with the company until 2027. However, reports indicate that Black was actually finished with AEW as early as January—well before the Royal Rumble. AEW has already adjusted creatively, repackaging Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Julia Hart from the House of Black into a new stable, the Hounds of Hell.

Given Black’s reputation as a unique in-ring performer and storyteller, speculation will likely swirl about a potential WWE return—especially considering his past as Aleister Black and his connections in the company.

Miro’s AEW Run Fizzles Out

Once one of AEW’s most dominant forces, Miro had been missing from action for quite some time. Despite being healthy, he wrestled only a handful of matches in 2023 and had not been included in creative discussions for at least six months. Reports indicate that Miro actually requested his release back in September, which means his exit may have been in the works for a while.

Originally signing a long-term contract extension in 2022, Miro was expected to remain with AEW until 2026. However, his absence from TV and lack of creative direction made his departure seem inevitable. Now, the question is whether Miro—formerly known as Rusev in WWE—will head back to his old stomping grounds or explore opportunities elsewhere.

Ricky Starks: A Frustrated Star Moves On

Perhaps the most surprising departure is Ricky Starks, who had long been considered a rising star in AEW. According to reports, Starks asked AEW not to pick up his contract’s option year in late 2023. However, AEW did the opposite—exercising the option but then not utilizing him on TV.

Starks reportedly requested his release in January, and his situation was further complicated when he was pulled from GCW events due to backstage friction. Despite this, Starks managed to make headlines over the weekend by winning the DEFY World Championship from KENTA just before his AEW release became public.

What’s Next?

With no contractual restrictions holding them back, Miro, Black, and Starks have the freedom to appear anywhere at any time. Could we see one—or all—of them make surprise appearances in WWE, NJPW, or even TNA? The industry is wide open, and their next moves will undoubtedly be closely watched by fans and promoters alike.

For now, one thing is certain: AEW’s landscape continues to shift, and these departures could lead to major shake-ups across the wrestling world.

Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!

Report – Ricky Starks To Sign With WWE After AEW Deal Expires

Ricky Starks last appeared on the March 30th episode of AEW Collision, during which he suffered an injury scare, which changed the planned outcome of the match.

Since that show, Starks has publicly stated that he is not injured and expressed uncertainty regarding AEW’s decision not to involve him in programming. Meanwhile, AEW President Tony Khan publicly expressed his desire to bring Starks back to television.

There were plans to reintroduce Starks to television as a babyface and initiate a storyline involving a betrayal by Big Bill, leading to a feud between the two. However, the planned babyface turn did not materialize due to Starks’ decision not to pursue this direction.

Pwinsider reported earlier this week that there is “certainly interest” in several AEW stars, including Starks, whose deals are close to expiring or who have been absent from TV for some time.

According to the latest update by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Starks is expected to sign with WWE when his AEW contract expires.

The length of Starks’ AEW deal is unknown.

Source: eWn

Update On Ricky Starks’ Status Amidst AEW Absence

AEW has encountered challenges utilizing its extensive talent roster despite having multiple hours of weekly television.

In recent weeks, fans have expressed a strong desire to see the return of Ricky Starks, who has been absent from AEW programming for several months.

Starks’ last appearance was on the March 30 episode of AEW Collision, during which he suffered an injury scare, leading to a change in the planned match outcome.

Since that match, Starks has publicly stated that he is not injured and expressed uncertainty regarding AEW’s decision not to involve him in programming. Meanwhile, AEW President Tony Khan has publicly expressed his desire to bring Starks back to television.

Fightful has now shared an update on Stark’s status with AEW. According to sources within the promotion, Starks has turned down specific proposed storyline ideas despite conflicting accounts.

Some sources claim that Starks declined only one storyline pitch in recent months, while the extent to which he rejected other ideas remains to be determined.

According to reports, there were concerns regarding fan reaction when Starks was not booked at AEW All In 2023. This led to the development of a suspension storyline.

Additionally, at that time, Starks was reluctant to be part of a tag team and was dissatisfied with the lack of follow-up to his match with Bryan Danielson. Starks perceived the conclusion of last summer as a pivotal moment in his booking, noting a slowdown in his momentum following CM Punk’s departure.

Criticism has emerged within AEW regarding Starks’ approach to potential storylines. While some within the company have expressed disappointment at his reluctance to engage in proposed creative directions, others involved in the storytelling process had hoped to use these opportunities to elevate different characters.

Further reports suggest that there’s been internal disagreement within AEW regarding communication between Starks and the management.

Moreover, conflicting information about Starks’ aspirations has surfaced, with speculation that he may be considering a move to WWE. However, the specifics of his AEW contractual status remain unknown.

Source: eWn

Ricky Starks Provides Health Update Following AEW Collision Injury Scare

The March 30 episode of “AEW Collision” featured a reported change to Ricky Starks and Big Bill’s tag team match after the former appeared to suffer an injury. However, “Absolute” has since taken to his Instagram stories and revealed that it’s nothing to worry about. “I’m all good; everything checked out fine. Was being precautions,” he wrote.

The moment occurred when Starks didn’t kick out of a pinfall attempt that wasn’t supposed to be a three-count. This prompted the referee to stop counting, and the star was subsequently DDT’d and pinned by Darius Martin to finish the match. Worse yet, Starks and Bill were reportedly scheduled to win the match, and this loss means that they are now out of the AEW World Tag Team Tournament.

The match in question was Starks and Bill’s first on-screen appearance since they lost the AEW World Tag Titles to Darby Allin and Sting in February. Now that Starks is okay, however, it remains to be seen how he and Bill will be booked moving forward. New champs will be crowned at the upcoming AEW Dynasty pay-per-view, and Top Flight and FTR have already cemented their places in the semi-finals.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Sammy Guevara Returns On AEW Dynamite, Reunites With Chris Jericho

Sammy Guevara is back.

Guevara returned to AEW television on Wednesday, aligning himself with Chris Jericho again after turning on Don Callis and the Callis Family. Callis introduced Guevara and showcased a painting of him and the family with his new child. Guevara was hostile, accusing Callis and the family of not being there for him when he had his child or was out of action with a concussion. After Callis gave him an ultimatum and brought up his child negatively, Guevara attacked Callis, which led to the family attacking Guevara until Jericho made the save. Jericho extended his hand, but Guevara went in for a hug, reuniting the two.

The two were then jumped by Big Bill & Ricky Starks, Jericho’s former opponents for Worlds End before Kenny Omega was put out of action indefinitely with diverticulitis. The lights went out and when they came back on, Darby Allin and Sting were in the ring and made the save.

Later, an eight man tag team match was made for Worlds End where Guevara, Jericho, Allin, and Sting will team together to take on Starks,Bill, Kyle Fletcher, and Konosuke Takeshita. 

Guevara was last on television back at WrestleDream in October, teaming with Konosuke Takeshita and Will Ospreay in a winning effort against Jericho, Omega, and Kota Ibushi. He has been out of action ever since due to suffering a concussion in the match. He’s also been out as Tay Melo, his wife, gave birth to a daughter back on November 28.

Source: Wrestling Observer

AEW Star Ricky Starks Reportedly Is Out Of Action With A Fractured Neck

As first reported by Voices of Wrestling, and then later confirmed by F4WOnline, AEW star Ricky Starks is out of action with a fractured neck. 

Starks apparently suffered the injury during his match against Hangman Page on the April 21 episode of AEW Dynamite. 

The injury is said to have occurred when he tried to flip over after taking a german suplex from Page.  Instead of landing on his feet, he hit the mat awkwardly on his neck and then his ankle.  He finished the match, and took the pin. 

 He took to Twitter later after the match tp respond to a fan that he “was good” and also gave credit to DDP Yoga for his flexibility.

It should be noted that Starks appeared on the following week’s episode of AEW Dark in a tag match with Powerhouse Hobbs. He never participated in the match that lasted around 30 seconds. 

https://twitter.com/TheBlackConrad/status/1385049360568700930
https://twitter.com/starkmanjones/status/1385052955427082241

Source: WrestleView