Ricky Starks Not Shutting Down AEW Storylines as Contract Expiration Looms

Ricky Starks has been off AEW television since March 30, and with his contract set to expire this spring, all eyes are on what’s next for the former AEW World Tag Team Champion.

Reports from Fightful Select confirm that Starks originally asked AEW not to pick up his option in late 2023, but AEW ignored the request and extended his contract by another year. Since then, Starks hasn’t been used, despite not turning down creative ideas.

According to Ibou of WrestlePurists, Starks formally requested his release months ago, but Tony Khan denied it. Now, he’s riding out the remainder of his deal while working select indie dates to stay active.

“At the end of the day, things happened to where he’s on the outs with AEW right now,” Ibou explained. “There’s a lot of things, most of it will never be reported. But ultimately there’s a falling out there, and it is what it is. He’s asked for a release, Tony won’t give it to him, and he’s just going to wait out the rest of his deal.”

Despite his absence from AEW programming, Starks hasn’t rejected any creative plans, a detail Fightful has reiterated multiple times. However, he was blocked from working GCW shows, despite still being allowed to work other indie promotions.

Starks was even spotted backstage at AEW Full Gear, where he was reportedly welcomed by talent, despite his ongoing contract situation.

With his deal expiring in the spring, WWE is reportedly very interested in bringing him to NXT, which could be a major shift for his career. Whether AEW lets him walk or makes a last-minute move to keep him, Starks’ next steps could be game-changing.

Ricky Starks isn’t turning down creative, but AEW still isn’t using him, and with his contract set to expire this spring, his next move could shake things up in a major way. Whether he’s headed for WWE, staying put, or exploring something entirely different, one thing is clear—he’s not going to sit on the sidelines forever.