Ricky Starks, the former AEW World Tag Team Champion, has left fans and critics in a state of confusion. Since his match against Top Flight on March 30, 2024, he has seemingly vanished without a trace. Starks himself has repeatedly assured that he is in good health and has refuted rumors suggesting he was rejecting creative ideas.

Speculations and Theories

Many suspect that Tony Khan is intentionally keeping Starks out of the public eye, perhaps believing he is bound for WWE. However, Khan has remained silent on his intentions. Starks himself sat down with Chris Van Vilet to shed light on his current situation.

In March, Starks had his last match. He has been at home ever since, maintaining his health. There was a stinger incident during the match against Top Flight, but he was promptly checked and found to be fine. Nevertheless, the unexpected time at home has been a bit of a shock.

Being in his prime and on a roll, it's a tough pill to swallow to be idle for such a long time. It disrupts the momentum he had built. Starks is not one to be content with sitting at home when he has been working hard for the past 13 years.

Reasons for Inactivity

When it comes to why Starks isn't being utilized, he is as much in the dark as everyone else.

He has numerous theories about what might be going on, but without a definite answer, he can't just make assumptions. He would love to know the exact reason, but speculating doesn't change the situation. It's a frustrating wait.

Starks sees it as a cold day in Austin, both figuratively and perhaps literally. He has his sweater to keep him warm, but he's eager to get back to what he does best.

Not a Punishment

When asked if he saw his time away as punishment, Starks was quick to dismiss the idea. It hadn't even crossed his mind as it wouldn't benefit him in any way.

The Ricky Starks situation is a complex one, and fans are eagerly awaiting his return. Hopefully, he will soon make his comeback and resume his place in the AEW world.