AEW isn’t factoring this former champion into its long term creative plans.
Ricky Starks hasn’t been seen on All Elite Wrestling television since the March 30th episode of Collision, when he and Big Bill competed for the first time since losing the AEW World Tag Team Championship to Darby Allin and Sting. In a quarter-final match in the AEW World Tag title tournament, the duo took on Dante and Darius Martin of Top Flight.
Unfortunately, however, the finish did not go according to plan. In the end, Darius ended up pinning Starks off a standard DDT and ringside medical trainers checked on Starks after the match. As reported by Fightful Select, this was not the planned finish or even victors as Starks and Bill were meant to advance to face FTR.
Starks later took to social media to indicate that he was fine and that stopping the match had simply been a precaution, and back in May, he spoke about wanting to return to action soon as he was “ready to go.”
Tony Khan recently clarified that Starks is still under contract to All Elite Wrestling, but he has yet to return to television and rumors about his contract’s expiration vary wildly.
During a recent podcast, Ibou of WrestlePurists discussed Starks and his contract status, saying that different sources give very different information about the situation. He said reporting any details is “contradictory and a fool’s errand.”
“The problem with Ricky Starks and Ricky Starks-based reporting is you hear one thing about Ricky Starks from one guy and then what you hear from the next guy doesn’t line up at all.”
Ricky Starks Reportedly Frustrated At Lack Of AEW Direction
Continuing, Ibou said that one detail surrounding Starks is consistent: he’s not been given any clear direction for his future with the company, which has been frustrating for the star.
“The things that seem to be overlapping is that he is frustrated with the fact that he hasn’t been given a direction. AEW is of the belief that he doesn’t want to stay anymore and seemingly he is waiting his deal out, that is what people think…Nobody can agree when the deal is expiring.
According to Ibou, Starks is healthy and ready to compete, but All Elite Wrestling is not factoring him into creative plans.
The bottom line is Ricky Starks is home. He’s healthy. He does not have any long-term plans in AEW. AEW has no long-term plans for him at this juncture and that’s the situation.”
Starks recently revealed that he was out at a movie with his mother while All In took place inside Wembley Stadium.
In other news, one AEW star could be getting ready to return.
h/t WrestlingInc