Recently, we would see Ricky Steamboat use his legendary status to legitimise the heel turn of Ricky Starks. Following this loss on the August 5th episode of AEW Collision in a match with CM Punk, Starks would take out his anger on Steamboat – who was the special guest enforcer.
Starks would whip Steamboat with a belt – starting a storyline meant to lead to Starks vs. Punk in Chicago, but was moved into a feud with Bryan Danielson after Punk was fired. The attack on Steamboat helped get some heat on Starks – which was the legends plan the whole time.
Ricky Steamboat Knew That Ricky Starks Needed Help Getting Heat
While speaking with Bill Apter for Sportskeeda Wrestling, Steamboat would talk about how being whipped was his plan – wanting to get some actual heat on Starks as his slow burn heel turn simply wasn’t working.
“They suggested an outcome that I didn’t like. I said, ‘Look, you’re doing a slow turn with this kid, Ricky Starks. You’re trying to turn him heel, and what you’re suggesting, there’s not gonna be any heat on him.’ So I made the suggestion of what everybody saw. ‘I’d like to put some heat on this kid.’ So everything carried out to the T, and when I was there, I’m ringside as the second referee. I was listening to the crowd, it was almost like a 50/50 split. The fans were very generous on my introduction. Very; very generous. The match was going on, and I’m saying, ‘This is about a 50/50 split.’ I said I’m gonna be very curious to see what kind of reaction we’re going to get after everything goes down. I’m gonna say it was probably 80/20 now, where they’re booing him and what he did to me.'”
Starks has been on a steady rise since working with Punk & Steamboat, and his Strap Match & Texas Deathmatch with Danielson showed his level of skill in the ring. The sky is the limit for him now – it’s just if that limit will come in AEW or WWE.
Did Steamboat have the right idea to get heat on Starks? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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