Ricky Starks arrived in WWE NXT.
Ricky Starks made his shocking debut in WWE NXT less than 24 hours after reports circulated that the former AEW star was removed from the promotion’s roster page. These reports, in addition to his free agency status with no 90-day compete clause, coincided with preexisting speculation that Starks was WWE bound.
Just one day after his conspicuous absence from AEW’s roster page, Starks made an impromptu appearance in NXT.
Starks received a huge pop amongst the crowd at the Performance Center in Orlando. The former FTW and Owen Hart Cup champion kept his return promo short, sweet and promising.
“It’s obvious you know who I am!” said an exuberant Starks. “If NXT is the future of professional wrestling—well guess what? You need an absolute superstar of the future!”
Starks went on to refer to himself as the hottest free agent right now. A term that may no longer be accurate now that he’s presumable signed to WWE. Fellow disgruntled AEW stars Malakai Black and Miro are also reportedly free agents and are expected to join WWE.
Starks’ welcome back tour dates back to this past Friday where he captured the DEFY World Championship at DEFY Hundredth.
Ricky Starks’ Debut Means The Rich Get Richer In WWE NXT
NXT has had a resurgence at a time where there’s more Black excellence than any other national wrestling promotion in the world. NXT’s total viewership has increased 28% year-over-year. This is far from a coincidence.
NXT is currently in the midst of Black-to-Black NXT world champions after Oba Femi defeated Trick Williams to win his first NXT Championship at NXT New Year’s Evil. From inaugural Women’s NXT North American champion Kelani Jordan to former NXT world champion Carmelo Hayes, NXT’s Million Melanin March continues to storm into Black History Month.
Starks’ arrival in NXT could be seen as a big fish in a small pond. But despite AEW’s significantly higher TV deal (estimated to be around $185 per year) and bigger name-brand stars, NXT has dominated AEW in total viewership since moving to the CW. Since moving to the CW on October 1, 2024—19 weeks ago—WWE NXT has defeated AEW Dynamite in total viewers 17 out of those 19 weeks. In 2024, total viewership for Dynamite was down 19%. NXT has outpaced Dynamite in total viewership the last 12 weeks in a row.
Similar to Starks’ friend Cody Rhodes, behind-the-scenes differences with Tony Khan were at the heart of Starks’ falling out with AEW. Starks and AEW just couldn’t seem to get on the same page creatively.
“I was just home, and that’s kind of where it’s been at. I’ve just been home,” Starks said in a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet.
“It’s a mindf—k because I’m in my prime. And it sucks when you’re on such a momentum riding the wave and doing work and doing stuff. And then to be at home for so long, you’re kind of like ‘whoa.’”
Starks was coy about answering questions of whether or not he’d like to still wrestle for AEW, but suggested he did.
“Beats me,” Starks said when asked what’s going on between him and AEW. “Would I love to know the exact reason [I’m not being used on AEW TV?]” Yeah.
No longer in the middle of an AEW mindtrap, Starks is finally able to move forward with a fresh start. Starks fell into NXT’s lap similar to how Luka Doncic fell into the Lakers’ lap, except AEW didn’t get an Anthony Davis-type in return. With NXT’s momentum already strong, one could argue Starks needed NXT just as much as NXT needed him, if not more. But now that the the star wrestler and the rising promotion have finally joined forces, NXT will only become a stronger threat to a struggling AEW.
WWE NXT Results | February 11, 2025
- Cora Jade def. Bayley
- Yoshiki Inamura and Josh Briggs def. No Quarter Catch Crew and Hank and Tank
- Lexis King def. JDC (Fandango) | NXT Heritage Cup
- Zaria def. Nikkita Lyons
- Tony D’Angelo def. Ridge Holland | Steel Cage Match for NXT North American Title
