Update On Ricky Starks' Absence From AEW TV

Amid Ricky Starks' months-long absence from All Elite Wrestling programming, an update has emerged on what exactly is going on with Starks and the promotion. 

Starks has been off AEW TV since the March 30 edition of Collision when he and Big Bill lost to Top Flight in the AEW World Tag Team Title Tournament. Starks and Mr Bill were originally planned to win the match but Top Flight were suddenly booked to win as a precautionary measure after Starks appeared to pick up an injury. Starks didn't suffer a major issue, though, and he has since returned to the ring for Big Time Wrestling in May. 

Reports indicated that AEW originally planned for Big Bill to turn on Ricky Starks after the loss to Top Flight but Starks turned down that plan. In an update, Fightful Select noted that one source stated breaking up and feuding with Big Bill was the only pitch Starks had turned down in the last several months. Starks reportedly didn't want to do the feud as he didn't believe Big Bill losing a programme to him would be beneficial for Bill and he wanted them to have an amicable split, if anything. People within AEW critical of Starks claimed he simply didn't want to do business. 

There is also conflicting information on whether AEW CEO Tony Khan and Ricky Starks have been in contact recently. There are not believed to be imminent creative plans in the works for Starks. 

Starks' long-term future with AEW has been the subject of speculation. There is no word on when his contract expires but there are people within All Elite Wrestling who believe he wants to go to WWE. 

Starks was on the receiving end of a push in AEW from late 2022 but he transitioned to the tag team with Big Bill in late 2023. Fightful Select added that AEW were concerned about the fan reaction to Starks not being booked for All In, which is why they carried out the suspension storyline. Starks was then unhappy about the lack of follow-up to his matches with Bryan Danielson and Starks reportedly felt like the end of the Summer of 2023 was a turning point for his booking, with CM Punk's firing being something that slowed his momentum.

An update has also emerged on allegations that Starks was involved in a bar fight in Calgary last year.