Ricky Starks AEW Absence Update & Rumor Killer on Alleged Incident in Calgary, Canada

As noted before, Ricky Starks has been out of action for AEW since this past March due to a head-injury scare incident and AEW officials no longer having plans for Starks and Big Bill to continue as a tag team nor any current creative plans for his return.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources stated that a recent rumor that originated from a now deleted Reddit post regarding Starks’ abscesses in AEW is only partially true. This rumor claimed that Starks was involved in a legal incident last year in Calgary and his abscesses in the company being due to him frequently declining AEW’s creative ideas.

Sapp reported that those spoken to confirmed that Starks had turned down some storyline ideas with the most recent being him rejecting AEW’s idea for him to breakup and feud with Big Bill. Sapp reported that the rumor that Starks was not even considering creative pitches was something that was not confirmed by anyone he had spoken to.

Sapp also reported that some within AEW criticized Starks for not being cooperative with AEW’s plans for a potential feud with Big Bill that was intended to boost both of their careers in the company. Starks reportedly felt that Big Bill losing to him would not be beneficial and pushed for their split as a tag team to be amicable.

In regards to Starks no being booked for last year’s All In event, Sapp reported that the main reason was due to Starks not being keen on tag team matches at the time and was unhappy with the lack of a follow-up to his match with Bryan Danielson. Starks reportedly had also felt that his booking took a negative turn last last summer and specifically after CM Punk left AEW causing his momentum to be slowed.

In regards to Starks’ current health status, Sapp reported that Starks is medically cleared to compete. Sapp also reported that there has been conflicting information about recent contact between Starks and AEW CEO Tony Khan and there has been a lot of inconsistent information about Starks’ status in the company. Sapp reported that the only concrete details known is that AEW officials currently do not have any immediate creative plans for Starks but this is something that could change.

In regards to the alleged legal incident in Calgary, Sapp reported that many of those spoken to within AEW denied any knowledge of it. Starks reportedly stated that he was never in legal trouble in Canada and those involved in the alleged incident also denied it being true. Sapp reported that no legal issues were filed and Starks has competed in Canada since then. Sapp reported that they reached out to local authorities bit received no information back and it is unclear if they could even disclose any details.

In regards to Starks’ future in AEW, Sapp reported that some within AEW believe that Starks wants to leave the company and go to WWE. Sapp also reported that details regarding Starks’ current contract status is currently not known.