Ricky Starks Reveals AEW Cleared Him For In-Ring Return In July

Ricky Starks has revealed that he has been cleared to compete since July and is grateful to All Elite Wrestling for giving him more time off to recover and get better.

Starks suffered a neck injury on the April 21 episode of AEW Dynamite, landing awkwardly following a german suplex from Hangman Page. He was out of action until July, returning to defeat Brian Cage for the FTW Championship. 

However, despite being cleared for that match, Stark has only competed once more, facing Darius Lockhart on September 11 on an AEW Dark match.

Stark has has now clarified the situation, saying AEW has permitted him more time off to recover from his neck problems.

Speaking to Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Starks said: "The situation is that I've been cleared since July, I had a match in Austin, and that was my first match after the neck injury, and I've been cleared there after. For whatever reason people just put together 'well he isn't on TV because of that.' That was never stated, that was never confirmed or anything like that.

"I do appreciate having the time off though, to further heal up my neck. When you have a broken neck, when you have a fractured neck, whatever type of bone that is broken, you have 3/4 months that it's healed, but to fully heal it takes like 2 years. That's just from a doctor's point, a bone doesn't fully heal until 2 years after.

"So I am always gonna have that, but to have the time off, and to have the time where I am still on TV and commentating and things like that, I am very appreciative of it, especially AEW giving me that time to slow it down and take my time with it. Anyone else could have rushed me back into the ring."