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Ricky Starks Appears On WWE NXT

By John Canton • Published 11th February 2025
Ricky Starks AEW

Ricky Starks has showed up on WWE NXT where he made an interesting statement.

It was reported on February 10th that AEW had granted the releases of Ricky Starks and Miro while Malakai Black was also free from his contract with the company.

In Miro’s case, he hadn’t appeared had an AEW match since the Worlds End PPV in December 2023. Miro asked for his release from the company at some point in the fall of 2024, but it was not granted until this week.

Malakai Black had a deal with AEW that would have kept him with the company until 2027, which was based on an interview that AEW Owner Tony Khan gave several years ago. However, Black got out of the deal likely due to some option that was involved with it and it was reported in January that Black was no longer going to be used by AEW.

According to Fightful, Starks requested to AEW that they not pick up his contract option that was coming due in the spring of 2024, but AEW chose to do it. After picking up his contract, AEW refused to use Starks, and his last match in the company was in March 2024. His contract with AEW was going to expire within a few months this spring, but AEW did grant his release request.

Ricky Starks Makes Statement On WWE NXT

During the second hour of WWE NXT on February 11, they were doing a rundown of the Vengeance Day lineup when all of a sudden there was an interruption.

There was a rundown of the NXT Vengeance Day lineup, but there was an interruption. It was Ricky Starks, who was wearing a white shirt and sunglasses. The fans cheered for Starks while announcer Vic Joseph said: “Holy crap.” There was a “Ricky Starks” chant from the fans, which led to Starks doing a promo.

“It’s obvious you know who I am. If NXT is the future of professional wrestling, well guess what, you need an absolute superstar on the future. If this is the hottest brand…well you need the hottest free agent right now, baby.”

The fans were chanting “Ricky” for Starks.

“Do not let the handsome face and expensive fragrance fool you. I am here to turn this place upside down. And everybody’s been begging the question…when will the revolution be televised again? Well, I’m here ain’t I.”

Announcer Vic Joseph said “We do know who that is” while saying that everybody wants to be part of NXT and the future is brighter than ever.

Even though Starks said he’s a free agent, that is likely part of a storyline and could lead to him appearing on other WWE brands as well.