Ricky Starks Pulled from Upcoming GCW Appearances by AEW [Report]

It's been a tumultuous few days for Ricky Starks, who has now been blocked from working future dates with GCW.

Feb 22, 2023; Phoenix, AZ, USA; AEW Ricky Starks appears during AEW Dynamite at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Just days after Ricky Starks made a surprise appearance for GCW, he has now been pulled from all future bookings for the company by AEW.

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select was the first to report the news, having heard from those within Game Changer Wrestling that the decision to pull Starks - who is still under contract with All Elite Wrestling - was made Tuesday November 26.

We have just been informed that Ricky Starks has been pulled from all upcoming GCW appearances including his announced match on 12/14 in Los Angeles, his unannounced match on 12/28 in Seattle and his unannounced match on 1/19 at The Hammerstein Ballroom. pic.twitter.com/MygHHgmWAI

— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) November 27, 2024

The company has since publicly confirmed the news, making the following announcement on social media:

The belief is that alleged comments made by GCW wrestler Effy toward Shad Khan, All Elite Wrestling CEO Tony Khan's father, had at least something to do with the decision to end Starks' upcoming commitments. Ross Sapp has provided some more context on those comments.

We're told that AEW had taken exception to GCW talent Effy bringing up Shad Khan on a recent podcast, in regards to AEW running Hammerstein ballroom, and Shad effectively paying Tony Khan to stay away. After that, AEW was not interested in having Ricky Starks work GCW.

— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) November 27, 2024

Ricky Starks has dominated the news cycle over the last several hours after he addressed his recent absence from AEW, and multiple other topics, in an interview with Chris Van Vliet.

Fightful had also provided an update on Starks' contract situation with All Elite Wrestling early Tuesday morning, noting that he had an option year picked up in the spring and isn't expected to hit the open market until sometime near the beginning of the second quarter of 2025.

There's been no public comment from Tony Khan or AEW at this time, but Ross Sapp has reported that Starks has only been pulled from GCW and can still take other independent bookings that come his way.

—Your one-stop shop for all things professional wrestling—

The Undertaker Extends Olive Branch To Dave Bautista After Heated Election Cycle

Janel Grant Representatives Issue Statement Ahead Of US Attorney Resignation

Dustin Rhodes Reveals He Has One Big Goal Left To Accomplish Before Retirement