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Ricky Starks hates the idea of AEW pillars, says 'this ain't All Japan'

Posted: Jun 1st 2023 By: Ian Carey

Ricky Starks does not want to be mentioned in conversations about the pillars of AEW.

Darby Allin, Jack Perry, Sammy Guevara, and MJF are often referred to as AEW's "four pillars" with Britt Baker sometimes being mentioned as part of the group as well. The idea is they are all young wrestlers who didn't have national television exposure before joining AEW and are expected to be a big part of the company now and in the future.

The name is a take on All Japan Pro Wrestling's “Four Pillars of Heaven” Mitsuharu Misawa, Kenta Kobashi, Toshiaki Kawada, and Akira Taue.

During an appearance on The Corner Podcast, Starks was asked about being considered another of AEW's pillars.

Starks responded:

I actually hate the idea of pillars. I loathe the idea of a pillar because one, it's a full gimmick and it came from one guy. There's nothing behind it. To say that these four dudes are the pillars of the company, do you know what you are doing by saying that? F everybody else who did anything, those people don't matter, it's these three guys that we deem, 'I have bestowed this sacred title upon thee and I want you to for forth and do with it..' No, I don't believe in that. It's a very sweet gesture to say Ricky should be considered a fifth pillar, baby, I don't need to be a pillar, ok? I can be a foundation, I can be the roof, I can be the person outside maintaining the lawn. I don't need none of that because to me that's a box within itself.

Starks continued:

To say that these four guys are the ones that are going to make or break it, let's see the numbers. Y'all want to talk about ratings? Let's see the ratings for y'all, huh? Let's see how much money y'all make if y'all want to keep bringing up all this BS, let's see it, pen to paper. How are the quarterly hours doing when y'all are on TV? Let's see it.

Starks continued to say he doesn't want to be mentioned in conversations about the pillars of AEW at all.

I don't even like the conversation. I don't even want to be included, keep me away from that. I don't want that. I don't want to be considered a pillar, this ain't All Japan. I bet I tell Max to his face you don't know nothing about All Japan.

Starks is currently involved in a program with Bullet Club Gold's Jay White and Juice Robinson on AEW programming. Their rivalry continued on Sunday's Double or Nothing pay-per-view when all three were entered into the Blackjack Battle Royal for the International Championship.