10 Wrestlers Who Are In Da Wrong Company

5. Ricky Starks

Jon Moxley WWE
AEW

One of All Elite Wrestling's brightest stars since his debut and the kind of talent the company could justifiably classify as "homegrown", Ricky Starks has, at multiple points, appeared as one of AEW's can't-miss talents.

And yet.

The road's been a rocky one thanks to injuries, questionable booking and then no booking at all, but in 2024 there seems only one logical end to the story. If not already on the cards, a move to WWE feels inevitable. 

Starks could be a WWE main-eventer. His microphone skills (most of the time) and natural charisma align perfectly with WWE's entertainment-focused approach, he's had enough top-tier matches to prove he can easily carry his end when the bell rings, and a friend currently in a very high place helped establish him in a promotion once before. For better and worse, he's very himself, too. Triple H-era WWE might wish to refine that for marketing, but based on recent history, audiences can expect 'Absolute' as previously presented.

Leaving AEW for WWE isn't just a career move; it's a strategic giant leap.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back almost 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 60,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett