Details on the free agency status of three released top AEW stars revealed.
Earlier today, the wrestling fandom was left shocked when Ricky Starks was released by AEW. Soon, another report followed, detailing the departure of former TNT Champion Miro.However, preceding the above two releases, fans were made aware of Malakai Black’s departure.
Despite three of the top names on the roster, the management heavily underutilized all of them. All three released stars were former champions, with Starks having a run as a Tag Team Champion with Big Bill, Miro as a TNT Champion, and Black as a Trios Champion.
While it was all speculation till now, Fightful Select has now confirmed that all three men are no longer under All Elite Wrestling contract. All three had been looking at exit options and were finally granted that on 10th February, when they were officially removed from the promotion’s roster page.
Malakai Black’s original deal could have seen him signed well into 2027, according to Tony Khan. However, in December Fightful reported that Black would be leaving AEW in the coming months. Black’s wife Zelina Vega is currently active on SmackDown, and it is expected that Black could join her there.
Miro had not wrestled since 30th December 2023 but was discussed for potential creative throughout the year. The former TNT Champion had been healthy and cleared for action but was not used on television programming. For the past six months, he was also not brought up in creative discussions and was expected to be not seen in AEW again. He had asked for his release in the fall of 2024, which has now been granted. Miro’s contract with the company was extended in early 2022, with a duration that could have lasted until early 2026.
Former tag-team Champion Ricky Starks’ contract situation was arguably one of the most popular and tricky ones. Absent from television since the March 30, 2024 episode of Collision, Starks was repeatedly kept off TV by Tony Khan. Fightful Select noted that Starks had asked the promotion in late 2023 not to pick up his contract, which was coming up in 2024, which the Jacksonville-based promotion did. However, they later did not use Starks throughout the year, despite his willingness to work.
It is now noted that all three released stars are now free to go wherever they want. They do have non-compete clauses as part of their releases.
Recently Miro was spotted with a current WWE Superstar.
Ricky Starks Comments On Not Being Used On AEW Television
Last year in November, Ricky Starks appeared in an interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight and opened up on his absence from the promotion.
“March was my last match. I’ve been home, I’ve been healthy. Never was injured. I did have a stinger. I got a stinger in that match against Top Flight in March. I got immediately checked out and everything was fine, but I was just concerned at the time. So that happened and then I was just home. That’s kind of where it’s been at. I’ve just been home.
It’s kind of a mindf*ck because I’m in my prime and it sucks when you’re on such a momentum, riding the wave, doing work and doing stuff, and then to just be at home for so long, you’re kind of like, whoa. It kind of throws it off.
I am not meant to be at home. I’m not meant to be a homebody in this current phase in my life. I’m not meant to be just chilling at home and doing not the thing that I’ve been busting my ass to do for the past 13 years.”
In other news: Rey Mysterio has opened up on his retirement plans.