Absent AEW Star Addresses Potential WWE Move

WWE/AEW

Having last been seen on screen in March 2024, Ricky Starks remains under contract with AEW and has recently discussed a possible WWE move.

Starks has confirmed that he is healthy and described his absence from AEW as a “mindf**k” in comments made to Chris Van Vliet.

During his appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the former AEW World Tag Team Champion opened up about the possibility of a move to WWE, saying:

“I could end up anywhere actually. It’s not crazy. I understand it, and definitely get it. Like, you know, you just go where your friends are. Yes, I love my friends. I would like to always see them every day in my life, whether they come to me or whatever the case may be.

“That’s just how it is in life. You have people that you are cool with, and you’re always gonna have people say, like, well, you’re gonna do that because of this person. It’s like, Well, damn, yeah, I can’t act on my own accord.”

Starks was in attendance at WrestleMania 40 in April 2024 to support two of his friends – Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill – and discussed this with Van Vliet, stating:

“You know who else was in the box with me? Dustin, QT Marshall, Aaron Solo. This is not me putting them on blast. This is just saying yes, there’s people in the box. There’s footage of me celebrating. There was no issue about that.

“I was there to watch Jade’s first Mania match and was extremely proud. I saw her match, and then I was there to see Cody’s match. Guess what? I was at Mania the year before that and saw Cody lose.”

The former FTW Champion isn’t a stranger to appearing on WWE screens either and commented on his role as an extra, touching on why it didn’t lead anywhere further, saying:

“I don’t know. I think at the time, I did a trial in 2017 and really put all my eggs in that basket. I was told that they liked me because I did a promo that they really enjoyed.

“I just don’t think they had a place for me yet and I was competing against guys who had a name on the indys. So you got to think about it. They were going to take the guys with names because those fans were going to follow them, and in turn those fans were going to buy a Network subscription or something. So you’re just adding to the bucket of money. You come in with something.

“I personally think that’s just what it is. Timing-wise, at the time, I thought it sucked, but looking back on it, I’m actually glad that I went on this route that I’ve taken with AEW and having them basically take a chance on me and me prove my work 10 times over.”

Starks has previously confirmed that he is still under contract with AEW and has recently taken part in his second independent match since his last on-screen appearance.

November 24, 2024, saw Starks lose to Kody Lane in an A1 Zero Gravity Championship match at Glory Pro WrestlePocalypse.

Transcript from chrisvanvliet.com.