Ricky Starks
| Ricky Starks | |
|---|---|
 Starks during his time as FTW Champion | |
| Born | February 21, 1990 New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Ricky Starks |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Billed weight | 194 lb (88 kg) |
| Billed from | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Debut | 2011 |
Richard Starks (born February 21, 1990) is an American professional wrestler. He currently wrestles for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and competes under the ring name Ricky Starks. Starks is also known for his time wrestling in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
During his time in AEW, Starks was the winner of the 2023 Owen Hart Cup. He was also a one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion and one-time FTW Champion, however the championship is unsanctioned which means that AEW doesn't officially recognize it or Stark's reign.
Career[change | change source]
All Elite Wrestling[change | change source]
On the June 17, 2020 episode of Dynamite, Starks made both his surprise AEW debut and his AEW in-ring debut. He answered Cody's AEW TNT Championship open challenge but was defeated.[1] Afterwards, it was announced by AEW owner Tony Khan that Starks signed a contract with All Elite Wrestling (AEW).[2] On the Dark, Starks defeated Griff Garrison and got his first win as a member of the AEW roster.[3]
Starks then joined Team Taz with Taz and Brian Cage.[4] Will Hobbs would join later after attacking Cody and Darby Allin after their match. At Winter Is Coming, Starks teamed with Hobbs against Cody and Allin but lost. They would attack Cody and Allin after the match but the debuting Sting made the save.[5]
On Night 1 of Fyter Fest, Hobbs hit Brian Cage with Cage's FTW Championship and kicked him out of the group. Starks pinned Cage to become the new FTW World Champion. This was Stark's first championship in AEW.[6] However, the championship is unsanctioned and wasn't officially recognized by AEW. At Fight for the Fallen, Starks issued an open challenge for the FTW Championship. It was answered by Danhausen. After he beat Danhausen, Hook came out and answered the challenge. Starks would lose the title to Hook. Starks cut a promo after and turned face after getting attacked by his tag partner Hobbs.[7]
On the December 7 episode of Dynamite, Starks won the Dynamite Diamond Ring after eliminating Ethan Page last in the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale.[8] Starks challenged AEW World Champion MJF to a match at Winter is Coming. Starks would put up his Dynamite Diamond Ring and MJF would put up his championship in a Winner Takes All match. At Winter is Coming, Starks would lose the match and his ring.[9]
Starks decided to enter the Owen Hart Foundation Men's Tournament. He would make it to the finals, defeating Juice Robinson and Powerhouse Hobbs in the first two rounds. On July 15 episode of Collision, he defeated CM Punk to win the Owen Hart Cup.[10]
On the October 7 episode of Collision, Starks teamed with Big Bill. The two defeated FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) and won the AEW World Tag Team Championships.[11]
On the February 7, 2024 episode of Dynamite, Starks and Big Bill would lose the championships to Sting and Darby Allin.[12]
References[change | change source]
- ↑ "AEW Dynamite 6/17/20 Results: 2 Title Matches, Ricky Starks Debuts & Orange Cassidy Attacks". Fightful. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "Tony Khan Reveals That He Legitimately Decided To Sign Ricky Starks After His Match With Cody". WrestleZone. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "AEW Dark 6/30/20 Results: The Young Bucks, Allie, Brandi Rhodes, Lance Archer & More In Action". Fightful. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "AEW Dark 7/21/20 Results: Hikaru Shida, Best Friends, Scorpio Sky, Darby Allin & More In Action!". Fightful. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "2/02 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega for the AEW World Championship, Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal, Chris Jericho vs. Frankie Kazarian, Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes vs. Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks, Britt Baker vs. Leyla Hirsch". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "7/14 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Fyter Fest Night One with Ethan Page vs. Darby Allin in a Coffin Match, Jon Moxley vs. Karl Anderson for the IWGP U.S. Title, Brian Cage vs. Ricky Starks for the FTW Title, Matt Hardy vs. Christian". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "7/27 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Rush for the Interim AEW World Championship, Thunder Rosa vs. Miyu Yamashita for the AEW Women's Championship, Ricky Starks vs. Danhausen for the FTW Title, Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia, Sammy Guevara vs. Dante Martin". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "11/23 AEW Dynamite results: Barnett's live review of Death Triangle vs. The Elite in the second match of the best of seven series for the AEW Trios Titles, Chris Jericho vs. Tomohiro Ishii for the ROH Title, Ethan Page vs. Ricky Starks in the eliminator tournament final, Orange Cassidy vs. Jake Hager for the AEW All-Atlantic Title". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "12/14 AEW Dynamite results: Powell's live review of MJF vs. Ricky Starks for the AEW World Championship, "Death Triangle" Pac, Penta El Zero Miedo, and Rey Fenix vs. "The Elite" Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson in the fourth match of a Best of Seven series for the AEW Trios Titles, Ruby Soho vs. Tay Melo, House of Black and Chris Jericho in action". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "AEW Collision (7/15/2023) Results: CM Punk vs Ricky Starks, AEW Tag Title Bout, Soho vs Willow". Fightful. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ↑ "AEW Collision results (10/7): Moore's live review of Adam Copeland first appearance, FTR vs. Ricky Starks and Big Bill for the AEW Tag Titles, Eddie Kingston vs. Komander for the ROH Title". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ↑ "AEW Dynamite results (2/7): Powell's live review of Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Page for a shot at the AEW Title at Revolution, Ricky Starks and Big Bill vs. Darby Allin and Sting for the AEW Tag Titles". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved February 10, 2024.