"It's kind of a mindf*ck," says major star after being frozen out of AEW
Tony Khan has sidelined a top AEW star for months now. Ricky Starks, who is still under contract with the company, has been missing from television since March 2024, despite not being injured.
His last match on AEW was on the March 30 edition of Collision where he teamed up with his former tag team partner Big Bill against Dante Martin and Darius Martin of Top Flight in the World Tag Team Title Tournament Quarter Finals. His team lost the bout.
Ricky Starks recently had an interview with Chris Van Vliet on his Insight podcast. During their conversation, he was asked to comment on his absence from Tony Khan's promotion.
He said, “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."
The Absolute added that he is upset with his current situation in the Jacksonville-based promotion.
"That’s kind of where it’s been at. I’ve just been home. It’s kind of a mindf*ck 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 a** to do for the past 13 years.” [H/T Chris Van Vliet]
Ricky Starks airs frustration amid AEW absence
Moments before the 2024 Full Gear event on November 23, Ricky Starks made a surprise appearance at the GCW Dream On event and voiced his frustration with being frozen out of AEW. He announced he would not sit at home and watch his career decline.
The former FTW Champion is set to take on Matt Cardona in a singles match at GCW's Highest in the Room 3 event on Saturday, December 14.