Former FTW Champion Ricky Starks made his debut in WWE on Tuesday, shocking the gang at “WWE NXT” by appearing and making it clear that he would not be a free agent for long. Before his WWE appearance, Starks had been lively on the independent scene, with many bookings set for the longer term.
In keeping with X (formerly Twitter), Starks will likely be unable to compete in his scheduled match against AEW’s Aaron Solo at Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling on February 15 will now not be happening. Solo may have a brand new opponent to be named at a later date. The date of the match is curious since it is similar night as WWE NXT Vengeance Day in Washington DC. Starks will not be currently booked for the event, but his debut on “NXT” leaves room for him to surprise fans there, just as he did on Tuesday.
🚨Necessary announcement🚨
Attributable to circumstances beyond our control, Ricky Starks is not going to be in attendance on Saturday, February fifteenth on the Tannery Row Ale House. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to still expect the identical incredible evening of Georgia’s premier star studded, motion packed, family… pic.twitter.com/LyQXDQ2gkh
— Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling (@Turnbuckle_CW) February 12, 2025
Starks remains to be the Defy Wrestling World Champion, winning the title just days ago from former WWE NXT talent KENTA. Defy Wrestling has yet to make an announcement about Starks since his debut on “NXT.”
Starks’s contract with AEW expired earlier this month, with Starks being faraway from the AEW roster page just days before his “NXT” debut. Starks had cut various frustrated promos, including one in GCW, which saw him barred from GCW events by AEW President Tony Khan. Starks’s release comes just as fellow former AEW Talent Malakai Black and Miro’s contracts also expired. Black is anticipated in WWE, though there’s nothing official.
