Ricky Starks: Bring In Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Roman Reigns; I Can Run With All Of Them

Ricky Starks was one of the hottest free agents in wrestling when he answered Cody Rhodes’ open challenge on the June 17, 2020 episode of AEW Dynamite. Starks lost to Cody, but was signed by AEW. 

In the nearly two years since Starks has been with AEW, the roster has continued to grow with top names like Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, Adam Cole, Keith Lee, Swerve Strickland, and more joining the mix. 

Speaking on the Pro Wrestling Illustrated podcast, Starks discussed the names coming in and where he currently fits among the mix. 

“It’s extremely discouraging, but I kind of like that pressure,” he said when discussing how he figures where he fits in. “To me, I’m going to say it straight up, I can run with those guys. I can be at the top with those guys. I’m on the same level as those dudes. I know that in my heart I am. Sometimes, I’m having to play catch up with my momentum and having to pick up where I left off, and that’s fine, other days I’m looking around like, ‘this all changed so quick and I need to figure out where to jump in at.’ I don’t want this to seem like I’m not appreciative, but this is a bit more insight into me personally that I’m trying to figure out. I see all the positive support online and people want to see me more, and I really do take it to heart and get emotional over it. At the end of the day, you can bring in Punk, Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, bring in Roman Reigns, all of them. The thing I want is the opportunity to get in there and say, ‘You may not think much of me right now, but after the match, I’m sure you will.’ It isn’t just the hot popular groups of people at AEW that you want to surround yourself with, look at the underutilized and undiscovered talent on the roster and go from there.”

A neck injury sidelined Starks in April 2021 and after returning in July, wasn’t as active in the ring. 

Speaking about the injury and how it slowed his momentum, Starks said, “I do feel like, when I look at my career before the injury, I do feel that I have a huge upside and I think that was the perfect opportunity for me to really go full force before we had the influx of other names coming in. I do feel like, maybe I missed my time. That’s a personal battle that I have. Some people probably say, ‘You’re still young’ and all this other bullshit, but I do feel like I have to make up for missed time and I do feel like I am lacking and behind a bit. There are days where I’m wanting to be eager and go full force and try to play catch up and there are other days where I’m like, ‘I don’t know, what am to do?’ The stuff behind the microphone, I’m not saying I was already there, but I don’t think that was ever an area where I needed severe improvement on. I felt my promo stuff was pretty good. Of course, it can always get better, I’m not saying it couldn’t, but if you’re saying, ‘you have to really improve in this area, it’s bad,’ I don’t think I was like that. It’s cool to be behind the mic with Rampage and commentary and be a manager, but you have to realize  that I was going crazy because I couldn’t wrestle. There is duality and I see it from both sides. The practical, optimistic side, then the selfish side of a wrestler. It’s still a tough battle and I’m trying to work through it. I’m hoping this is the year I can make stuff happen.”

Starks most recently wrestled on the April 19 episode of AEW Dark when he teamed with Powerhouse Hobbs against The Dark Order (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson). 

He is the reigning FTW Champion and currently feuding with Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee on AEW. 

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