Ricky Starks

Ricky Starks is a professional wrestler hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. The former AEW superstar is signed with WWE and is performing on the NXT brand as of February 2025. During his independent career, Starks performed for wrestling promotions such as the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), DEFY Wrestling, Inspire Pro Wrestling, etc. The former AEW FTW and World Tag Team Champion has held many other titles in his professional wrestling career like the NWA World Television Championship. He also won the AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament and Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale in 2022 and the Men’s Owen Hart Cup the following year.

1. Professional Wrestling Career
2. Championships and Accomplishments

Ricky Starks' professional wrestling career

Early years (2012-2018)

Starks passion for pro wrestling began when he was just four years old. During his early years, Starks made several appearances for WWE as an enhancement talent and started jobbing (vs. Jinder Mahal). He debuted in NWA's Velocity Pro Wrestling in 2012, followed by stints at Anarchy Championship Wrestling and Inspire Pro Wrestling.

NWA (2018-2020)

Ricky Starks made his NWA debut in 2018 and later acquired prominence in 2019 by beating Trevor Murdoch on NWA Power. In 2020, he became the inaugural NWA World Television Champion, defeating multiple opponents to win the title at Hard Times PPV. However, he lost the title after two days to Zicky Dice and left NWA later that year when his contract expired.

AEW (2020-2025)

Team Taz (2020–2022)

In June 2020, Starks lost against Cody Rhodes during the TNT Open challenge, which was his unofficial debut in AEW. After the match, Starks was announced as part of the roster and signed with the company. In July, Starks began teaming up with Brian Cage to face Darby Allin and Jon Moxley. He officially formed Team Taz with Cage, which was further strengthened by the addition of Powerhouse Hobbs in November.

At the event 'Dynamite: Winter is Coming', Starks and Hobbs lost to Allin and Rhodes. Later, during the cinematic match 'Revolution', Brian Cage and Ricky Starks lost to Sting and Darby Allin. However, in July 2021, Starks exacted revenge by defeating Brian Cage to win the FTW World Championship. At Fight For The Fallen on July 27, 2022, Ricky Starks lost his FTW World Championship to Hook, bringing an end to his record 378 days title reign.

In 2022, after an emotional post-match promo, Ricky Starks was attacked by Powerhouse Hobbs, leading to Starks' face turn and the dissolution of Team Taz. Their rivalry culminated in matches at All Out, where Hobbs won, and Grand Slam, where Starks beat Hobbs in an Unsanctioned Lights Out match to end the feud.

World Championship (2022–2025)

In 2022, Ricky Starks came out on top in the AEW World Championship Eliminator Competition and secured a fight against MJF (lost) at Winter Is Coming. Following this, he fought with Chris Jericho and the Jericho Appreciation Society, beating Jericho at Revolution 2023. Starks then started a rivalry with Juice Robinson, which later saw Jay White's debut in AEW. Starks faced the duo in the Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament, where he not only made it to the finals but also defeated CM Punk to win the competition.

After unsuccessfully challenging Punk for the "Real World Championship," Starks went after Ricky Steamboat, turning heel and getting a (kayfabe) suspension. During the suspension, he managed Big Bill and, after returning, teamed up with him to win the AEW World Tag Team Titles, defeating FTR in October 2023. Their reign lasted 123 days before the duo lost the titles to Sting and Darby Allin in February 2024. Starks' last AEW match took place in March 2024 when he and Big Bill lost to Top Flight. In February 2025, he was officially released after finishing his five-year tenure with AEW.

Independent promotions (2024-2025)

In November 2024, Ricky Starks made his Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) debut at GCW Dream On but was later pulled from all upcoming appearances. He then showed up in DEFY Wrestling, successfully challenging Kenta for the DEFY World Title at Hundredth in February 2025. The same year, he appeared for House of Glory (HOG) and unsuccessfully challenged Mike Santana for the HOG Heavyweight Title.

WWE NXT (2025)

On the February 11 episode of NXT, Starks made his official WWE debut by emerging from the audience and stating that NXT required an "absolute superstar of the future."

Ricky Starks' titles and accomplishments

*Last updated on February 13, 2025