Ricky Starks appeared to have legitimately gotten hurt on AEW Collision and it led to a change in the outcome of the AEW Tag Team Title tournament match.

According to Fightful Select, Ricky Starks and Big Bill were the planned team to advance in the tournament as they faced Top Flight in the opening round. 

Towards the end of the match, Starks was supposed to kick out of a pinfall attempt but he missed. The referee stopped the count despite Starks’ shoulder being on the mat which led to booing from the crowd. 

Ricky Starks then got up and took a DDT from Darius Martin before finally being pinned. Trainers were seen checking on the AEW star after the bell rang.

Even on the television broadcast, one could tell that Tony Schiavone was preparing to call for a kickout by Starks but sadly that didn’t happen. Big Bill and Starks were penciled in to face FTR in the next round of the tournament, but now it is Top Flight advancing. 

Starks and Big Bill had a credible run as AEW World Tag Team Champions before they dropped the titles to Sting and Darby Allin not long before Sting retired at AEW Revolution. 

So far the teams who have advanced in the tournament apart from Top Flight are The Young Bucks who defeated Private Party, The Best Friends who beat Undisputed Kingdom, and FTR who defeated The Infantry earlier in the evening.

Ricky Starks has since provided an update on his status and noted that he is doing fine. It’s possible that he may be kept away from ring for a while just to be sure. 

The show also featured a surprise appearance from a former IC Champion who answered Adam Copeland’s open challenge. You can check out full details of the segment here. 

AEW star Dante Martin is said to be “doing fine” after an injury scare at Wednesday’s AEW Rampage tapings. The 21-year-old high-flying phenom wrestles a high-risk style, but that comes at a steep price.

During a backstage segment on Dynamite, Top Flight challenged Ring of Honor tag team champions FTR to a match on this week’s Rampage, which was taped after Dynamite went off the air.

As seen below, fans on social media became concerned when fans in attendance noted that Martin was hurt during the contest.

Aww dammit 😨. At Rampage taping and the match is over but it's looking like Dante Martin might be hurt as the Doc is out here. Here's hoping it's not too bad. Top Flight can't catch a break. pic.twitter.com/qBpmA63Vf3

— Jay T. Shirt (@fight4ever) November 24, 2022

https://twitter.com/TranquiloSZN/status/1595624999360004096

High Risk, High Reward

Top Flight has dealt with a slew of injuries since arriving in All Elite Wrestling. They’re looking to re-establish themselves as contenders for the AEW World tag team championships, so another injury is the last thing they need.

Speaking of the AEW tag titles, Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed has provided an update on Martin’s status. On Thanksgiving, Bowens posted a photo of The Acclaimed and Top Flight with the caption, “Happy Thanksgiving from the House of Half Black.”

Twitter user @FrozennAngell replied to the photo and asked Bowens about Martin’s health. Thankfully, he had good news to share.

He’s fine thankfully

— Anthony Bowens (@Bowens_Official) November 24, 2022

Catch Top Flight vs. FTR on this week’s AEW Rampage, which airs at a special start time of 4pm EST on Friday afternoon. “Uncle” Dax Harwood of FTR is excited for fans to see this first meeting of the two teams.

Top Guys vs Top Flight
First Time Ever
Special start time of 4pm on TNT#AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/hQliN36ODP

— Dax FTR (@DaxFTR) November 25, 2022

AEW’s Dante Martin was reportedly injured on this past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.

Another AEW Injury

Mike Johnson of PWInsider has reported that Dante Martin suffered a knee injury on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite Fight For The Fallen.

Martin was reportedly seen on crutches backstage and after the show at the hotel. There is no word on the extent of the injury.

After The Match

Martin took on Sammy Guevara in a losing effort on AEW Dynamite. During the match, he was seen favoring his knee and stayed down on the mat during the post-match segment where Eddie Kingston, Ortiz, and Ruby Soho made the save as Martin and Skye Blue were attacked by Guevara, Anna Jay, and Tay Conti.

He needed help getting out of the ring and was immediately checked out by a ringside official on the apron before the camera cut away.

SEScoops will provide an update on Martin when more is known.

SEScoops wishes Dante Martin a quick and speedy recovery.

• Wrestling Injury Tracker: Updated List of Everyone Out of Action

AEW star Dante Martin is aware of those who are critical of him due to his high-flying style. Very few wrestlers can get as much hang-time as Martin.

His flashiness has left many in awe. With that said, you can’t please everyone. Some fans have been vocal about wanting to see Martin develop other skills, such as mic work, facial expressions and in-ring storytelling.

During a recent chat with Jon Alba, the 20-year old Dante Martin was asked about people who are critical of his work.

“I think to the critics, they’re gonna voice their opinion and as long as overall the people are happy and you’re doing your job to the best you can that’s all that really matters,” he said. “People are gonna say what they’re gonna say at the end of the day. Whether your back’s turned or facing them, you just gotta do you.”

Assistance From Dean Malenko

Dean Malenko is one of the most renowned cruiserweights in wrestling history. He currently serves as a senior producer for AEW and Martin hasn’t hesitated to pick his brain.

“For sure. Just about every week I pull him to the side and we talk a little bit. He gives me an amazing amount of helpful tips, tricks, things he’s learned, different ways to set things up. He’s an amazing coach.”

Martin turned some heads with a recent angle on AEW TV. He ditched Lio Rush in favor of signing a contract to be a part of Team Taz.

Please H/T SEScoops with a link if you use any quotes from this article

Last night on AEW Dynamite, Dante Martin surprised everyone by officially signing a contract with Team Taz. This move seemed to surprise Lio Rush, who had been managing and teaming with the Top Flight Member as of late. It also seemed to surprise his brother, Darius.

Both Darius and Lio Rush have commented on this development recently on social media.

Dante Martin took to Twitter and simply posted the following:

pic.twitter.com/6M1tZ5RPT1

— Dante Martin (@lucha_angel1) November 25, 2021

This led his brother to respond with the following:

https://t.co/HCwFDZDgKj pic.twitter.com/YbQSaqJmB5

— Darius Martin (@DariusMartin612) November 25, 2021

Lio Rush noted that he has been trying to reach Dante and has been unable to.

https://twitter.com/TheLionelGreen/status/1463689242522103808

https://twitter.com/TheLionelGreen/status/1463695613258780675

“Don’t make me have to do this bro. I’ve been trying to call you all night.”

https://twitter.com/TheLionelGreen/status/1463715745796341761

Rush would continue to say he is now accepting submissions to be part of his team.

https://twitter.com/TheLionelGreen/status/1463716540533067777

Team Taz

Brian Cage and Ricky Starks were announced as the first members of Team Taz on July 23rd, 2020. The faction would then spend several weeks recruiting Will “Powerhouse” Hobbs and were eventually successful that fall. Brian Cage would then leave the stable earlier this summer, and Ricky Starks defeated him for the FTW title. Taz’s son Hook would officially join the stable as well in December of 2020.

Storylines involving Team Taz are often focussed on the FTW title. Brian Cage held the title for a year, defending it against Brian Pillman Jr., Brandon Cutler, and Will Hobbs before dropping it to Ricky Starks. Starks has defended the title once against Brian Cage and then twice on the Jericho Cruise against Sonny Kiss and Chuck Taylor.