Ricky Starks is no longer listed as part of AEW, as multiple media outlets—including Fightful Select and PWInsider.com—confirmed after fans noticed his profile had been removed from AEW’s official website.
Despite not being used for nearly a year, Starks remains under contract with AEW. He had previously requested his release, but AEW CEO Tony Khan has reportedly refused to grant it. As a result, Starks will have to wait out the remainder of his deal before exploring other opportunities.
Starks has been absent from AEW programming since March 2024 and has stated that he doesn’t know why he isn’t being utilized. In the meantime, he has kept active by working independent dates, appearing for Glory Pro WrestlePocalypse and House of Glory. However, he was pulled from GCW appearances following the Effy controversy.
Reports indicate that WWE has shown interest in signing Starks once he becomes available, with many believing he is WWE-bound once his AEW contract expires. Starks has yet to publicly comment on his departure from AEW.
Starks captured the FTW Championship from Brian Cage in 2021. He held the championship for an impressive 378 days, making him the longest-reigning FTW Champion at the time. Later, he formed a successful tag team with Big Bill, and they won the AEW World Tag Team Championship. During his AEW tenure, he feuded with top acts including Darby Allin, Chris Jericho, and more.