8 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Dark (Aug 18)

2. Absolute

Ricky Starks
AEW

A great Ricky Starks promo saw 'Absolute' target Darby Allin last night, following on from the recent Dynamite match in which Allin shredded Starks' back with a thumb-tacked skateboard.

Starks wants Allin in the ring. He called himself "too handsome to be hardcore," saying Darby looks like he was "raised on dog food and dope" compared to him, promising, once again, to run his face across the asphalt. Another neat line saw Ricky claim he didn't need to be John, Joseph, or Judas to know this would be Allin's Last Supper, dolloping another spoonful of heat on what looks a likely Dynamite match before Starks' partner, Brian Cage, mauls Darby at All Out.

Ricky is a top-five talker in this company. He isn't necessarily saying anything out of this world, though his charisma, confidence, and delivery are elite. With more spots like this, he'll be a star in no time. Just listen to him.

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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.