Ricky Starks Claims Ryback Legitimately Slapped Him Three Times on an Episode of WWE RAW

Ricky Starks is undeniably a very talented pro wrestler and has a bright future ahead of him in AEW. Before making a name for himself in the independent circuit and AEW, he once worked as an extra in WWE.

Back in 2013, Ricky Starks appeared on WWE television and portrayed the role of an arena worker who was harassed and abused by Ryback. In the aforementioned segment, Ryback slapped Starks three times and put him through a table in order to send a message to John Cena, ahead of their Tables Match.

While speaking to Renee Paquette on Oral Sessions, Ricky Starks talked about the segment on WWE RAW with Ryback. Starks claimed that Ryback legitimately slapped him in the face three times during the segment.

”I got slapped in the face three times. He never told me he was going to slap me, so when you see me tense up, that’s legit. Initially, I was trying to cry and Michael Hayes came to me and was like, ‘You ain’t gonna cry like that in a real fight, would you?’ I said, ‘Hell nah, you’re right. I’d bow up to a motherfucker.’ I really enjoyed it, they paid for my shirt that he ripped up. I remember walking to the back and Miz and CM Punk were like, ‘good job on the segment.’ That was the end of it,”

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Starks honed his craft and became well-known after signing with NWA in 2016 before he joined AEW last year. On the other hand, Ryback was released by WWE in 2016 and has burned bridges with the company ever since then.

h/t to Fightful for the quotes.