In recent weeks, rumors have surfaced about the possible termination of Ricky Starks’ contract with AEW. Some reports even suggested that his contract might already be over. However, Tony Khan clarified the situation. He denied those rumors and confirmed that Starks is still under contract with All Elite Wrestling. Something that surely came as a relief for fans of the superstar in the promotion as they do not want the former FTW champion to leave the roster.

The AEW President said in a press conference, “Ricky has been a great star in AEW, been a champion here, and has had great matches here. I think very highly of Ricky. He’s somebody that has been here for several years and he’s under contract in AEW. He’s a well-regarded wrestler here in AEW.” Although it seems like this could change soon.

According to information provided by Ibou of WrestlePurists, the Jacksonville-based promotion has no long-term plans for Ricky Starks at this time. Internally, the belief is that Starks does not intend to stay with the company once his contract expires. However, an exact date for the end of his contract has not come to light. But it looks like the superstar could be on his way out of the promotion soon.

He reported, “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. 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.”

In recent weeks, reports have surfaced that WWE has a strong interest in signing Ricky Starks to bring him to NXT. This suggests that his future will likely lie in WWE rather than AEW. Especially considering that Starks maintains a very good relationship with Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill. So he would probably want to follow in their footsteps. But how close is he to making a deal with the Stamford-based promotion?

Ricky Starks getting closer and closer to WWE

The feelings that Starks has towards the WWE environment are no secret. And several times in the past there has been talk of his farewell from the Jacksonville federation and then joining ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill in the WWE. His last appearance in All Elite dates back to March. In that particular episode of Collision, he teamed up with Big Bill to face Top Flight.

It seems that on that occasion, Ricky Starks suffered an injury. Since then he has not been seen in AEW shows. According to PW Insider’s Mike Johnson, it seems that WWE is thinking about trying to sign Ricky Starks once the latter’s contract with All Elite expires. Fightful’s Corey Brennan also believes that there is significant interest in the signing. “Regarding the Ricky Starks rumors going around on social media, NXT sources say that there is significant interest in bringing Starks into the brand once he is available.”

Starks is not the only one who has ended up in the crosshairs of Triple H and associates. As in the last few days, they have also shown interest in Daniel Garcia and the Lucha Bros, Rey Fenix, and Penta El Zero Miedo. What do you think? Will the WWE be able to get these AEW talents to jump ships? Let us know in the comments.