February 12th 2025.
One of the biggest buzzes in the world of wrestling right now is the arrival of former AEW star Ricky Starks in WWE. The 34-year-old wrestler has certainly made a splash with his debut on NXT, turning the industry on its head.
Just this week, Ricky, along with fellow wrestlers Aleister/Malakai Black and Miro, officially left rival company All Elite Wrestling after almost a year since his last match with them. But just a day later, he made his next big move.
During last night's episode of NXT, which aired live on Netflix in the UK, 'Absolute' Ricky Starks appeared in the crowd at the Performance Center to a huge reaction from the fans, who chanted his name. "It's obvious you know who I am," he quipped, before making a statement with his very first promo on WWE television.
"If NXT is the future of professional wrestling, well guess what, you need an absolute superstar of the future. If this is the hottest brand, well you need the hottest free agent right now baby," he said confidently. "Do not let the handsome face and expensive fragrance fool you, I am here to turn this place upside down."
Ricky described himself as the "hottest free agent" out there, having just become a free agent the day before. He also teased that everyone has been wondering "when will the revolution be televised again?" before declaring, "Well, I'm here ain't I?"
The news of his arrival didn't take long to reach his fans and fellow wrestlers, including CM Punk and SmackDown's Jade Cargill, who he knows from their time in AEW. "MY BEST FRIEND!!! So proud," wrote Jade, to which Ricky replied, "We did it!"
Punk shared the video of his friend's promo with a smiling emoji, while Carmelo Hayes shared three fire emojis. Fans also couldn't contain their excitement, with one writing, "I'm so pumped right now. I am so happy to see the biggest free agent in the world of wrestling back on my TV. Welcome to NXT @starkmanjones. Can't wait to see you take it over."
Many were surprised by how quickly Ricky appeared on NXT, with one fan tweeting, "Wasn't expecting Ricky Starks to appear on NXT that quickly. So happy he's finally on television again though." Another fan added, "That was fast. Best way to do it. Will his name be Ricky Starks still?"
The question of his name has been a topic of speculation, as WWE has a history of renaming wrestlers when they sign with the company. However, some recent signings have been able to keep their names, such as Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin who still work under their monikers as the Motor City Machine Guns, and Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia who also kept their names.
Ricky's reputation was built in AEW, and he became a fan favorite during his time there. However, AEW boss Tony Khan hadn't featured him on TV for almost a year, leaving fans wondering what happened.
During his promo, Ricky notably didn't mention his own name, although he did acknowledge the fans' chants. According to Fightful, this was not an accident, but the reason for not mentioning his name has not been revealed. However, it is clear that the deal to sign him came together quickly, given the short time between his AEW release and NXT debut.
The decision to have him debut on NXT instead of Raw or SmackDown was reportedly due to the ease of incorporating him into storylines compared to the main roster, where most of the WrestleMania creative is already in place.
It's certainly an exciting time in the world of wrestling, and fans can't wait to see what Ricky Starks will bring to NXT. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, you can share them with the entertainment team by emailing us, calling, or visiting our Submit Stuff page. We'd love to hear from you.
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