Ricky Starks Frustrated By ‘Mindf**k’ AEW Absence

AEW

Despite being healthy, Ricky Starks hasn’t been seen on AEW television since March 2024 and has only had two wrestling matches since.

Starks most recently competed at Glory Pro WrestlePocalypse on November 24, losing to A1 Zero Gravity Champion Kody Lane.

Before that, he had a match at BWT Welcome to Paradise in May 2024, beating QT Marshall in his first wrestling match since the March 30 episode of AEW Collision.

Appearing at GCW Dream On on November 23, Starks commented on his absence saying:

“I will be damned if I sit at home and I get frozen out. I’ll be damned if I sit at home and let my career dwindle.”

Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Starks discussed his absence from AEW, describing it as a mindf**k, saying:

“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**k 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.”

Van Vliet would ask why he has been absent from AEW, despite being healthy and ready to wrestle, with Starks responding:

“Beats me. I could have 1,000 theories about what’s really going on. The fact of the matter is that if I don’t have a definitive answer, I can’t just make up an answer for people and just assume.

“Would I love to know the exact reason? For sure. Do I have speculations about why? Absolutely. But that does nothing to speak on things that I speculate, does nothing for the situation. So I think it’s just a matter of, it sucks, it’s been a very cold day here in Austin. It’s been a very cold day. May have been cold for the past nine months, not sure. But thankfully, I have a sweater, and I’m always ready to keep the warmth going.”

Starks would also describe being missed by the fans as “incredible”, noting that many fans have checked on him during his absence.

He would also state that he “always gonna end up better than the circumstances” that he is currently in and that he “can’t lose.”

Starks has recently confirmed that he is still under AEW contract having signed with the company in June 2020.

Transcript from chrisvanvliet.com.

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• ricky starks
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