Ricky Starks hasn't been on AEW television since March, and it is unknown if or when he will return.
Fightful Select reported that AEW had an option year in the spring of 2024 on Starks' contract, which they picked up. Starks was reportedly hoping to test free agency.
Speaking on his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt gave his take on the situation.
“I can’t speak into the reasoning they’re not using them, because I don’t know those details obviously. I can say, I grew to like Ricky Starks so much. I love me some Ricky Starks. We had a greeting, he would always hit me and said, ‘What’s up RN’. That’s what he would call me every time that I ran into him and that kind of became our thing back and forth. I’ll leave that to your imagination what it might be. 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.
“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. That’s one of those things that I’m not going to be too critical of because that’s just kind of how business is conducted in the big scheme of things.”
Asked by co-host Jon Alba what he thought of holding talent or not releasing them if they’re unhappy or if they ask for their release, Hardy replied, “It can be [within the business’s right.] In theory, if you signed a contract, you have made this agreement to do that time, so it is what it is. Now, I’m very different. I could see if someone did not want to be — if I’m the boss and someone asked me, ‘Hey, I’m not happy here, I’d like to move on and do this or that’, I get that and I would probably think a little differently. If someone didn’t want to be here and I’m paying them just to sit at home, I would probably release people. I think after the Ethan Page deal where he asked for his release and he was granted his release and then he shows up in NXT and becomes a hit, I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime in the near future.”
Starks was set to compete at multiple GCW events, but AEW pulled him from those appearances, reportedly in part due to comments made by Effy towards Tony Khan and Shad Khan.
Elsewhere during the podcast, Matt provided more insight into his contract situation with TNA. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
If you use any of the quotes above, please credit and link to the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
