Ricky Starks may have some wait if he has to wait out his AEW contract.
The former AEW Tag Team Champion hasn’t been seen in AEW for the past eight months. He hasn’t wrestled for the company since March, when he and Big Bill lost to Top Flight in the tag team title tournament following Sting’s retirement.
This has led to a lot of discussion about Ricky Starks future in the company. Despite rumours he was hard to work with and suffering from injuries, the AEW star claims he never turned down AEW creative suggestions and is fit to wrestle. The fact he wrestled at Glory Pro Wrestling last week backs up the latter claim.
Fightful Select have reported that Ricky Starks is still under contract. They revealed that his deal extends until either the spring of summer of 2025 and that the company have no plans creatively for the 34-year-old. AEW even extended his deal in spring 2024, despite no apparent plans to use him as an on-air talent.
They added that he is cleared to wrestle and isn’t suffering from any injuries. He also appeared backstage at AEW Full Gear on Saturday, the first time he’s been seen backstage since March.
Ricky Starks’ Contract Expires In 2025
Fightful Selected wrote, “Ricky Starks recently appeared a Glory Pro Wrestling. Ending a wrestling absence of over six months, as well as GCW where he said he was being frozen. It’s led to questions regarding his status in AEW, as well as his wrestling future.”
“Starks hasn’t been injured, and has been cleared to compete. But he hasn’t been at recent AEW shows outside of AEW Full Gear since the absence started. Those that we spoke to say he hasn’t been factored much into pitches or creative since then, but he remains under contract. We’re told that his presence backstage at Full Gear was welcomed.”
“Fightful Select learned via numerous AEW sources that AEW had an option year in the spring of 2024 in which they picked up. This extends Ricky Starks’ stay into the spring or summer of 2025. Those that we spoke to said that prior to the option being picked up, he was hoping to test the open market. Thus far we’ve not learned of any plans involving AEW and Ricky Starks.”
