WWE legend addresses Ricky Starks' AEW contract situation
Despite Ricky Starks having been absent from television since March, his current status with AEW is still up in the air. WWE legend Matt Hardy recently commented on the ongoing drama surrounding the former AEW World Tag Team Champion.
Starks has been out of action for most of the year as speculation flies about his contract situation. The future looked promising after the 34-year-old reportedly visited the promotion during Full Gear, but he was soon pulled from a GCW booking by Tony Khan's company.
Matt Hardy is a fan of Ricky Starks. Hardy departed All Elite Wrestling earlier this year, but he still keeps up with what's going on in the promotion, especially when it concerns his friends. On a recent episode of The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, the legendary star admitted that he doesn't know why the promotion wasn't using Starks, but he had a lot of love for the 34-year-old:
"I got a lot of love for Ricky Starks; I think he’s extremely talented, he’s extremely charismatic. I think he gets the wrestling business, and I can see him being a big star in the future, especially if he gets the correct opportunity."
Hardy then addressed the Absolute One's contract situation, noting that, despite the drama, it's nothing unusual:
"As far as guys being there under contract, I guess if there is a dispute and maybe someone voices an opinion that is contrary to your company or saying he doesn’t want to work there or whatever it may be, once again, I don’t know any of this, but I get Tony Khan holding someone under contract until the end of their deal, I mean, if they’re being paid, it is what it is. You signed a contract. That happens in business all the time, so that’s nothing new in pro wrestling." [H/T Fightful]
Check out his comments in the video below:
Update on Ricky Starks' appearance at AEW Full Gear 2024
AEW's sixth annual Full Gear pay-per-view took place last weekend, and Ricky Starks was in attendance. While the 34-year-old wasn't spotted on camera, he was reportedly backstage for the first time in months.
According to Fightful Select, the situation wasn't tense. Starks was welcomed by talents backstage, and he even took pictures with some of his colleagues. The report noted that he got along with everyone at the pay-per-view.
It's thought by some that Ricky Starks was pulled from his GCW booking due to comments made by Effy and Matt Cardona, but there's a chance Tony Khan has come up with a plan to integrate the former AEW World Tag Team Champion back into his company's programming. With rumors of Starks making a jump to WWE next year still circulating, his immediate future remains murky.