New Delhi: Ricky Starks has officially arrived in WWE NXT, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. Less than 24 hours after reports surfaced that he was removed from AEW’s roster page, Starks walked into the NXT Performance Center in Orlando to a thunderous reaction. With no 90-day non-compete clause holding him back, the former AEW star wasted no time making his presence felt.
His debut was short but impactful. Grabbing the microphone, Starks kept it simple: “It’s obvious you know who I am! If NXT is the future of professional wrestling—well guess what? You need an absolute superstar of the future!” The crowd roared, welcoming him as if he had been part of WWE all along.
NXT gains strength as AEW struggles
Ricky Starks just showed up in NXT and made his WWE debut…
THE DAY after getting his release from AEW and just few days after winning the DEFY World Championship. Wow.
pic.twitter.com/3iFH7xk42p— Drainmaker 🌧️ 💵 (@DrainBamager) February 12, 2025
Starks’ move to NXT adds another layer to WWE’s growing momentum. NXT has been on the rise, not just in terms of talent but also in viewership. Since moving to the CW network, NXT has beaten AEW Dynamite in total viewers for 17 of the last 19 weeks. While AEW has been dealing with declining ratings, NXT has thrived, drawing more fans each week.
Starks’ exit from AEW was not a smooth one. Reports suggested that creative differences with Tony Khan played a big role. In a recent interview, Starks admitted he had been sidelined for months, despite being in his prime. “It’s a mindf—k because I’m in my prime… And then to be at home for so long, you’re kind of like ‘whoa.’” His frustrations with AEW’s direction made it clear that a change was inevitable.
With Starks now in NXT, the brand gets another top-tier talent, while AEW loses yet another star. Interestingly, he might not be the last former AEW wrestler to make the jump. Malakai Black and Miro are also reportedly free agents and could follow the same path.
For WWE, this signing only strengthens an already stacked NXT roster. For Starks, it’s a chance to restart his career without the creative roadblocks he faced in AEW. Either way, WWE looks like the biggest winner in this deal.
Ricky Starks made a shocking WWE NXT debut just hours after his AEW exit, adding star power to the rising brand while AEW struggles with declining ratings and losing key talents. WWE Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
