The REAL Reason Tony Khan Has Benched Ricky Starks From AEW Television

[@sonicheroxd5767]

I seriously don't understand what Tony's problem is with Ricky. This just feels personal now.

[@vortex_1336]

He's friends with Cody Rhodes and CM Punk. That's all it takes in AEW to get buried.

[@ginofrancejr555]

It is

[@KrisBryant99]

Aew is a racist company 😅

[@vishuindia1113]

@vortex_1336 How dave and sickos are defending this act is beyond me. If the same done by Triple H, the sickos would have ran twitter trend just like they trended Mustafi Ali

[@yazr1712]

It's completely personal. At the end of the day, TK knows Ricky is as good as gone. Him picking up the option on the contract and essentially benching Starks is purely to keep him away from WWE - all the while not featuring him on AEW at all. I'd argue that burying Ricky for a full year on tv would be even worse, but this still isn't right.

[@owl509]

Ricky Starks is friends with Cody Rhodes and publicly said good things about CM Punk, that's why Tony Khan put Ricky on the sidelines. The same reason why Danhausen is stuck doing independent shows nowadays. The same reason why Wardlow has been fumbled as badly as he has been in AEW. The same reason why FTR has lost most of their fueds since CM Punk left the company. The same reason why Miro was randomly brought back to Collision for 2-3 weeks after his injury just to be taken off TV again. The same reason why Malakai Black and Brody King haven't done anything of note outside of random tag matches and the occasional singles match where they're typically losing. The same reason why Britt Baker was getting her TV time cut short for several weeks before her injury and then having nothing to do once she came back. The same reason why Andrade was practically pushed out of the company thanks to Tony's lack of leadership and doing more with Sammy Guevara after his many altercations. Tony Khan is doing the things he once criticized Vince McMahon for, and now Ricky Starks is wasting some of his best years because he said something nice about CM Punk a year and a half ago

[@cordero6960]

it only matter of time until he shit on his girlfriend head 😂

[@olaakande5581]

That would require him actually having a gf

[@vortex_1336]

Powerhouse Hobbs can be added to that list too.

[@eLite-Tiss91]

Ironic and through AEW was for Wrestlers and Wrestling fans....BOY WAS I WRONG

[@Jeff_Pryce]

@@cordero6960nonsense…Tony doesn’t know how to talk to girls. 😂

[@upandaway5238]

My favourite excuse for not using the guy is: “well, Tony knows he’s gonna leave anyway”. so, he’s okay with paying him out of pettiness (or just because he’s such a cut throat businessman lol), but he still somehow a good guy in this situation? the level of hypocrisy is truly fascinating

[@TheChrisPhoenix]

AEW fanboys logic at its finest

[@vishuindia1113]

Bro, remember this AEW sickos ran Twitter trend as 'FreeAli' since Vince has taken Mustafa ali as hostage. Now, the same thing Tony is doing, just look at Dave Meltzer X Timeline yesterday. He is defending Tony to its core.

[@jordan12118]

A lot of weirdos make excuses for Khan’s booking instead of just admitting it’s not focused, has little to no continuity, and has lost more than a few wrestlers at this point to WWE

[@blakemeads9225]

I mean, it just proves once again that these fanatical dorks in the IWC don’t give a damn about the wrestlers. 🤷‍♂️

[@XombieLejon66]

Starks should know theres an easy way of the company. Simply throttle Jungle JackOff and yell at Tony to make him fear for his life.

[@Rodrigo-y4v]

Grow TF up 😂!!

[@TheKawagawaga]

@@Rodrigo-y4v Learn to take a joke. Jesus you guys are soft af.

[@Rodrigo-y4v]

@@TheKawagawaga Yeah That stopped being funny half a year ago buddy ! 😂

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

Rodrigo has no personality beyond AEWful. Sad. Just sad. Just irredeemably sad.

[@jabrondestoroyah]

Emoji: 😂 Reality,: 😓😩

[@alexandru5369]

Yeah not using someone intentionally but still paying them is WCW level dumb

[@JeremiahJohnson-l8h]

Its worse. The comparisons between WCW and AEW is just marks wanting to draw a comparison - AEW is objectively worse and much more malicious - like genuinely bad people taking advantage of a nepo baby who is autistic with a billionaire dad.

[@bloodinbloodout]

It’s amazing how the r/squaredcircle and aew fans all of a sudden say “it’s stupid how employees say they want out when they’re under contract” “he’s going have to do deal with it” where the hell was this energy all those years with Vince ????? Absolutely mind boggling.

[@1KQ_]

They all exposed themselves, they don't care about workers or the talent they just hate wwe lmao

[@bashamd96]

Hypocrisy is there favorite flavor of dumbassery

[@MazeDaGr8]

Exactly if you're going to call out what other people do you need to keep the same energy when somebody else does it

[@javo10ful]

​@@1KQ_ Yup and imagine AEW doing a dog food segment like the one with Roman reigns and baron corbin, the hardcore aew fans would call that masterful story telling even though it's awful story telling

[@gammasmash1924]

You just perfectly described much of the dynamic in modern day politics. 😂🤣😂

[@BasementBubbatunde]

That was a good interview from Ricky with Chris. Didn't blame anyone, didn't get angry at anyone, didn't speculate. Just said he wants to work. Although the mocking of whatever clown had a cry that he watched Cody at the Rumble was hilarious

[@TheFlamingPike]

Ricky positioned himself as the bigger man, ready to move on and work. Tony is a little boy who plays with human sized figurines and he gets told what to do by the Bucks and uncle Jericho.

[@jacosisaba]

That comment was 100% Jericho

[@ratedrretard3800]

I was thinking Moxley by the way Ricky mimicked the voice

[@rodneylace3687]

Keeping talented wrestlers on the shelf, and extending their contracts, so the other company cant have them….. FUN!!

[@theonce-ler7732]

When he lets wrestlers do whatever they want he’s called a mark. When he draws a line and punishes people who work against him people act like this. TK can’t win either way

[@dizzle1119]

@@theonce-ler7732 Ricky Starks has done nothing to deserve "punishment". He did nothing wrong at any point.

[@eLite-Tiss91]

How very Vince McMahon...

[@Mclovinit8171]

@@theonce-ler7732What did ricky starks ever do or say to deserve not being used? maybe if he was at the very least used on tv he might stay. 😂 But that option will never be there now.

[@meguminchan4809]

​@@theonce-ler7732what did Ricky do that he need to be punished?

[@MazeDaGr8]

The fact that AEW just has this man sitting on the sidelines doing nothing but collecting a paycheck is just maddening, Ricky Starks is a talent who should NOTT be sitting on the sidelines

[@ChristmasSong25]

dang right. I mean....just look at his long list of classic storylines and amazing matches.

[@carlosr6462]

he is sitting on the sidelines meanwhile Wheeler Useless is on our TVs week after week.

[@ChristmasSong25]

@@carlosr6462 have you ever seen Starks actually wrestle? He's average indie worker level. You can pick other people who are way better to simp for.

[@ItwasMenotU1234]

TK is incredibly petty and keeps proving it. He’s also afraid of confrontation it seems. Remember he resigned Brian Cage after not using him and took forever to use him after the fact. He did the same with Phoenix and now Starks. He has how many people on his roster he doesn’t use and won’t release for fear of them talking bad or doing better in WWE or elsewhere. The amount of money TK wasted on talent contracts he could’ve used for promotion of live events in towns to draw people to it or better production and formatting the shows themselves. Makes u wonder if daddy Kahn really did give Tony this to keep him away from the other family businesses.

[@JeremiahJohnson-l8h]

Louder for the dense AEW gatekeeping ninny's in the back please!

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

Well tony isn't respected by the jaguars fans or players. And Fulham players don't respect him and Fulham fans REALLY don't like him let alone respect him.

[@ItwasMenotU1234]

@ doesn’t surprise me there lol. So sounds like Effy wasn’t far off the mark.

[@emmssanchez00]

One day all of this is gonna come out, and we’re gonna see that Tony, Jericho, the Bucks and a bunch of other people in AEW are the real villains in this story.

[@JeremiahJohnson-l8h]

Yup, NDAs so no one says anything bad to hurt Tony's lil feelings - never mind Jericho trying to r**e Kylie Rae and then audacity for Tony to call WWE "the Harvey Weinstein" of wrestling. The Jacksonville Jaguars also are horribly mismanaged and their talent is miserable - starting to see a trend here.

[@danzahn4401]

AEW favorite response to criticism : "yeah but WWE"

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

AEWful fans aren't known for consistency. Billionaires and millionaires are bad. Except tony. Corporations are bad. Except Tony's. If you're poor that's not nice unless you don't watch AEWful in which case it's hilarious the non viewers are poor. They're not right in the dome.

[@yazr1712]

Sigh. I used to love AEW. But it's been really miserable hearing about them and what they do for the past little while. This company is unrecognizable

[@jabrondestoroyah]

It's a cringe slop factory

[@yazr1712]

@@jabrondestoroyah Eh - every wrestling promotion has cringe and slop.

[@jabrondestoroyah]

@@yazr1712 I know. WWE is PG schlock that is cringe on a 40%(as of now) and AEW is just pure cringe on a 90%.

[@MrMarchollywood]

Miro, Wardlow, Scorpio Sky. How about them too...

[@dizzle1119]

umm ummm ummm.....uh...they're all going to leave AEW someday anyways. Might as well pay 'em for nuthin'.

[@TheFlamingPike]

When you don't align with the AEW Kliq, you get buried. Either you're stuck like Ricky or you leave like Ethan Page, Lexis King, Jade Cargill, etc. did... What a coincidence that all the people you don't see on Dynamite are people who got along with CM Punk and/or Cody Rhodes. Very interesting. People will say Darby Allin got along with them, but Darby is under Sting's protection. People will say FTR are still quite present in AEW, but they forgot that during the peak CM Punk AEW saga they were exiled to NJPW for months, begged on X for TK to bring them back, and only when Dax Harwood posted a picture with a WWE paper ( possibly contract offer ) did they return... There are people in AEW who are acting like little babies and in a few years when the shoot interviews come out we will know.

[@kingsportsone3613]

It’s obvious why Tony benched Ricky…He pissed off Tonys new toy Edge. You can’t piss off the golden goose…

[@tonyruby4467]

Golden Goose??? Let's not overrate Edge now

[@kingsportsone3613]

@ I knew someone would say that. Edge to me has always been a tag team wrestler lol this is what Tony thinks of him.

[@clifforddavidson7273]

I love Edge especially sleazy Edge with Lita and Vickie. In 2024 he's at best a special attraction.

[@jeremyruh5219]

Ricky is good friends with CM Punk also

[@MattS9402]

I think Ricky's benching is due to him being a supporter/friend of CM Punk. TK reminds me of a jealous ex. He cant let go of the Punk drama.

[@addi543]

Neither can most of the AEW fans on Twitter/Bluesky

[@tonyruby4467]

Tony wanted Punk in AEW before anyone else. Had him then fumbled it, so Tony in his feelings now. Especially since he said AEW's not a business.

[@Garrison_the_Barbarian]

I said this about WWE and I'll give equal treatment to AEW: if you're not going to use your wrestlers, let them go. It's really not that complicated. They want to work, they're in ring shape, they're ready at a moment's notice, so it makes no fucking sense to make them stay at home. Just let them go. It's true for Ricky Starks, it's true for Rey Fenix, it's true for Miro, hell, I don't have enough fingers to count all of my examples. Even if they do turn out to be bigger stars somewhere else, so what? Make your own stars feel like a bigger deal and you'll have nothing to worry about. But what do I know? I'm just a lapsed wrestling fan who gave up in 2018 after WWE dared to put on THAT episode of Raw. You know the one.

[@OTJ8995]

If WWE were to bring Pentagon as a solo act it wouldn't mean they can't transition him into the tag division later. Would definitely be interested in seeing Pentagon feud with Nakamura over the US title.

[@blakkbaloon8092]

He's an independent contractor. He should go where He's happy. Why is Vince Triple H keeping him hostage. What Tony is doing It? Oh... It's cause He needs to assert dominance, He needs to show He's the boss, Good call Tony!!!!

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

AEWful people are two faced. They hate millionaires and billionaires except tony and shad. They hate corporations. Except their corporation. Being poor is bad. Unless you don't like AEWful. Being rich is evil. Unless you like AEWful. They have zero standards and are not good people. Period.

[@benespinosa6725]

I honestly miss ricky starks on AEW TV TBH here's the reason why I think ricky starks is being benched by tony khan simple ricky is saying positive things about CM Punk same goes for danhausen and that's a big no-no in AEW seeing the fact that punk got fired last year AEW is just a mess in every aspect especially creatively.

[@Markthe619]

The worst part of the highlanders tna story is if i remember correctly, he was there with his daughter who is the reason he went. aint that some shit

[@eLite-Tiss91]

Fuk TNA 2008 a C place company

[@Colt2OO2]

I'm an AEW fan but even I'm baffled at why Tony refuses to use Ricky whether he's leaving or not, he should be one of their biggest stars right now with all the potential he has but he isn't because Tony prioritizes certain people over others and I'm not saying that's uncommon, every wrestling booker has done that but even just using a talent to put others over on the way out if he is leaving isn't right and them still being paid to sit at home doesn't make it any better. I'll admit that I often try to play devil's advocate when it comes to Tony but I'm nothing like the Meltzer worshipping, Twitter keyboard warrior AEW marks that don't fault him for a single thing whether he's to blame or not and I sure as hell am not Meltzer himself, whose word means no more than that of the fans despite what he and his followers would probably say otherwise with how many friends and connections he has in the business and who will defend at least 95% of everything AEW does while being more impartial with everyone else, I know no better but I'll at least criticize them for what I feel is wrong and the same goes for WWE and other companies because I'm just a wrestling fan at my core and I'm so sick of all the tribalism that goes on.

[@carlosr6462]

be careful, the sickos are going to say you are traitor

[@samoanjoseph1457]

Tony must really not want these guys to go to WWE if he’s paying them to do nothing.

[@chrono050]

Dax Softwood ...

[@blablablaa14]

The thing that is disappointing is you could have put Ricky and Fenix in the C2 and just had them lose like 4 matches and get 1 win over lower level talents. Then the C2 would be better

[@eddiechavez2747]

Is the reason why AEW needs someone like Shane working backstage and in the office who isn’t scared of Confrontation

[@Mclovinit8171]

he wouldnt get any control. The reason tony hates being compared to vince so much is bc hes so much like him. Whos in full control of these shows? and peetty much always has been? Tony Khan. Hes a control freak.

[@JusRed48]

I feel like the way a lot of wrestlers have exited AEW really reflects badly on Tony Khan. There are lots of stories of drama or people not knowing what was going on. It feels like AEW has branded itself as the good guy company and treats people like royalty when they come in but when they leave suddenly it's justified to be the bad guy. Especially doing this with AEW original talent that came up within the company?

[@justGSquared]

I would like to see TK go the opposite route and push Ricky to the moon for the rest of his contract to show future talent a different way of doing business. To me it just makes sense to use him if you’re paying him. Couldn’t hurt attendance numbers or ratings

[@ShaunTheCHB]

The problem with any company or promotion always comes from the top and flows downwards. It’s clear where and what the key issue is with AEW, it’s the guy at the top and those issues have flowed down now so much that it’s hard to ignore it anymore.

[@nadiahassan5307]

I said this on another video and I will repeat it. As a very long time wrestling fan, WWE must be very happy to sit back and go “Not us this time!” And just order popcorn.

[@ElhajMahmoud]

They rather bench this guy while pushing a guy with the personality of a wet towel Daniel Garcia

[@carlosr6462]

I though you were talking about Jungle Jack or Wheeler Yuta or Orange Cassidy or Ricochet or ........

[@ChristmasSong25]

Daniel Garcia is miles better than Rock From Wish.

[@vileluca]

8:18 it goes back before then. Chavo Guerrero was benched at home and never told why in the early days of AEW.

[@kidvillain188]

If Tony's paying me to sit at home then I'll take it and I'm going to heal some injuries while I sit out my contract. Maybe think of some ideas to make myself a possible star.

[@dizzle1119]

Ricky Starks was ready to be a star years ago, dude. If he had signed with NXT instead of AEW, he'd have been a mainstay on Raw or Smackdown by 2022 at the latest.

[@primetimemiles15]

@@dizzle1119thank god he’s 34yrs old and still has time

[@StealingYourWiFi]

Yup keep my mouth shut and not have to worry about being injured while potentially jobbing to someone else.

[@pherai]

Entertaining people being sidelined while boring guys get pushed is exactly why I gave up on AEW

[@Superman5000The]

Tony Khan’s been known to ghost people when they’re in the same contract situation Ricky’s currently in

[@seangalvin4582]

I'm surprised that Tony Khan hasn't tried to buy out Chris Van Viet and get him doing press for him like Meltzer or even just straight up hire him to work for AEW. P.s. I don't think Meltzer is actually on Khan's payroll, but he obviously seduced Dave w/ the possible opportunity to be friends with a Billionaire wrestling owner.

[@coresan9956]

Amd Tony wonders why 1/2 his arena shows are blacked out. And why things have gone seriously downhill in the last 18 months.

[@ChristmasSong25]

because frigging Ricky Starks isn't wrestling? LOL

[@dizzle1119]

Ricky Starks is guilty of being friends with the wrong ppl...and Tony Khan is seemingly one of the most petty human beings alive.

[@AHeroAlmost]

Tony doesn’t like confrontation unless it’s on Twitter/X…

[@LouieV6]

When Vince pulled this type of shit, AEW fans rightfully called him out on it, when Tony does, you hear nothing but crickets from them. This company’s demise is all but written, it’s just a matter of when, and I’m not saying I want it to come down to that, but don’t be surprised when it does happen.

[@littlegipper5798]

Put everyone on notice, you don't disrespect your company by talking about going elsewhere

[@dizzle1119]

He didn't disrespect anything. lol

[@capngeeoff]

I think that if Tony is not comfortable having difficult conversations with talent about their contract status, then he should hire someone in this role

[@RandomlyRandom2025]

It's pretty clear what happened. Starks just doesn't wanna admit it, because it could lead to legal action. He was negotiating with WWE, while he was under contract with AEW. It wouldn't surprise me if this happened while Ricky was still on TV. Which would explain him being pulled and not used anymore, AKA Tony being petty.

[@bradanderson7779]

Proof?? Nice fairytale, we can all speculate. Use, or let him go. He is not a huge star. So f’ng petty.

[@mooretoys94]

Aew fans are complaining but not chanting "We want Ricky"

[@DPrime215]

1:54 Solo: “you can tell he’s a big Cody Rhodes fan with the whoa.” Me: “WHOOOAAAAA OOOHHH”

[@dfrancis9939]

Tony's just delaying the inevitable; you're only pushing Ricky more towards WWE and wasting you're money benching him at the same time.

[@JD_ULTRA_19]

AEW sux. That’s the comment.

[@alkisfragoulidis7441]

The downfall of AEW has no end ❤😂

[@ROBken2654]

I still love AEW but sometimes stuff like this is a gets on my damn nerves. See if I were Tony I would just tell both Ricky and Phoenix you boys wanna leave all right I got you and just release them Done and over with just like that 🫰 This whole situation dies in one go.

[@JoeChillton]

Same, Tony is very weird or coked out.

[@carlosr6462]

or just use them to put over other talent, a Starks/Ospreay feud can make them some business

[@f1s7PumP]

TONY KHAN PLEASE RELEASE RICKY STARKS

[@EnticinglyDeadly]

You’ve hit the nail on the head. Tony doesn’t like confrontation so he’ll just pay him to sit on the sidelines so he doesn’t have to deal with the problem. We see this with Miro, Punk, Jack Perry and even Joey Janela. So Tony is just doing the billionaire save get; throw money at it hoping it goes away and not having to solve the actual problem.

[@scarlettmichanco8023]

Ricky could maybe sue Tony if he has a minimum amount of dates and Tony isn't giving him those dates. Also Wardlow's booking has been what PWH has claimed otherwise

[@notoriousrjg9257]

I can fully understand why TK did this. Vince did the same thing. There is in fact something to be said about performers signing a contract. But for the life of me why anyone from AEW to WWE and every promotion in netween would keep someone under contract, pay them, and purposefully not use them. It makes no sense. And even if Starks does want to go to wwe, who fucking cares? Dudes been sitting home for 9 months. You mean to tell me they have time for the Beast Frank, Ishii, Rocky Romero and the dozens of other one offs and nobodies they have on their payroll but they cant find ANYWHERE on his show for one of their "pillars"? If his contract was up in January and he was consistently on tv up until say august or september, then sure. It happened to ricochet, Moxley and dozens of others who have been released from wwe over the year. But 9 months? Its just petty and it flies in the face of everything TK has gone on and on about how aew is "wrestler first"

[@lookoutside8490]

This is all Fed's fault, they started doing so, they are the ones who established this practice. Our leader Tony is just reacting. Long live our Dub!

[@blakemeads9225]

The sad thing is, i can’t tell if you’re joking or being serious.

[@Joeroganucrazy]

@@blakemeads9225For Real, Yo!

[@L3ghair]

Hit the bricks

[@TheAtlantaThrasher]

To be fair, with the continental classic about to start, no one, outside of those players are going to get air time. Just more air time for a very very small group.

[@jasoncecil3476]

Put him in a worthwhile storyline and then maybe he will stay. Problem solved! Tony will have had an entire year from this past April 2024 to April 2025 to place one of his top future superstars in a long-term storyline with someone, and he didn't do it. I understand that you have a whole roster of people to take care of creatively, but it's clear that Ricky Starks is a future, legit main eventer. He should not be on the shelf at all!

[@flyguy7825]

its clear Tony Khan doesnt wanna use Ricky Starks and is just fucking with him he has the money to say I dont wanna use you and im gonna pay you to do nothing just like the WWE,AEW does the same lets just keep the same energy for everyone who does it.I hope people who sign with either company take note if you dont have power dont sign a lock in contract that you cant get out of it

[@JoeChillton]

Unless he pulled an X Pac in someone's bag, no reason. What a fucking waste. WHY???

[@BlueAmerican26]

Tony Kahn following in his heroes footsteps. That hero is Vince.

[@j4ward95]

I LOVE YOU SOLO!!!!!!!!!!

[@ginofrancejr555]

Ricky starks deserves better thst to sit at home and collect a check. I hope when his contract expires next year Ricky joins wwe

[@gaipontiff2]

All the different examples given in these comments are all true, but if you break it down to its simplest form. It is because Tony Khan is a petulant five year old child who never had to grow up.

[@Debajyoti_P]

If tony thinks rickey will leave for wwe and hence he won’t use him on aew then why would he keep him in aew for one extra year and waste miney😅😅 vince dejavu😂😂😂

[@tyronewashington5498]

Hhh and wwe are still doing this ,

[@carlosr6462]

@@tyronewashington5498 with whom? Are you really doing the "but WWE" excuse?

[@AndyLifeInVideo]

British Bulldog buying himself out of his contract had such a butterfly effect.

[@sdd619]

Family should be off limits. No excuses.

[@chico2071]

You obviously don't understand spite.

[@Amazinger]

Why are you speculating it might be Dax being a stooge? He and Starks are both CM Punk guys.

[@L3ghair]

You seen his Twitter? That guy’s a stooge for Tony for sure lol

[@Juicelee777ssj]

I'm willing to Bet that Ricky's contract will conveniently expire right after Wrestlemania

[@BabezNew]

WWE Fans: The Storylines Are Boring But What Else Is There. AEW Fans: Can We Please Just Get One Story That Makes Sense? NWA Fans: 😴💤 TNA Fans: Why Won’t You Die?😮

[@jasoncoward-aintscared]

Cargill has a daughter?! To have a physique like hers after giving birth. RESPECT. (Booker T. voice)

[@sherinjohn001]

The advantage of having multiple wrestling companies, wrestlers can go anywhere with better pay. 😊❤

[@nohbuddy1]

God I wish I could get a job like that. Don't show up for months and still get paid

[@danieljackson2496]

So basically Tony has become everything he "hates" basically being Vince McMahon petty by not using Ricky Starks which is so stupid BTW because Ricky has the charisma to be a top Babyface in this Moxley storyline when honestly it's really lacking credible faces. Not sure what Ricky did to Tony in order to not be used for almost a year we'll probably never know until Ricky is finally free of his contract. Communication has seemed to be one of AEW'S biggest problems its not the first time hearing stories like this. Ethan Page, Lexis King, Joey Janela, Marko Stunt, etc have all talked about basically being ghosted by Tony and AEW until their contracts eventually ran out definitely not a good way to do business. I mean the big argument is "Well Ricky is leaving anyway" maybe he wouldn't be if he actually felt valued in AEW? 🤷🏿 If Tony has no intention to keep talent than maybe he could at least tell Ricky that and let him know why he isn't being used. Im sorry but there's so many people on AEW tv currently that shouldn't have tv time or as much as they get but you got a talent like Ricky Starks just sitting at home? Make it make sense.

[@chrono050]

Free Ricky Starks Free Rey Phoenix ! Starks is a draw i know i am a big fan an AEW is so bad right now it's sad ... They should use him even if it's to put people over ..

[@Met3438]

Could he possibly have grounds for a lawsuit? If so, then discovery would force Tony to disclose things he may not want out there, including details about Brawl Out.

[@jesterbob828]

Suing someone with infinite money is probably not gonna work out lmao

[@Met3438]

@ probably not but the threat of discovery could force his hand. Although I’m not a legal expert

[@jesterbob828]

@@Met3438 lol. He could bankrupt Starks in court way before it got to discovery

[@mooretoys94]

If penta signs with wwe they should debut him in the rumble.

[@twilliamspro]

Tony has New Toy Syndrome He gets distracted by shiny new things

[@robertlee9602]

Who??

[@maxcombo3448]

this whole situation is just puzzling Ricky Starks who is healthy who has talent and can do promos and yet Tony Khan does not use him? Like why? Ricky Starks would give AEW a big jolt of energy right now plus the fans love him they don't? there needs to be a conversation between the two and find some sort of a resolution here

[@seangalvin4582]

Someone saying they "don't know why they are not being used" and them actually knowing why they are not being used are two different things. Maybe Ricky genuinely has no idea why they aren't being used, but just because he is saying that doesn't mean it's true. Who knows what conversations have gone on and what issues have or haven't been addressed. Issues and/or conversations that are private and that are not appropriate for one party to talk about publicly. It's easier to say "I don't know".

[@VideoGaming4U]

Ricky Starks needs to pull a CM Punk. Just hit a co-worker and bam! WWE bound lol jk. I really do feel bad for Ricky Starks. Same with Fenix.

[@ricflare7405]

Great video. My thoughts, Starks imo probably made it know he rides with Cody and he seems like he could run his mouth backstage so Tony is paying him to stay home. He had the chance to work independently and would have been better served doing no interviews and letting his work speak for him. Personally I rather sit at home collect money knowing I’m WWE bound. Jade once she was established was never going to stay with AEW. Her husband was a MLB player she has a certain lifestyle and she wanted the pomp and circumstance of WWE plain and simple. AEW is not that. Tony is an analytics guy plain and simple. He works 3 places and probably can use help with AEW. The Lucha Bros left because of Konan, Konan said recent last Tony will find out and he is as the Lucha Bros decided to leave. Their situation IMO is Konans fault. If these performers learned to not talk that talk against their employers or have third parties talking greasy on their behalf maybe these guys would just be released. Honestly keeping them on the bench then jobbing them out is a better situation. They are still allowed to work elsewhere with approval.

[@vinnyassad4726]

You know what I think Tony should stop communicating with uncle Dave communicate with his wrestlers instead

[@aniketsawant2240]

He's scared he'll be a big draw for WWE instantly.

[@zackwyatt169]

tony will soon realize that THIS is gonna have a lot of talent leave aew cause nobody is gonna want to deal with the headache that is tony McMahon

[@bb-gc2tx]

in the long run starks not being seen on aew tv is a good thing. get the stink of that joke of a company off you as much as you can

[@joseconcepcion6949]

All that tk is doing is making starks look good and building his fame once he goes to wwe he will have a strong fan base making a huge star that’s what tk doing trust me ! Imagine starks popping up out of nowhere?

[@pauliewalnuts829]

Why keep a talent off television because they might go to another company? Why not give the talent some decent creative and TV time and use that to convince them to stay? Or something.

[@saucedopro]

I’m a wrestling war you don’t just hand your rivals valuable assets. I think Tony learned that the hard way with Punk and Cody.

[@L3ghair]

This is not a wrestling war.

[@Mclovinit8171]

If this were any type of war they would be able to compete with raw or sd ratings or attendance wise. They can not do either. Havent been able to do either for YEARS.

[@carlosr6462]

It's not a war, not even a skirmish... Dynamite is barely doing the same ratings as WWE's developmental program, the same developmental show that the sickos were laughing at years ago for their rotten ratings. Why don't let the talent buy their own contracts?

[@eLite-Tiss91]

He rather push big boom justice than a next big name of tomorrow

[@AntonioMaseratiGarcia]

Tony khan needs to hire someone with knowledge on the wrestling business.

[@wuztron]

Zero shot it's Dax

[@theghostofrethsich2813]

Why not

[@jordanbyford2693]

Not only did he work with punk in AEW Punk put him over TK is so stupid for a billionaire you have a star and you don't use him because you don't like him in business you don't need to like the people you work with

[@crazymoviescenes1303]

This egoistic idiot Tony can not take criticism, all he wants to listen to is people praising him for all his stupid decisions n oiling his ego. That's exactly what Bucks n Jericho n Jungle Chick are doing for years.

[@liamfenech6609]

I don't feel bad for Robbie McAllister at all back then TNA was the closest thing in opposition to the WWE fact of the matter is if your contracted Talent appears on your rivals television programme you deserve to be fired during the Monday night War what do you think would have happened to sting had he turned up on WWF TV? Likewise what would have happened to the Undertaker if vice versa? Yeah it was a shity Move by TNA but nobody forced Robbie by putting a gun to his head and forcing him to be there while under contract he made a conscious decision to appear in the audience at arrival promotions TV taping had he opted to watch it on TV he wouldn't have found himself in that position I understand he was on holiday with his family at the time but he made a conscious decision alipay the price for it

[@trevorkenny]

An actor chiming is on this is hilarious.

[@josephfranco6015]

Be surprised if they’re $40 million as a Jaguars fan, I hope to God his father’s paying him to stay away

[@29xthefun]

Amazing that we could right now have Starks in AEW with a title and working as a heel goading all the blue eyed boys for matches. Instead we have Mox with a title in a case and gibbering total and utter garbage each week and a guy call himself a scapegoat and his story is he was was choked by a now WWE wrestler. Company is nothing but a rich kid hobby.