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Ricky Starks makes surprise debut on WWE NXT following AEW release

Posted: Feb 12th 2025 By: Bryan Rose

A big free agent has made his first appearance on NXT.

Shortly before Tuesday’s main event, Ricky Starks appeared in the crowd. They instantly recognized the former AEW star, who wasn’t mentioned by name by the announcers.

Starks said that if NXT is the future of pro wrestling, they need an absolute superstar of the future. If this is the hottest brand, they need the hottest free agent.

“And everyone’s been begging the question, when will the revolution be televised again?,” he concluded. “I’m here, ain’t I?”

After being off AEW television since March of last year, it was reported on Monday that Starks had been released from the company. It hasn’t been made public why AEW stopped using Starks or what led to his release. In one interview, Starks himself said he wasn’t sure why he had been off television, though he had his theories.

Last fall, he began making independent dates but was pulled from all GCW events following comments made by Effy regarding the Khan family. Despite that, Starks has continued to make independent dates for the likes of House of Glory and Defy, where he won the latter’s top championship this past weekend.