Ricky Starks Reportedly Asked For AEW Release, Denied By Tony Khan

[Deadd2009]

411MANIA | Ricky Starks Reportedly Asked For AEW Release, Denied By Tony Khan

Ricky Starks asked for his release from AEW some time ago but it was denied by AEW President Tony Khan...

411mania.com

Ibou of WrestlePurists (via Fightful) reports that Ricky Starks asked for his release from AEW some time ago but it was denied by AEW President Tony Khan. This means that Starks will have to wait until his contract is up.

It is said there are a “lot of things” that led to the situation between Starks and AEW and most if it will “never be reported.” Starks is planning to stay in the public eye by working independent dates. His last AEW match was on March 30, 2024 on an episode of Collision.

 

[Deadd2009]

My take: if you literally havent used the guy in close to a year, what is the point of keeping him on the roster? If Vince McMahon or the WWE in general kept a guy home for close to a year and then refused to release him, he'd be burned alive at the stake on social media for it. Tony Khan is getting dangerously close to becoming the guy he had said he wouldn't, without the sexual allegations.

 

[Roy Mustang]

My take: if you literally havent used the guy in close to a year, what is the point of keeping him on the roster? If Vince McMahon or the WWE in general kept a guy home for close to a year and then refused to release him, he'd be burned alive at the stake on social media for it. Tony Khan is getting dangerously close to becoming the guy he had said he wouldn't, without the sexual allegations.

The need of wrestling fans to compare Tony Khan to Vince McMahon is fucking weird. You can just criticize him for his actions without comparing to a literal monster.


And also, Tony is getting loads of stick on social media. Has been for months? What social media have you been looking at lmao

 

[Roy Mustang]

Also Tony should just let Ricky go. Unlike Fenix who was being an asshole and unless something comes out other than he turned down pitches (which is being denied anyway) and you are not using him: let him go.


But comparing to Vince McMahon after EVERYTHING that man has done: get a fucking grip. Tony is being an asshole here but is not remotely close to Vince McMahon or do I need to list everything that man has done?

 

[Cwalker]

Realistically yes, Tony should let him go. Benching a guy for a year is egregious. If you’re not going to use him, why waste good years of his prime.

The Vince McMahon comparison is a bit of a stretch but I do think people no longer look at TK as this paragon of virtue like they did when AEW first started.

 

[Roy Mustang]

Realistically yes, Tony should let him go. Benching a guy for a year is egregious. If you’re not going to use him, why waste good years of his prime.

The Vince McMahon comparison is a bit of a stretch but I do think people no longer look at TK as this paragon of virtue like they did when AEW first started.

Tbf if you sign a contract, both sides should stick to it hence why I am anti-releases unless the talent asks for it (which Ricky has now done). You can criticize (and you should criticize him) without needing to go: "he is Vince McMahon minus being a rapist" which just feels like people wanted an excuse to either make Vince seem less bad or have a go at Tony. Just call him out for his actions, why are we comparing him to Vince who has done things like help cover up for Snuka killing his wife, basically killed a bunch of other promotions, fired someone who was pregnant I could go on.

Tony ain't perfect (insert line about all billionaires etc. etc.) but people really do forget what Vince has done I swear to god.

 

[Brandon Blaze]

Definitely just let the man go at this point, like if aren’t going to use him no reason to bench him. That also frees up money for other things and other people who could get used.

 

[Deadd2009]

The need of wrestling fans to compare Tony Khan to Vince McMahon is fucking weird. You can just criticize him for his actions without comparing to a literal monster.


And also, Tony is getting loads of stick on social media. Has been for months? What social media have you been looking at lmao

I was talking about how he literally treated the guys that wanted to leave. Wouldnt release them from their contracts etc. It's weird how the implication is im saying "hes almost as bad as a rapist" when that wasnt even in the same ballpark.

 

[Chris]

I'll state my personal thoughts in a sec but just looking at it objectionably I'm baffled at how Tony is handling this. I wonder if he just thinks he can't correct course and has to stick with it bc if the goal is "put Ricky on ice so he's less hot when he leaves bc you know he's gonna leave" well the wrestling media has made sure he's going to come into WWE hotter the longer he's not used. You don't have to spend time or effort in getting Ricky over to use him to get others over, I refuse to believe these people can actually refuse appearances and if they are that's breach of contract and do something.

Now, personally. I've said forever if these guys aren't asking for their release that I don't care if Tony doesn't use them, if they're happy to be paid and sit at home then I'm happy for them, that my dream. That was my exact same philosophy with WWE and Vince, people would be like "ugh just release Shinsuke" for example and I'm like whoa, I don't like how he's used either but if dude is happy that's crazy to wish. But once they do ask for it, I don't think you're obligated to grant it, but I do think you should use them. Maybe it's selfish as a fan and not looking at it from a "business POV" but if a guy isn't happy to not be used them I'm no longer happy for it either, it's as simple as that and does not change from company to company, it changes from wrestler to wrestler

 

[Lady Redfield]

Vince did deny releases as well.

Anyway, I think it’s stupid if you’re not doing anything with them and Tony said way back he wouldn’t do that but….here we are. Tony doesn’t want them to be successful earlier than they are allowed.

 

[Chris]

I don't think he ever actually said that, he had a line about "not wanting people here who don't want to be" that has been used as proof for it and I get it but he said that in response to locker room issues obviously not thinking about the context of people asking to be released bc he hasn't experienced it yet, then hilariously enough he experienced it like a month later bc Vince first stepped down lol

What he did say was he wouldnt release people and honor contracts which is also a very convenient excuse (or reason to be impartial but also be realistic) to not release people that ask as well. The big issue there is he did release some ROH talent and lower carders early last year, he'll probs never do that again bc of the backlash but that was the most hypocritical thing he's done

 

[Roy Mustang]

I was talking about how he literally treated the guys that wanted to leave. Wouldnt release them from their contracts etc. It's weird how the implication is im saying "hes almost as bad as a rapist" when that wasnt even in the same ballpark.

My take: if you literally havent used the guy in close to a year, what is the point of keeping him on the roster? If Vince McMahon or the WWE in general kept a guy home for close to a year and then refused to release him, he'd be burned alive at the stake on social media for it. Tony Khan is getting dangerously close to becoming the guy he had said he wouldn't, without the sexual allegations.

You said this shit so please tell me when he did these things: help cover up for Snuka killing his wife, basically killed a bunch of other promotions, fired someone who was pregnant. He is nowhere near Vince as a person and his flaws as a person/booker are far different than Vince.

Look at Chris and Blaze, they called out Tony without the need for weird "He is starting to be Vince" shit.