Ricky Starks on AEW absence: ‘It’s a mindf*ck’

Eight months removed from his last AEW match, Ricky Starks still does not have a definitive answer as to why he’s being kept off television.

Starks, who was once one of AEW’s top rising stars, has not competed for the promotion since the end of March. In an appearance on Insight with Chris Van Vliet that was uploaded this week, Starks reiterated that he remains under contract with AEW and is not injured. The experience has been a “mindf*ck” for Starks, who is in the prime of his career but has had to stay at home.

“I’ve been home, I’ve been healthy. Never was injured. I did have a stinger. I got a stinger in that match against Top Flight in March. I got immediately checked out and everything was fine, but I was just concerned at the time,” he said. “So that happened and then I was just home. And that’s kind of where it’s been at. I’ve just been home. It’s kind of — it’s a mindf*ck because I’m in my prime and it sucks when you’re on such a momentum, riding the wave and doing work and doing stuff, and then to just be at home for so long, you’re kind of like, ‘Whoa.’ It throws it off, you know?

“I am not meant to be at home. I’m not meant to be a homebody. In this current phase in my life, I’m not meant to be just chilling at home and doing not the thing that I’ve been busting my ass to do for the past 13 years.”

The 34-year-old Starks said he has theories about why AEW is not using him, but he’s not going to voice those because he does not know for sure.

“I could have a thousand theories about what’s really going on. The fact of the matter is that — if I don’t have a definitive answer, I can’t just make up an answer for people and just assume,” Starks said. “You know what I’m saying? Would I love to know the exact reason? For sure. Do I have speculations about why? Absolutely. But that does nothing — to speak on things that I speculate does nothing for the situation. So I think it’s just a matter of — it sucks. It’s been a very cold day here in Austin. It’s been a very cold day. May have been cold for the past nine months, not sure. But, thankfully, I have a sweater, and I’m always ready to keep the warmth going.”

We have seen Starks make a few indie appearances during his AEW absence, including showing up at an event for Game Changer Wrestling this past Saturday. He was then backstage at AEW’s Full Gear pay-per-view on Saturday night. Starks vs. Matt Cardona is set for a GCW show on December 14. Starks has a booking for House of Glory on January 17 as well.

Starks told Van Vliet that he’s been working out and staying in shape. The support he’s received from fans has been “incredible” — and Starks loves that people still care about him.

Van Vliet asked Starks if he feels like he’s being punished by AEW.

“I don’t think that. I don’t think that’s ever crossed my mind of like, ‘You’re being punished.’ Because that wouldn’t serve me at all to think like that, right?,” Starks responded. “I would be depressed and, like, angry. That wouldn’t serve me.”

The reason for Starks’ AEW absence remains unconfirmed, but most fan speculation has been centered on a belief that he will eventually end up in WWE. Starks is good friends with WWE stars Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill, who both left AEW to join their current promotion.

Starks was at WWE Royal Rumble 2023 and WrestleMania 40 supporting his friends. He told Van Vliet that he does not see a problem with him going to those shows. Starks said he is a fan of wrestling and wanted to be there for people he cares about.

AEW signed Starks in 2020 following his debut for the promotion. He’s a former AEW Tag Team Champion and FTW Champion.