FTW Champion Ricky Starks doesn’t look at himself as a role model, but the guy you see on AEW TV is authentically him.
Ricky Starks was the latest guest on Wrestling with Whiteness to discuss all things AEW. When asked if he looks at himself as a role model, Starks said that he doesn’t but if there are fans who look at him in that way he’ll take it.
“I’ll be straight up with you, no I don’t,” Ricky Starks said. “The reason is because I just never saw myself in that type of frame of like ‘Oh, I’m a role model so I need to do things.’ I’m not going to say that it’s bad, but what I’m gonna say is that sometimes I may make a decision or may say something that is wrong or that was a mistake. Then, suddenly, I’m scrutinized to a certain degree because people have put me in a role model category. You get what I mean? I’m not- I don’t have that allowance to be, or even have the grace, to make a mistake and correct it. Right? Some people just kinda cut you off at the starting line if something like that goes down.
“So no, I don’t think that I look at myself as a role model, but I do think it’s cool that some people look at me that way. If anything, out of this thing, I would want people to be authentically themselves. That’s why I tell people, ‘Hey, don’t look up to me,’ but I only say that because I don’t want there to be that expectation that I may not meet for somebody. You know? I would rather somebody look at me like, ‘Ricky is himself 100% of the time. I want to be like that,” Starks stated. “I want to live in my truth and be free in that sense.’ And if that’s what they look at me at as a role model, in that regard, I definitely will take that.”
When asked what goes into developing his character, Starks says he doesn’t believe he’s playing one and just tries to be himself.
“So I- everyone thinks that’s just a character. I don’t really, I don’t really buy into that,” Ricky Starks said. “I don’t think I’m a character. I am me, my personality, what you see on TV is what you see off TV. That’s just how I’ve been my whole life, especially growing up in New Orleans. So, I do take pride in being authentic and a very genuine person. I think people can see through some of the BS that people, like the acts that people put on TV. I’m glad that I don’t ever fall into that. I’ve never been accused of being fake or phony, or trying to be something I’m not ultimately. In terms of the development, I think it was more of, as you go through life you get these experiences and they do shape your personality more. Sometimes they’re defined more. You start to get a little more and more comfortable in your own skin, and that is the true development of a person, of a person’s character, is being just comfortable. If I had somebody talk to me when I was freakin’ 15, 17, you know, and tell me you really shouldn’t have to stress about what someone else thinks and things like that. Man, I’d be so much- I’d be so further along.”
Expanding on that, Starks says he’s appreciative to All Elite Wrestling for allowing himself to be authentic on television. He said the company has never directed him in any way, and although there’s some fans that might not be used to seeing someone like him, he appreciates AEW letting him be himself.
READ MORE: Ricky Starks Explains Why Every Year Is His Year, Says He’s Just Built Different
What do you make of Ricky Starks’ comments? Are you excited to see him in the ladder match at AEW Revolution? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
