Ricky Starks Expected To Join WWE

Ricky Starks may not be long for All Elite Wrestling. 

Dave Meltzer has reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the expectation within the industry is Starks will go to WWE when his contract with All Elite Wrestling expires. It is unknown when Starks' contract expires but he has not signed a new deal with AEW. 

The expectation that Starks will jump ship to WWE won't come as a surprise to many. It emerged this week that WWE are interested in the former FTW Champion and the belief amongst people in AEW is that Starks wants to go to WWE.

Starks hasn't been on AEW TV since March of 2024 when he and Big Bill competed in the AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament. Starks suffered an injury in a match against Top Flight, with the winners being changed as a result. Starks didn't take long to recover from the injury, though, and he simply hasn't been brought back to TV since the end of March. 

Starks reportedly turned down turning babyface for a feud with Big Bill, with Starks feeling that him winning a programme over his ex-tag team partner wouldn't be beneficial to Big Bill. 

Starks has been signed to All Elite Wrestling since 2020. He is known to be a close friend of Undisputed WWE Champion and former AEW EVP Cody Rhodes.