Ricky Starks Calls Out AEW Stars Who ‘Stuck Their Nose’ In His Creative

AEW/WWE

WWE NXT star Ricky Starks, now known as Ricky Saints, has called out “veterans” in AEW who “stuck their nose” in his creative.

Starks was released by AEW on February 10 before making a debut appearance on NXT the very next night.

Tonight, a week after his debut, Starks’ new name was revealed to be Ricky Saints, and his first match was announced for next week, when he teams with Je’Von Evans against Ethan Page and Wes Lee.

In an appearance on Busted Open after tonight’s NXT show, Saints spoke about his time with AEW and his exit, saying:

“I can’t tell you exactly what the moment was. You could say it was Punk leaving and things kinda fell apart. Absolutely, I probably agree with you on that, alright? Or you could say that Ricky didn’t play the politics well enough. Alright, for sure… there’s so many things you can say.

“What I can say for myself is that when I got hurt in March, that was it, I never came back. And even then, I wasn’t hurt, it was a precaution thing where I got scared as I had a stinger. Then I was fine. After that, no, no dice, no communication. No nothing.

“And that is okay because… I ended up here. And it’s fine. Everything worked out.

“I don’t know explicitly where it went wrong, I can’t point to one thing. I can say it was a storm of things probably. Did I do something that may have tipped them off? Sure, asking for my release whenever you know, this past whatever, that could have been about it right?

“But never once was I not willing to do something, never once was I sabotaging anything.”

Saints then went on to add that there were “veterans” in AEW who “stuck their nose” in his creative business. He said:

“I will say this, there are some people who stuck their nose in my creative business that shouldn’t have happened. Veterans. And that’s it, I’ll leave it at that. And if they got a problem with me, they got my number. And text me about it.

“I think what it was is if it didn’t work for their creative, then someone had to get the boot. That’s how I see it. But I’m not trying to be negative in my thought process about it… if you want to step on me to get ahead in your illustrious career, everyone has an illustrious career. Everyone should have an illustrious career. That is perfectly fine. But at the same time, I’m not wet behind my ears.”

Next week’s episode of WWE NXT featuring Saints’ in-ring debut takes place in Cincinnati and will also feature the WWE return of the Hardy Boyz as they face Myles Borne and Tavion Heights.

Quotes via Wrestling Observer