Ricky Starks comments on verbally sparring with MJF in 2022.
Ricky Starks and MJF got into a verbal confrontation on the December 7, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite. With Maxwell Jacob Friedman fresh off of capturing the AEW World Title and Ricky Starks looking to raise his stock, both charismatic performers traded barbs in a segment that is still memorable to fans of AEW today.
Ricky Starks reflected on the segment during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet on Insight. When asked if he felt confident enough to combat MJF on the microphone, Starks said he knew he could handle his own and believes that the segment ended up being a display of the chemistry that they share with one another.
"I knew. There are several instances where I’ve proven that I’m actually more of a troll than Max is, and I’ve had it happen on live TV. That was in Austin and I just had a match. The promo that I went off on him with was so good because, yeah, I stumbled. I like stumbling through a promo. You hear somebody freestyle on a rap beat and if they stumble, just keep it moving. I like when it happens. That right there was my moment in my head of, ‘Kill em with what you got. You give me an inch, I’m going to make sure you get every juice out of that squeeze.’ Obviously, the chemistry with me and Max was palatable in that moment. You could feel it and see two people somewhat similar, but total opposites."
When asked if there was anything off-limits during their confrontation, Ricky Starks wouldn't say that while some people like to put restrictions on what they want their arrivals to say in a pro, nothing was off-limits with him and MJF.
"There are people that put down their rules with things they don’t want you to say. In that instance, me and Max have known each other for a while, and you could say we’re acquaintances, but I don’t like to say that because he’s a general piece of shit. The worst. There was nothing off limits on me, and the only reason is, if you come at me hard, just know that I have a bullet loaded for you and you’re dead before you can say it. That’s how I operate. Yes, there might be stuff, don’t say anything about my family or anything, but I’m exposed to the world. I’m in underwear.
Also, during the confrontation, Maxwell Jacob Friedman called Ricky Starks a "Dollar Store Dwayne." Far from the first, or last, individual to compare Ricky to The Rock, Starks didn't seem to be impressed with MJF's dig. Starks would also call MJF out on copying mannerisms from the likes of Triple H, Roddy, Piper, and Ric Flair.
"Yeah, and he’s a rip-off of Roddy Piper. Max says all of that stuff about me, yet made a return in a leather cutoff jean jacket. How is it that I am trying to rip off The Rock and this guy, every day, is cosplaying Triple H, cosplaying Ric Flair, cosplaying Roddy Piper," said Starks.
Elsewhere in the interview, Ricky Starks opened up about how he felt when Adam Copeland used the Dwayne Johnson comparison against him. Learn more here.
Ricky Starks was recently pulled from an upcoming booking at GCW Highest in the Room 3. Learn more about his replacement here.
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