Ricky Starks Expresses Frustration Over Absence from AEW Television

Ricky Starks has been a pivotal figure in AEW since 2020 and has been notably absent from television since late March. In fact, he acknowledges the frustration of his current absence from the screen.

On the March 30 episode of AEW Collision, Ricky Starks seemed to have sustained an injury during the tag team title tournament match, where he and Big Bill squared off against Top Flight. That would turn out to be his last appearance on AEW television as he has been absent since then for some reason.

In an interview with WhatCulture Wrestling, Ricky Starks addressed his absence from AEW programming and uncertainty regarding his future appearances. Starks expressed hope but admitted to being unsure about his involvement in AEW Double or Nothing, admitting that it’s out of his control.

“I don’t know. I would hope so. But I really don’t know. Things are…every time I always predict something to go some way, it doesn’t go that way, and it kind of just leaves me being like, well, we’ll just figure out and see. I really have no clue. It’s just a very interesting time, I feel like. I wish that I was on Dynamite, or I wish I was on Dynasty. I wish I was on these things, but I think at a certain point, just for my own sanity, I can’t go too crazy about it because the proof is in my work and my effort that I’ve constantly given. I’ve constantly given 1000% effort. So at a certain point, it’s not in my control. I think that’s the biggest lesson I have. Things are just not in my control, but the things that are, I try the hardest.”

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Regarding his status, Ricky Starks clarified that he wasn’t injured but lacked answers about his absence. He thanked fans for their encouragement, but just left it at that.

“I’m not hurt. Even that night [on AEW Collision], I specifically stated, hey, I’m not hurt. I was just being cautious about it because at the moment, I didn’t know what was happening, especially with this side of my body. So I wasn’t hurt. I was never put on an injury list or anything like that. I have no answers. People ask me all the time, ‘Well, why aren’t you…’ I don’t know. I have no clue. That isn’t up to me. It does suck, obviously, to not be on TV, but the support in people online and people sending me messages is very, very sweet and endearing, and very encouraging, from that standpoint.”

Starks’ direction in AEW is unclear during his absence, especially as Big Bill has since partnered with Chris Jericho. We’ll have to see if Starks will end up feuding with Jericho once he’s back.

When do you think Ricky Starks will make his return to AEW television after so long? Let us know in the comments section below!