5 Ups & 8 Downs From AEW Dark (Aug 25)

2. Ricky Starks vs. Shawn Dean

Ricky Starks
AEW

Few AEW wrestlers are as much fun to watch as Ricky Starks at the moment, whose good run continued with a solid squash win over Shawn Dean.

Starks' mastery of the little things in professional wrestling prevents tedium from creeping into this familiar format. Charisma aside, he's not the kind of wrestler who always catches the eye immediately because the things he does well are fundamental, not supplementary. He's great at selling, laying a match out, and imposing his cocky character on his ring work, and while he can dazzle when he needs to, he typically spaces those spots out, only breaking them out every now and then.

A smart strategy that prevents burnout and overexposure, with this a nice victory ahead of his inevitable clash with Darby Allin.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.