The AEW roster is filled with talents, but the problem that most wrestling fans seem to have with it is that Tony Khan doesn’t use most of these faces on TV. Ricky Starks is one such person on the roster who hasn’t wrestled in AEW in a long time. The last time fans saw him in Khan’s promotion was back at the end of March 2024.
Fans have shown their discontent with the creative department for not booking Ricky Starks appropriately, despite his talent. This has also led to some of them wishing and advising him to sign with NXT instead. And now, it seems that may be happening soon.
Ricky Starks receives a challenge from NXT star
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Seeing how the AEW star is not currently active on his roster, Eddy Thorpe tweeted about how he would like to face him sometime down the line. Although he didn’t directly tease a match, Thorpe just revealed that this is a desire of his that he wants to accomplish one day.
The NXT star announced out of the blue, “I want to fight @starkmanjones someday.” It is normal if this announcement raises suspicion inside you because of how out of the blue it was. Fans have already shown that they don’t appreciate Ricky Starks’ inactivity on AEW TV. Now, this tease also hints toward a potential leave from the Jacksonville-based company.
I want to fight @starkmanjones someday.
— エディ•ソープ (@EddyThorpe_WWE) August 2, 2024
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Although there isn’t much knowledge out there about the AEW star’s contract, some sources report that it is set to expire sometime before All In 2024, which will take place on 25th August. So we may be closing in on a potential NXT debut for Ricky Starks, especially given the fact that he is disappointed in the lack of screen time he has been getting.
Ricky Starks was upset about less screen time
Earlier this year, there were reports that the Louisiana-based wrestler was spotted in Jacksonville even though he didn’t have any show appearances that week. This sparked rumors among a part of the fanbase who believed that he was probably medically unwell and hence trying to get medically cleared. Starks later replied to the report of his appearance in Jacksonville and claimed that he was getting checked by the AEW medical team, much like how every wrestler gets checked each year to prevent any potentially serious injury from happening in the future.
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Later, down the line, he was featured in an interview where he opened up about not getting used on TV. It is rare to see wrestlers voicing out their workplace concerns publicly, but seeing him address it hinted at the fact that Starks isn’t happy with the lack of screen time. He revealed to the hosts that when fans ask him why he’s not there on AEW TV anymore; he has no idea what to reply to them simply because it’s not in his hands. He also claimed that he doesn’t like staying away from the camera frame either, but can’t do anything about it as of now.
Probably the only move that Ricky Starks is left with is to switch promotions. Will we see Eddy Thorpe as his first opponent if he were to sign with NXT soon?