AEW Releases Ricky Starks

On a day of departures from the promotion, Ricky Starks is also gone from All Elite Wrestling. Starks was removed from the AEW roster page earlier today and Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has reported that Starks has been released by the company.

Starks' exit from AEW comes after a falling out between the two sides and Starks asking for his release from the promotion in 2024, a request which was denied at the time.

Starks joined All Elite Wrestling in 2020 and he was a featured performer for much of his time with the company, holding the AEW World Tag Team Championships with Big Bill and reigning as the FTW Champion, in addition to having memorable feuds with the likes of MJF, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk. Starks stopped being used on AEW TV in March 2024, though, and it emerged soon after that people in AEW believed Starks wanted to go to WWE, with WWE reportedly also holding an interest in Starks.

Starks' AEW deal was originally set to expire in 2024 but AEW activated an option year in the 34-year-old's contract. His deal was due to expire in the Spring of 2025 prior to his AEW release today.

Starks isn't the only AEW exit on February 10. Miro and AEW have mutually agreed to part ways, while Malakai Black officially exited AEW following the expiry of his contract.

Cultaholic is now on WhatsApp! Follow us here. Sign up to the Cultaholic Wrestling Newsletter now.