Over the past year, All Elite Wrestling would invest into one of their young and rising names – that being Ricky Starks. Winning the 2022 AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament and taking MJF to his limit was just the start for Starks.
He’d go on to win a series of matches over Chris Jericho, before being one of the final feuds of CM Punk in AEW. After his recent war with Bryan Danielson at All Out – Starks has never looked better in AEW, but will he be a long term name for the company?
Ricky Starks Has Friends In High Places
When Starks initially started with the company in 2020, he was brought in as a challenger for Cody Rhodes as TNT Champion – turning one match into a contract.
This would kick off a steady friendship – which would see Starks be backstage at the WWE Royal Rumble 2023 in support of Rhodes. Friends in the right place can take people far in wrestling – especially when they can prove their worth in the ring.
There is a clear interest from WWE in getting someone like Starks on their roster – with him being ready to jump right onto Monday Night RAW or Smackdown Live.
They would simply need to wait for Starks to become a free agent before negotiating a deal. There is no clear timeline on when Starks will be a potential free agent, but having been signed in 2020 – 2024 seems a likely end date.
Starks Is Taking The Place Of CM Punk As The Face Of AEW Collision
Right now, Starks is being treated as a top name on AEW Collision, potentially taking the spot previously held by CM Punk – who was recently fired.
His match with Danielson proved he has the next level AEW was looking for in him, and he’ll be in action next Wednesday for AEW Grand Slam against Danielson & Jon Moxley.
If he continues to be given a top role, we could see Tony Khan give a hefty contract offer to keep Starks on the roster. This means that one way or another, come the end of his current deal – Starks is getting the money he’s earned from his hard work, be that from WWE or AEW.
Will Starks stay in AEW, or head to WWE when the time is right? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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