Ricky Starks Reflects On Strap Match With Bryan Danielson, Says ‘It Was Everything I Could Give’

Ricky Starks reflects on his strap match with Bryan Danielson at AEW All Out 2023.

Ricky Starks looks back on his Strap Match at AEW All Out 2023.

A major wrench was thrown in Ricky Starks’ plans for AEW All Out this year, as he looked poised to square off with CM Punk at the event following a storyline that had been running between the pair since the Owen Hart Foundation tournament finals in July. Unfortunately, CM Punk would be fired with cause after his involvement in a backstage brawl at AEW All In.

On short notice, and with a still healing broken arm, Bryan Danielson would step in to replace the now fired Punk, and what followed was an incredibly violent match that ended with Danielson choking Starks out with the strap to capture the victory.

During the post AEW Full Gear media scrum, Ricky Starks reflected on his rivalry with Danielson, sharing how important those matches were after the circumstances surrounding how they came about.

“Those matches were very special to me, and I think you guys have seen me, this past summer, go through a lot of things that was out of my control. To me see come out of it on that end with the Danielson match, that I had no expectations for, that I really didn’t know what I was getting into. To come out of the other side of that and have the reception be what it was, where I’m on a flight and I’m crying because everyone was so…I don’t know, it’s hard to explain. That, what you saw, was as raw of a Ricky as you’re going to get in a match, especially with everything involved. That was as raw and as passionate and everything I could give. That match, actually, stands the test of time for me. It ranks very high for me personally. Crazy as it sounds, I’d do it again.” Ricky said.

At AEW Full Gear on Saturday evening, Starks successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Championships alongside Big Bill in a chaotic four way ladder match that also featured LFI (Rush and Dralistico), FTR and The House Of Black (Malakai Black and Brody King).

If you use any of the quotes above, please credit the original source with a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.