10 Wrestlers Who Couldn’t Hide Their Anger At Bad Creative
8. Ricky Starks Is Bewildered
Fightful Select recently reported that Ricky Starks was said to have not been particularly happy about his creative direction in 2023. He initially didn’t fancy teaming with Big Bill, and was dismayed that his momentum slowed to a crawl after his well-received programme with CM Punk and classic war opposite Bryan Danielson at All Out.
This was actually evident on television.
On the November 25 edition of Collision, Starks and Big Bill cut a promo in which, after attacking Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho, they were asked to explain their actions.
Starks initially stumbled over his words, and then, when handing over the promo to his partner, said that he barely knows him. “He doesn’t even know my birthday!”
Starks then asked Bill when it was. “No idea,” Bill deadpanned.
This was a mildly amusing line, but there was a weird casual element to the promo overall - like Starks was above it all, almost. This trend continued during the infamous debacle that was a duelling promo with the ‘Golden Jets’ at Winter Is Coming 2023.
Forcibly removed from the rails by Omega’s undiagnosed bout of diverticulitis and Jericho’s excruciating comedy stylings, Starks didn’t exactly help.
Either he was very good at acting, or he seemed genuinely nonplussed at the prospect of working with Chris Jericho for a second time that year. He actually forgot that he defeated him at Revolution.
Jericho suggested that his opponents name their team “Big Billie Starks”. It was a terrible line. If it was indeed a reference, it flew over everybody’s head.
A soul-destroyed Starks said, curtly, “Well, that one fell flat”.