Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Ricky Starks On AEW Absence, Cody Rhodes, Royal Rumble Appearance, The Rock Comparisons

Episode Date: November 26, 2024

https://cvvtix.com - Tickets for the first ever INSIGHT LIVE the day before the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2025 in Indianapolis are on sale now! Ricky Starks (@starkmanjones) is a professional wrestler signed to AEW. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet in Austin, TX to discuss his absence from AEW TV since March 2024, being spotted backstage at the Royal Rumble with Cody Rhodes, being in attendance at WrestleMania 40, being in Sting's first AEW match, being compared to The Rock, going toe to toe on the mic with MJF, why his many WWE cameos didn't lead to a signing and more! Quote I'm thinking about: "Staying positive doesn't mean you have to be happy all the time. It means even on hard days you know that there are better ones coming." - Diamond Dallas Page Sponsors: VUORI: Get 20% off your first purchase! Get yourself some of the most comfortable and versatile clothing on the planet at https://vuori.com/cvv ROCKET MONEY: Join Rocket Money today and experience financial freedom: https://rocketmoney.com/cvv ZOCDOC: Instantly book a top-rated doctor today at https://zocdoc.com/insight BONCHARGE: Use the code CVV to save 15% off your infrared sauna blanket at https://boncharge.com/cvv BLUECHEW: Use the code CVV to get your first month of BlueChew for FREE at https://bluechew.com RHONE: Rhone’s premium performance clothing is made to move you. Use code CVV to save 20% at https://www.rhone.com/CVV MANSCAPED: Get 20% off plus free shipping when you use the code CHRISVAN at https://manscaped.com PURE PLANK: The future of core fitness! Use the code CVV to save 10% on Pure Plank which was designed by Adam Copeland & Christian: https://gopureplank.com/ PLUNGE: Get $150 off your Plunge with the coupon code CVV150 at https://plunge.com For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast or Spotify? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.  Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris the Oh, how are you, my friends? Welcome back to another one here on Insight. I'm CVV, Chris Van Fleet. There are literally thousands of wrestling podcasts out there and new ones popping up every single day. So I appreciate you being here. And thank you for making Insight the number one

wrestling podcast on the planet. Hit an elbow drop on that follow button on Spotify or Apple or whatever the podcast listening platform of your pleasure is. We're closing out the year strong. And I want to make sure that you don't miss out on any episodes that we have coming up. There's some big, big guests. And if you're listening on Spotify, a rating would go such a long way on there. And it literally takes four seconds to do it. So I'm going to thank you in advance for that. The last time we saw Ricky Starks in an AW ring was March 30th. Dante Martin and Darius Martin beat big.

Bill and Ricky Starks in a tag team match. So where has Ricky Starks been? That's exactly what we talk about here. And great to have him back on the show. We recorded this in Austin. Actually, we recorded this in Austin at the same studio that the Undertaker uses for his podcast, six feet under. So if you watch this episode on YouTube and it looks familiar, now you're able to connect

the dots and figure out why. Oh, yeah, that's why it looks familiar. Ricky was last on the show in November of 2020. It was right after he made his AEW debut. And we talked about that debut. It was against Cody in the TNT Championship Open Challenge. Obviously, a lot has happened since then, and we get into all of it here. Snap a screenshot.

Let us know you're listening and tag us. He's at Starkman Jones on Twitter. He's at Starkey Baby on Instagram. I'm at Chris Van Fleet, and here we go. Please welcome Ricky Starks. He came dressed for the occasion. appreciate that. Yes, of course.

I mean, did you expect anything less? It's true, right? Yeah. I haven't seen you in person since you were the television champion. Yeah, I know. Wow. In NWA.

Yeah. Yeah. Kind of crazy. You know, it's funny about that. I was only television champion for two days. After the taping, it seemed like two months. But they taped like so many shows that. Yeah, yeah, exactly.

So I just remember that being like a thing. I couldn't remember at the time I told you. I was like, well, I'm losing it tomorrow, man. I remember meeting you backstage that was in Atlanta at the, what's it, Georgia. G.P.B. Georgia public broadcasting. Yeah, G.

Beautiful set there. Oh, it's amazing. And remember everyone being like, you haven't heard about Ricky Starks? You haven't met Ricky Starks? And then I met you and I was like, oh, I see. Yeah. I see what the buzz is all about here. Feels like everyone kind of does that, you know.

Well, but this was also 2019 or like, no, early 2020. Yeah. And then we did an interview over Zoom. After, what was that? A few months after that, no? It was a few months. It was after you debuted in AEW. Yeah, so definitely at the June of 2020.

Yeah, yeah. Wow. So I haven't seen you in a while. Yeah, I know, it's been crazy. Wow. You know, it's cool, too, is to see the difference of both the careers, basically. True.

I saw you on a red carpet recently with John Cena. Yeah, yeah. I was like, what the hell? That's awesome. The rock. I saw you on there with. the wrong. Who? What? Yeah. No, I've been doing that for my whole career. Like, that was the main thing. I've been an entertainment reporter, TV host my whole career. That's wild because I think in the

wrestling bubble, obviously we only see you as like, you just, you just interview wrestlers. Yeah. So that you have a full ass career before that is even better. Yeah, people will see like some of these clips go viral even still years later. Like, there'll be a clip now that I say it of me and and Anne Hathaway from an interview in 2011 that always makes the rounds. Yes. I've seen you do like these media. Yeah, yeah. Like, you know, you'll see me with like Leonardo DiCaprio and people are like, man, that's crazy.

Yeah. No, that's what I've been doing my whole career. I've just always been a wrestling fan. So when those two worlds merged, like, you know, you're interviewing actors and celebrities and comedians, why not a wrestler? Right. And then that kind of built on itself. Exactly.

But, I mean, your career, I feel like at that point in time, the world was just starting to figure out who Ricky Starks was and what you were all about. Yeah. And I mean, it's been almost a little over four years. What a ride you've been on. Dude, who are you telling? I feel like it's been, it's just, it's been such a whirlwind where I have to really sit back sometimes and remember, you know, where I've come from because I don't actually take time to do that. And that's a bad habit of mine.

But it is wild to think, especially during the pandemic time when the pandemic just hit and what happened. with me in NWA that, you know, it only proves my point that the belief that I always have is things will work out every time, every time, every time, every time. Where are things at now? We haven't seen you in AEW since March. Oh, there's another step. You know, yeah, I know. March was my last match.

I've been home. I've been home. I've been healthy, never was injured. I did have a stinger. I got a stinger in that match, I guess, top flight in March. And I got immediately checked out and everything was fine. But I was just, you know, concerned at the time. And so that happened.

And then I was just home. And that's kind of, you know, where it's been at. I've just been home. And it's kind of, it's a mind fuck because, you know, I'm in my prime. And it sucks. when you're on such a, you're on such a momentum, you know,

riding the wave and doing work and doing stuff. And then to just be at home for so long, you're kind of like, whoa, it kind of, it throws, it throws it off, you know? You don't want to be at home. No, I'm not, I am not meant to be at home. I'm not meant to be a home body.

In this current phase in my life, I'm not meant to be just chilling at home and doing not the thing that I've been, custom I has to do for the past 13 years. So are you still under contract with AEW? Yeah. But you're just not being used? But you'd like to be used.

You want to wrestle. What's going on? Beasts me. Bees me. I could have a thousand theories about what's really going on. The fact of the matter is that there's no... If I don't have a definitive answer, I can't just make up an answer.

for people and just assume. You know what I'm saying? Would I love to know the exact reason for sure? Do I have speculations about why? Absolutely. But that does nothing to speak on things that I speculate. Does nothing for the situation, right? So I think it's just a matter of it sucks.

You know, it's been a very cold day here in Austin. And it's been a very cold day. It may have been cold for the past nine months. I'm not sure. But thankfully, I have a sweater and I'm always ready to keep the warmth going, you know? So that match, I think it was March 30th, 20, 24. Take my mug. Cafe Dumont.

Cafe Dumont. Man, let's get some. Get some average time of points on that. If only, if only we were getting some, man, I've been there. I hope so, man. Of course. It's just off of Bourbon Street. Yes, it is.

I don't know why I'm laughing at that because it is. We can get some bignets. It's delicious. I like that fact that people go to there every time they go to French Quarter. Yeah. So you wrestle that match and then you don't work again a week later and then a week after that. When do you start to realize I'm not getting, I'm not getting called here? I mean, geez.

I don't think there's ever an exact moment where I'm like, oh, wow, okay. I kind of just, you know, figured it out. I have been working out, obviously, maintaining my shape, being in the ring still. I have been traveling and doing that stuff, right? Because that's what I can control. Of course, I have an indie date coming up November 24th. And so, you know, I'm doing that, obviously. But yeah, yeah, just it's such a, it's such a mind fuck for me because I am capable.

I am of sound body and mind. And, you know, you have to be careful about what you say because things get spun so quickly. And it's not right that certain people will believe this stuff, especially the people that you even work with. The people that's in your industry will believe the stuff that a small rumor, just sprouts up online. It's kind of wild, you know. But you look at the discourse online, though, fans miss you.

Oh, my God, it's incredible. I get so many messages from people who are like, hey, we don't know what's happening. We don't know what's going on, but we miss you. We hope that you're mentally okay. And obviously, I would love to give an answer of what's, you know, a definitive answer.

But I, and I still maintain the truth of this, I have no clue. I have no clue. So, you know, I already know this is going to go up in flames too. But, yeah, I love the fact that fans still care. All I know is this, regardless, I'm always going to end up better than my situation. I'm always going to end up better than the circumstances that I'm currently in. That's just how it works for me.

I can't lose. Do you feel like you're being punished in some sort of way? Oh, I don't think that. I don't think I, I don't think that's ever crossed my mind of, like, you're being punished. Because that wouldn't serve me at all to think like that. Yeah. Right. I would be depressed and, like, angry.

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Timeline.com slash insight. I guess people saw, it was so weird, that backstage footage leaked of you visiting Cody at the Royal Rumble last year, right? Yes. Yes. You know what's funny about that? You know it's so funny about the hell of the situation.

First off, yes, I did go see a friend of mine for his match, obviously, because it was an hour away. Secondly, they caught me walking to the bus, right? So like, okay. Third off, somebody who worked at Alamo decided to take a video. and take that screenshot and then post it. Yeah. So I remember the next day, Sunday, I woke up and like this whole thing was blowing up. And I was just like, what is, what is this?

I had people from my job being like, I had one guy. He was just like, were you at the, were you at the rumble last night? I said, yeah, and what the fuck about it? What about it? He goes, just saying that's a bad look, you know? I said, how is it a bad look? I can't control somebody taking a security footage while I'm walking to a bus. I don't control that.

Like, how does that tell me how that is a bad look. We got people on our own program talking about other people at the other company, but yet me having my security footage exposed is a bad look. Give me a break. So this was just visiting a friend. It was simply visiting a friend. I was only on the bus. I stayed on the bus.

I wasn't trying to cause any type of, you know, issues or anything. anything like that. The whole purpose was I was walking to the bus, so I didn't be seen by anybody. Yeah. What about at WrestleMania? What about it? WrestleMania, you weren't just on the bus. No, I was in the box.

I was eating good. You know what I'm saying? I was enjoying myself. Yeah. So that one, you're out in the open there. Sure. Everyone was. It was cold.

Yeah, well, I was there too. It was warmer the second night. Much warmer the second night. That first night, yeah. It was cold. For real. But if you. already knew that this caused issues the first time when you were backstage and security footage

leaked of you at the Rumble. Now you're in a box at WrestleMania. Do you think that might cause an issue? You know who else was in the box with me? Dustin, right? Yeah, who else? I don't know, actually. QT. Marshall. Okay. Aaron Solo. Like, this is not me putting them on blast. This is just saying, like, yes, there's people in the box. Yeah, and there's lots of footage of this. Yes. They had footage of me celebrating. out, all right? There was no issue about that. There was no issue at all. Only because before I had went, Tony already said, hey, it's okay. So, like, there was no issue. Now, if he actually didn't mean that, okay, I don't know. That's different, right? But there was no issue about that. And I still,

to this day, don't see a problem with it. And I'm going to tell you what. I got into this because I am a fan. I love professional wrestling. Regardless of where I work, I'm going to go and support people that I love. And I'm going to go support wrestling in general. Like, I was there to watch Jade's first mania match and was extremely proud. And we can, I mean, we'll talk about her later, but I saw her match and then I was there to see Cody's match. Guess what? I was at mania the year before that and saw Cody lose. There is no issue with somebody being at another show like an artist. Like, Jay Z ain't going to go to another rapper's concert. He ain't going to go to a Jay Cole concert. Like, you know what I'm saying? It's only blown up like that online because of people who, one,

they're trying to get paid for their engagement. They got rent due, you know. I always make that joke. But it's people who just want to start something. And you could say it's like the tribalistic fans or whatever. I don't know if I necessarily agree with that all the way to a certain extent. Yeah. But like I remember seeing some quote tweets about how I was Dick riding Cody because I was there.

And I was just like, wow, this is amazing. because if you took this situation out of the scope of wrestling, people would think it's normal. But supposedly for some reason, it is so taboo to not be over here when you work here. Who cares? We all get impaid, aren't we? I don't think people realize how close you and Cody are.

I think that's where it really comes down to. And that's like, oh my gosh, he's there supporting him. I didn't even really know they were friends. But you think I'm a tell like, fan who paid for their seat to not photograph me up in the box seat. At the end of the day, I didn't give a fuck, and I still don't. I didn't care about the Rumble thing. I didn't care about the mania thing.

I don't care about, you're not about to sit up here. Nobody is going to sit up here and make me feel like a bad person for doing something out of the goodness of my heart. I wanted to enjoy live wrestling, and that's what I did. I wanted to see my friends wrestle live, and that's what I did. And what the fuck about it? You know what I'm saying? And what were you guys eating up there?

Yeah, dude, honestly we had flatbread. I'm a big chakutory board type guy. Oh, me too. Yes, I like it all. A few livations, you know what I'm saying? But yeah, I had a blast and I wouldn't. You think somebody going to make me feel bad about it? I don't care what a few people online say about it.

They don't know. How far back does the friendship with Cody go? You guys have been friends since he had his indie run before ADW, right? So, yes. We did a promo with Cody when he came to a Texas indie. I can't remember what year it was. I want to say it was like 2017, maybe, maybe 2018. Me and Solo did a thing with him.

And it was funny, a little backstage bit. but I actually had met Cody when I got beat up by Gender Mahal in 2012. And we were in, I want to say we were in Corpus or something like that. That's when I met Cody. He was very nice to me backstage. And so, you know, I had been an extra thereafter several times when WW come in town. And I've seen them there. I even make a joke about how I say, hey, remember when you wore that?

mustache and the Robert Covelli t-shirts. Do you remember that? He was, oh, man. Had to shave it for the way, you know, something about the wedding. But yeah, I've known of him. And then obviously, once I put out that vignette, especially during the pandemic, it was kind of just started to go from there. Yeah, yeah. So it's always funny because people, this is the thing when you say something in

wrestling. if you publicly say that you're friends with somebody now it's just like well that's that's such a such boy that's such and such girl right and it kind of it's like you never you're fucking go and carry his bags you know what I'm saying it's always like these dumb insults and goes that right there is a true marking of somebody who's never had a genuine friendship in their life and that's so sad because you don't know what caring for another person is which is the epitome of human life you know that's why Why do you care about these comments on Twitter?

Here's, I'm so glad you brought that up. All right. Everyone's going to say, everyone's going to say, ignore the trolls. Why even give time to the troll? They only have, you know, 22 comments. Uh-uh. I don't care about that. This is a public space.

I have the right to reply to you. Why does it look bad for me to reply to someone calling me a this and a that? I love to talk shit. It is such a great mental flex. So when I respond to somebody and call them a stupid bitch or something like that, can we curse? Sure, of course. Good. Good.

I just thought I'd ask right now after just going off. 12 swear words in. Is that okay? You know, can I say this? I like it. I don't find it to be, I don't lose anything about it. So are you saying you're in character when you're doing that or maybe toeing the line? No, I'm not, that's not what I'm saying.

at all because you'll never know. But what I am saying is that I grew up in an era of Halo 2 online. Okay. So talking trash online is kind of just I'm built for it, you know? You know what I'm saying? And the best part about it is when you reply to someone who runs you down and they go, well, you're gotten to. I'm what I'm gotten to?

Because I'm replying to you. Isn't the purpose of you saying this anonymously online is to get a response? Like, don't you want to baits? You're trying to debate with somebody, right? I'm giving you that. You're not going to win because I'm too quick with it. So I like it. I like talking trash to people.

I like it because I quote tweet and I talk trash about it and not everyone can see how stupid this person is. That's why I like it. How do you decide? It's only when I'm in the mood. Okay. It's only when I'm in the mood. Sometimes I'm not in the mood.

Sometimes I laugh at it and keep it moving. Sometimes I will just, I remember I posted a picture and someone was like, shouldn't you be, shouldn't you be talking about the show tonight as opposed to posting pictures? And it's like, bitch, you're on my Twitter. You're on my Twitter. What are you talking about telling me what I should and shouldn't do? You got some nerve. I don't know. I find the internet, the IWC.

I find them to be, I don't think they're as bad as a lot of people make them out to be, only because I choose to ignore certain things about it. I think the most hardcore fans of any fan base are like, they're the worst, whether we're talking about wrestling or we're talking about a video game or a movie or Star Wars or whatever. What if we said it differently? Instead of them being the worst, what if they're the most passionate? That is certainly a take. I don't know if, I mean, there's also passionate fans that point out the good things that are going on. True. Yeah, no, no, I absolutely agree there. I just think, but there is a certain percentage of every fan base that just want to. to focus on the negative of everything. Absolutely. And then you have a certain wrestler like me who loves to point out the stupidity of people on a public forum, you know. So I do find it genuinely funny where people like, you shouldn't waste your time with these people. You're above that.

Sometimes I like to get to their level. I don't always want to go high. I want to go low. I want to go lower than hell with some of these people. Sound like a true heel when you say that. Yeah. There you go. It's just, it's so good to to go back. and forth with somebody because you ain't i got nothing to lose i'm good i'm actually doing the thing that i love to do i'm wrestling do you miss being in the ring absolutely because you could have probably taken indy bookings earlier everyone says that you should you could have taken any bookings whatever you want but if i'm coming back to the indies i'm doing it because of something that i want to do before it was like i'm hustling i'll just take whatever no no no this time i'm in control about it

And I'm only going to do indies that I have an interest in doing that I want to do that will make me happy. So what opened you up to taking the any bookings that you have taken? I did ayahuasca and came back a different person. There actually might be some truth in that. I don't know. No, no. I would be scared to take ayahuasca, actually. No, the reason I decided is because Cody Lane, who I wrote,

wrestled is a guy from Texas that I used to train with and I've only wrestled them maybe like twice, right? And so since we're at different points in our career, I just wanted to see where we're at and how fun that would be. And also, I really wanted to, I really wanted to test my might, so to speak. And what I mean by that is I wanted to really see what I could do, you know, on my own type thing. And so I thought. But doing the Glory Pro would be good. Obviously, I did the GCW stuff too. So I just really wanted to see where I'm at in the grand scheme of things.

And I chose those two, and that's what I stuck to. Let's take it back to when you did sign with AEW. Yes. You appeared. You were Cody's Challenger for the TNT title. I was the first unsigned challenger, by the way. that could have anything could have happened from there too right dude it you don't really aren't anderson told me because you know he said you know kid that's never happened for it did a tryout

live on tv i said wow yeah i did do a try out live on tv and they got signed out of it that's if that's not a testament of who i am as a talent i don't know what else is so was this just strictly it was going to be a one-off we'll fly you in for this one match that's how i perceived it In my head, there's no way I was going to get signed during the pandemic. Like, there was absolutely no way that I was going to get signed during the pandemic. Yeah, and I think people forget, even though it was only four years ago, people forget, like, those were pretty uncertain times. Yeah, man. Especially in the world of wrestling.

Right. I had left NWA right when the pandemic hit. Yeah. And so I was like, well, and then not long after that, WWE had huge releases. Yeah. So for anybody to be getting signed to a contractor during that time was, I was pretty uncommon. Yeah. And so I thought it was so interesting.

because I went to it, I went into that whole thing with the mindset that I'm not getting signed off of this one. But guaranteed when the pandemic's over, they're going to be calling me. They're going to be like, hey, remember him? Because I would have just parlayed that into going to the Indies and doing a bunch of stuff. And I remember that day, I told Cody, this is how cocky I was. I had, you know, walked in there. And I knew most of the people there already. And I walked in there and I told Cody, this is definitely going to be match of the year candidate.

And I'll never forget, he was like sitting down in a chair and went, okay. And so, you know, I was just in there. I was so hyped up and trying to replicate that feeling is awesome to me. But I remember telling him that. And then we went out there and I never forget, I was on the floor. I had like, gave him a close. crossbody over the top row when I was on the floor and Blade of all people. Blade, my man, Blade said, just keep breathing, man, just keep breathing. And I'd never, I remember like laying

there like, wow, that's very sweet to him. Because I, you know, wow, God doesn't know me at all. He's very nice. Get to the back. You know, everyone's like, good job, blah, blah, blah. Tony was like, that was good. Thank you. Blah, blah. That night I go and hang out and eat and whatnot. and there were some rumblings of someone telling me, like, they may offer you something or whatnot, da-da-da. And I went home, and then the day that it aired, I think, this is what I think happened. The day that it aired, I think Tony saw the reaction online and was like, oh, wow, we got something here. I do think that he was impressed by me when he saw me. But when it aired, that's when I got a message, like, would you like to sign with AWW?

And I was like, yes, I would. Thank you. I definitely would. And what did that day, like, what did that mean to you professionally at that point? Well, I mean, there was a lot going on because I was never popular on the Indies. I wasn't a big name like the Keith Lees, the ricochets or any of that, right? So I never had that type of name value to me. And I think it's because of my style.

I wasn't like, I wasn't, you know, crazy off the walls, which is fine. But I maintain the fact that my style someone would appreciate one day. So to get to that point and to have worked as hard as I had, because mind you, I want to say less than eight months prior to that, I was sleeping on someone's couch. I didn't have much to my name. And so I was in my apartment by myself. And I remember I got the text message and no one was around me because, you know, we were at that point, especially in Texas, we were just in lockdown.

And I played, I wonder, by Kanye West because that's, and I never wanted to hear that song until I got signed. And I remember playing that song and crying. And then I called my family on FaceTime and told them what it was. And I had remember reading these, like, Twitter messages. that were just saying, like, they were, they were just so, they were so complimentary of me. And it's very rare that some people get all the compliments and all the like, hey, you're really good, you're really good, really good. And that's cool to hear it.

But these were different. These were like, really, I met him at this show and he was this and that and da-da-da. And that really spoke to me a lot. On top of hearing this song, I wonder if you've never heard it. It's a really good song. And it talks about things that he kind of manifested for him to happen. And to go from sleeping on someone's couch, to go from sleeping in a car and not having money. And before the AW thing, I was only getting by because I was selling T-shirts on my big cartel website.

Because I chose to leave NWA. I had to just have a belief that it will always work out. That's why I go online and I say, like, I can never fail. I just can't. I don't feel like I can ever fail. I don't feel like that, you know, it's the end of it for me. I'm always be better than my circumstances, bar none because it's in me. So you're a big believer in manifesting things.

Absolutely. I've lived it 10 times over of how great that is. There was a time I had no money to pay this insurance. And I was just like, I don't know, I think it was like 150. It was something. Dude, I looked in a shoebox randomly because I was moving stuff around and I found like 150 bucks. What? Yeah. Who puts 150 bucks on a shoebox? I like to randomly hide money. I don't know why. Like right now, I have, I have, I have, I don't have any money hidden in my house. I don't have any money hidden at all in my house. I think you do. Yeah, but see, when people find out where I live at, and then I'm screwed, you know. But yes, you know, it's things like that.

I really believe that it just works for me. It just happens. You've been part of some big moments. Like, you were in the ring when Sting debuted in AEW? Yeah, it was his first match back. How crazy is that? Insane.

And that was the thing, like, as I understand it, he was just going to return to return. There was no talk of doing a match. Then you guys were able to do the cinematic match. Then that turned into more matches for him. Yeah. So you're there. He returns. Walk me through, like, oh, hey, by the way, you're going to wrestle Sting.

Dude, it was, I remember when it got announced that me and Brian versus Sting was happening, and Sting and Darby was happening. And it was such a wild reaction to it. And then I had to really think, like, I didn't grow up as a Sting fan. I didn't grow up watching WCW. I was an Undertaker fan. So as I got older, though, I did study Sting. I studied Sting.

I studied a lot of WCW from like the early 90s. I watch all types of wrestling. But like, that was an era that was really cool because of they just had a certain energy to him back then. Yeah. And I'll never forget staying coming in and meeting him.

It was so nice and so sweet. And he's very collected. And you have to realize he's coming to a place that he knows nothing about as far as as this company goes. And he's dealing with people younger than the place that he was at previously. So he's very, I think what it was,

was he was very, he was very observant. And it was just, you know, getting used to what was going on. And I would hope that he probably met me and said, okay, something is about this kid that I don't really understand you yet, but I like it. And I respect it. And he's got his own little thing. And when it came to the match itself, yes, there were some nerves about it, obviously. But I remember going and, you know, we would practice. We didn't practice per se, but he needed to get the body warm. warmed up again. And so doing drills with Sting was insane. And then the match itself, we found it in two days. And so the second night was a lot colder. And I remember telling them, hey, because I knew

what was going to happen. Sting needs a heater. He needs like a, what's it called? Like a dry sauna. Yeah, yeah. Just to keep, and this, and everyone can use it too. But it was to keep the body limber because we were stopping and there was like breaks in between the films. You get how it is. It's just filming's hard because you're resetting. for the new locations. And waiting. Yes. And it was raining.

It was cold. It was like it was all of that. So I remember telling them that and just making sure that he was as comfortable as possible. Because if anything I knew from training with him would help him out. And he's very respectful. And I'm not saying that this was a man who couldn't speak up for himself. But I think that he only wanted to ask for things that was absolutely necessary in times. He didn't want to seem like he was being too needy.

Was there ever a worry of like, maybe just in the back of your mind, like, man, I'm giving this move to Sting. No, I mean, yes and no. There was a moment where Sting had me up for a gorilla press slam. I remember being up there, but like, damn, he's still very strong. It's insane. And then the next thing, he punches me right in my mouth. I was like, oh, my God. There was a moment where, dude, Sting gave me a sunset bomb.

I flipped him up in this man. He gave me a sunset bomb. And I'd just be like, man, that's kind of badass. Sting gave you a sunset mom. What is happening? You of all people, Ricky. But yes, it was really cool.

And Sting will forever hold a place in my heart because he was very, he, out of anybody you could go to and talk to, and he was understanding. And you talk to him and he gave you this look and you would think that he wasn't going to say anything. It's just some thinking. And he speaks from a,

he speaks from a place where he's lived life several times over. Have you had anything more painful than the skateboard full of thumbtacks? Oh, my God. You know what? You know what? I mean, well, I didn't feel my neck at the time, but probably the skateboard for sure. Absolutely. I just remember laying there in my whole body.

When your leg was shaking, I was like, is he just selling really well? Or, like, is he actually impaired? You never know. You never know. You'll never know now. I just remember when it happened. Mind you, I remember telling people, like, can y'all just scream so my adrenaline can kick in? Because there was nobody.

It was cold. And I was like, just do it. And then I think we were pressed for time, too, and we just had to get to it. And oh, my God, I thought it was going to go down and through it. Like, just, it slid off. And I remember, like, oh, man, like, my whole back is about to be just wrecked. It was going to be so wrecked and had to go to the back and they're picking out the thumb tags and stuff. And I was just like, oh, surprisingly enough, though, took a hot shower that night, no issues.

Do you have any scars from that? No, not. Really? I took care of it with vitamin E oil. So there was no issues about it at all. Man. But it was, that was awesome. You going toe to toe with MJF in that promo.

I feel like people already knew you were good on the mic. And I feel like being able to go toe to toe with MJF, made people realize just the level that you were on. Right. Well, I mean, I knew. There's several instances where I think I've proven to everybody that I'm actually more of a troll than Max's. And I've had it happen on live TV, you know what I say it? But in that moment, that was in Austin.

And I just had a match. And so the promo that I went off on him with, was so good because, yeah, I stumbled and I said I'm like, I'm a stomp of ass in your something. And, you know, I like stumbling through a promo. I like, I don't care if it's clean. You hear somebody freestyling on a rap beat and it's just like, well, they kind of stumble, but they just keep it moving. I like when that happened.

That right there was my moment in my head of like, just killing with you got you give me it you give me an inch i'm going to make sure i make that the the most out of it i'm going to make sure that you get every juice out of that squeeze and so obviously the chemistry with me and max was palpable in that moment because you could feel it and you could see two people somewhat similar but total opposites is there anything that's off limits in those promos uh I mean, there are people that put down their rules about things that they don't want you to say and probably and all that. That instance, me and Max have known each other for a while, right?

And you could even say that we are somewhat acquaintances, but I don't even like to say that because he's just a general piece of shit, as you know. He's awful. Yeah, he's the worst. So there was nothing that was off limits on me. And the only reason is, if you come at me hard, just know, I already have a bullet loaded for you and you're dead before you even say it. That's how I operate. And I kind of like it too. Like, yes, there may be some stuff.

Probably don't say anything about my family or anything like that. And that's cool and all. But for me, what I mean, I'm already exposed to the world. I mean, I'm in underwear. You've had comparisons to a young rock your whole career. So he hits you with dime store Dwayne. Yeah. And I say he was a rip off of Roddy Piper.

You know what's wild about that? Max says all that stuff about me, yet made a return in a leather cutoff jean jacket. How is it that I am trying to rip off the rock? And this guy is every day he's cosplaying Triple H. He's cosplaying Rick Flay. He's cosplaying Roddy Piper. How is that?

Isn't that? Do you ever find that interesting? That was a, I mean, that was more than just him wearing that cutoff. chin jacket was more than a nod. It was like, wink, wink. This is who I love. One of the greatest returns of all time when Triple Age came back to Madison Square Garden.

Yeah, the only thing he was missing was the damn U-2 song to come out to. A beautiful day. Yeah. That's all we were missing. It was just a video package of him training. I don't know, doing the cha-cha slide because of his hip, right?

I think his hip. We just needed a montage of him, cha-cha-slime. Is the comparison to the rock a double-edged sword? because it's like, man, he's one of the greatest of all time, you know, arguably the best on the mic. But at the same time, now if people keep comparing you to him, you somehow have to fill those shoes.

I don't think I ever really gave it much thought. I think it's pretty well known who my favorite wrestler was. The rock was cool. I like The Rock. He was cool. But this is how I do it. I can't help the way that I look. I'm a handsome motherfucker, you know what I'm saying? And that's just how it is.

And that's a respectable thing. My style, as you know, even before we started filming, is, you know, I had a Garth Brook shirt on. Like, I like what I like and I wear what I like. It's nothing to do with ripping somebody off. And I would be honest if I was doing that. I am an improvement on a design straight from the city of New Orleans. That is who, if you had to say that I've copied anyone, I'm. copying the people of New Orleans. Absolutely. That's who I.

Because Adam Copeland hit you with one too. He hit you with, you ripped off the rock. He did. You know what he called me? Do you remember? A vanilla midgett. They called me a vanilla midget rock rip-off. And that one, you know, that clip goes viral all the time. It's so funny because at the end of it, I wanted to say more, but if you see me smile and say, well, That really sent me over the edge.

The fans like that. Yeah. I only did that because I knew that this was about to get off track. Here's the thing about that. You might as well call me a great heel. And I even hate saying and talking like this, but you might as well call me a great heel because I got somebody so flustered on live TV

that they stumbled and stuttered their way into one of the worst insoles that you could say that's so, you know, passe. So 2000s, a vanilla midget. I could have hit him with the, I'm blacky idiot, but I didn't at the time. You know what I'm saying? I could have did that. I did it. Personally, out of all that, I don't think that Ricky Starks came out of that looking very bad.

You know what I'm saying? I think it wasn't me that looked bad in that whole situation. And so it is what it is. The funny thing is people say, AW, that's where all the unscripted promos are. And then someone was like, Ricky went off a script. Well, wait a minute. Hold on. How?

What did I do? You know what I'm saying? I didn't do anything. So, yeah, what a great promo that was, right? Sounds like both of you guys went off script. There was no, how? There's no scrubbed. There's no script.

Ricky Starks and a script or Ricky Starks going off a script. How? How is that possible if there's no script to begin with, so to speak? I didn't say anything crazy. I just called someone bug eyes. What's wrong with that? How was that any different than someone calling someone fat? Yeah.

Is it different, gosh? Am I missing the point here? If anything, bug eyes, that's, if we had to do it on the tier group, it's very like F tier, it's not even S tier, you know what I'm saying? Like F tier, F tier. There's like tier groups that you can do. You got to be hit, man. I'm not hip enough, I guess.

I don't know that one. The point is that I can't be eaten up on the promo. Come on. Let's be real. No man wants to lose his hair, but for men, it's actually pretty common. And now with Hymns, the solution is simple. Try Hymns hair loss solutions, and you'll be joining hundreds of thousands of subscribers who got their flowback. Hymns provides access to a range of hair loss treatments that work, all from the comfort of your couch.

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weeks, Turtle Beach has the right headset for you. For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off the entire order when you use the code Insight at Turtle Beach.com. That's 10% off your order at Turtlebeach.com using that promo code Insight. How much did things change after CM Punk left? Because you're supposed to work a match with him at all out. Yeah. I don't know.

I definitely think it changed for sure, because it's, I don't know what that was going to entail, so to speak. But, yeah, it definitely did change up some stuff. And then it ended up becoming a match with Brian Danielson. It's a great match. Yes. Dude, you know what's so great about that match? Before I went out, I was nervous, but I didn't, I guess I didn't really realize what was about to happen.

because I was so frustrated. In what way? In such a beautiful, organic way. I was so frustrated with the, so the day before, you know, Tony comes out and announces that punk is gone. And then I actually opened that show with a promo. Watch the promo. Very good.

And you can kind of tell what's happening. But I was so frustrated about things happening the way they have, right? And I'll never forget someone telling me, like, just be grateful that you even have. have a job. Like the Saturday, I remember someone being like, just be grateful we have a job. Like, and I'll never forget feeling like, how dare you? Don't tell me to be grateful for something that I've worked very hard for.

That's saying, I know that you're hungry for a dinner. Here's a half-eaten loaf of bread. Actually, no, let me take that back. Here's just the crumbs. Fuck you. Don't tell me just be grateful for something. You don't live my life. You don't understand.

the things that I have gone through to even just get in this moment. That, it really set me off. So when it came to Sunday, I was looking forward to it, but I didn't realize what laid ahead of me and what I was actually going to be capable of doing. And, you know, Brian had that injury too, and we had to deal with that. And that was such a weird thing for me. And I'll never forget, like, he, Brian, I'm upside down in the corner.

No, I'm not upside down yet. I'm sitting backwards. And that first whack from the leather strap echoes throughout the arena. And I remember like feeling this jolt and then hearing it go, oh, oh, oh. And I was like, okay, here we are. Nice. And then later on, Brian's tagging me in the face with that belt with the strap, excuse me. And he was like, are you going to take it?

Are you a man? And this is my theory. I think Brian thought I was a pussy. I think he thought I was a pussy because of how I look. Because like, well, you know, this pretty boy ain't fucking, you know what I'm saying? He's going to, he's going to welt under. I guess what I'm trying to say is he wanted to test me. And I love that.

I love that he wanted to test me. And I definitely think I pass with flying colors. Did you guys have a conversation afterwards? Absolutely, we did. What are you saying? Yield at me in the most positive way in gorilla and said, you have been given obstacle after obstacle, and you have fucking knocked it out of the part every single time,

every single time, every single time you have deliberate when they thought you would drown. That right there, you showed more, if anybody had an ounce of doubt about you, you have proven them that you are who you are who you. you say you are. And that is a main eventer. That's what he said to me. Was there ever talk at any point about you being AED champion? Not to my knowledge. Yeah, I mean, you had some opportunities. That's why I asked. Oh, well, I had the max match. Yeah, yeah. And then you were supposed to have the

match with CM Punk. That I don't know for certain. That never, no one, no one ever talked to me about that. And I did hear about that, but I don't know how true that was. So, it's, it's not, it's not. nice, you know, fan fiction, I guess. What was your experience working with punk in the Owen Hart Cup? It was awesome. Punk was really instrumental in how I was presented. Mind you, I had all these ideas. I had the idea of doing the, um, filming you walking into the arena with your bags and

stuff that, you know, now they do it on, um, they do it on WWE. All the time. Yeah, yeah. The show starts with it, yeah. Yeah. And so I, I had gotten that idea. from like the NBA walk-ins when they're showing off their outfits. So I wanted to do something like that.

And I was always pushing for that. And it just, you know, never, whatever. And so I remember telling punk that and he was like, love it, love the idea. Then I would show up in my office that I always wore. He goes, love it. That's incredible. So it was always trying to do this stuff. I already know what I want to look like.

I already know who I am and I already know where I want to go. I just need the other. person to get on board with that. So punk was very instrumental in all of that. I went out on a promo with a Louis bag. And right before I go, they were like, what's in the Louis bag? I said, I actually don't know. Why do you have it? I just bump it. I want people to see what I got and what they don't. He was very, he's very instrumental in that. The whole pyro thing, why not just have pyro go out for 10 minutes? I said, oh, I never thought of that. Let's do it. You know? So it was great. working with him, especially in the Owen Hart, too. I enjoyed all of those matches. I really did.

I enjoyed all the matches leading up to that one, too. And then I enjoyed the Steamboat match. That was crazy. Yeah. Yeah. And all of that was so great. And I never took it for granted. Never once did I act like, yeah, I just never took it for granted. That's the first time Steamboat got physical in how long? Right. And it was insane to feel that. And then the next week I walk out to people cheering me. I said, you know, guys, Steamboat, it hurt me a lot more than it hurts you because I didn't want to do that to you.

But you have to learn when you mess up, there's consequences. You had so many appearances with WWE early on in your career. Oh, yeah. And we'll talk about all those. but why didn't that end up turning into you working for WWE then? Oh, another sip here. Oh, boy. I actually don't know.

I was just thirsty. You know, I don't know. I think at the time when I was doing, I did a trial in 2017 and really put all my eggs in that basket. And really was like, and I was told that they liked me because I did a promo that they really enjoyed. I just don't think they had a place for me yet. And I was competing against guys who had a name on the Indies. So they were, you got to think about it. They were going to take the guys with names because those fans were going to follow them.

And in turn, those fans were going to buy a network subscription or something, right? So you're just adding to the bucket of money. You come in with something. I personally think that's just what it is. Timing wise, at the time, I thought it sucked. But looking back on it, I'm actually glad that I went, I'm in this. drought that I've taken with AEW and having them basically take a chance on me and me prove my work 10 times over. When you got put through the table by Ryback, what was the setup? When you

arrived that day, you're just an extra. Dude, that day was crazy. So that was at the Laredo Energy Center. My car starts to overheat maybe 10 minutes before I pull into this thing. Right? As I pull into it, the cap on my, what's, what's the word I'm looking for? Your radiator? Yes. Pops off because it, there was no cooling. Yeah. There was no cooling in it.

So I'm like, I worry about it later. I'll have to find it later because I was late. So I rushed in there and, you know, I was just talking to Bailey about this. And I had on a Calvin Klein shirt that I bought from the outlet store, right? And I had on some black and white Adidas and some slacks. no jacket, no tie, because I don't know how to tie a tie, okay? Anyways, so they're like, we need this person for this thing. And this is when Bribeck was being a bully.

Yeah. Man, I was with it. I was totally with it until we do the first scene. All he was going to do was take a little tuna salad and throw him out of here and then put me through it and say, well, man, this dude slapped the piss out of me. the first shot. And I'm in. Okay. Guess what happens?

As we're filming, pyro goes off. Oh, we got to do it again. We got to clean the thing out of his ear, blah, blah, blah. You know, we got to do all this stuff. Great acting, Ricky.

And I thought it was great acting. Even Ms. And punk told me I'm directed. And so, second thing, does it pop, it doesn't put me through it yet. Okay?

well, something's wrong with the lighting. Let's do it again. The third one is it. And I'm just like, please, God, let it be it. Dude, he goes, psh, push, bosh, bha, and then puts me through the table, and then they call cut.

Right back, you know, is cool with me, and I've seen them there after, and he's always been very cordial, very nice, respectful. My shirt's ruined. I didn't bring an extra shirt. So I'm walking around backstage.

This is what happened. After I leave that room, everybody's at gorilla. So they all saw this live. Ms. is sitting in a computer chair. He turns around. He says, that was really good acting. Very appreciated.

Punk, who's in another computer chair. I'll never forget. In a hoodie and shorts, he goes, you're going to let him do that to you? You're not going to go fight him? You're not going to stand up for yourself and go fight him for doing that to you? I said, uh, yeah.

He goes, wouldn't have been me. And he just walks off. And then I'm like, he had to be joking, right? He had to be joking. And he was, obviously. But I walk off and my shirt's ruined. I got tuna salad on my pants and stuff. And they're like, do you need a shirt?

I said yes. Mind you, he ripped it too. So it was already ripped. I'm walking around in a WWE Money in the Bank staff t-shirts. Like what they give the people who set up the ring. And it's like a 2XL. What about when you were a U.S. Marshall and you took out Roman Raines?

Okay. So when I was U.S. Marshall, I drove to Dallas with my girlfriend at the time, okay? And she dropped me off. When you get into that building, there's no reception. Just so you know, okay? I left my wallet in her car. When I got there, I was trying to get my wallet back. I could not. As I'm trying to leave, just to go outside to grab it, they go, are you trying to leave early? Like, whoa, what's happening here? I said, no, no, no, I was just trying to go grab my wallet because, you know, hopefully she was still outside and I was trying to get the reception and all this stuff.

And they go, well, you need to get to the ring right now. Go to the ring. They tell me what the setup is. You're a U.S. Marshal, blah, blah, blah. Act like you're not a wrestler, please. Like how you get in and all this stuff, okay? So they get me suited up. They run out of letters to put on their U.S.

Marshal, but they somehow figure it out and I'm a U.S. I don't know what a U.S. Marshal is. I don't know the jurisdiction of that. I don't know, you know what I'm saying? like who's over who in that situation. But to be arrested by a U.S. Marshal means that you're indicted on something, some serious charges, RICO charges, fentanyl charges, something. So I thought arresting Roman Raines was like, what did he do wrong?

Yeah. Man. What did he do? I don't even remember. But he did beat the piss out of all of us. Yeah, I don't think he got then arrested later for assaulting a federal officer. No. I don't think that was the story.

because he was handcuffed and I mean, he was, he was jacking us up. You can see him in the corner with both hands. Yeah, I got my hands up. But it starts, if you watch it, you can see how I get in the ring. I get in the ring like the women's wrestle you should do in the old, like back in the day where they go to the real bottom and they like, they get in. Because they were like, hey, act like you never got in the ring before. I was like, well, if I was you as much, I wouldn't know how to get in the ring. So I'm going to get in the bottom.

I was doing all that. And I had on dress shoes. so then when I get hit by Roman, I slipped and fell and had to get up and grab them. It was a mess, man. But I will tell you, I look like a total badass in that outfit. And, you know, as they say, long-term stories, I don't know. Well, yeah, there's a long-term story there. Long-term storytelling in the fact that I went and got my U.S. Marshal degree.

So now I can arrest anyone at any promotion. Yeah. Yes. For sure. Yeah. You also had a match with Kane on main event. I definitely did. I did.

I'm sure you want to hear about that too. I had a match at Frank Irwin Center and got rest of soul. Frank Irwin Center got torn down, sadly. It was one of the most famous arenas here in Austin. Anywho, I get to work that day. It started up by me valet parking my car where all the talent valet parked their car and you're not supposed to as an extra talent. But I said, fuck it. I live here.

So why not? You get in the car and do it for me. So I walk in, and it's a while. Like, I'm in catering for quite a bit. Do you know you're working a match? No. Oh. I never assume anything.

And typically on SmackDown, you just, you know, hang out. It's a little bit more relaxed than the raw. Someone comes and grabs me, and I can't remember who, but they're like, hey, you have a match with Kane tonight on main event. I was like, nice. That's really cool. Like, okay, I'll take it. Man, I get a writer comes up to me and he hands me a script. And he's like, and you're cutting a promo.

And I was like, whoa, this is it. This is what happens. This is how my career takes off. I'm going to cut a promo. He goes, it's not live or anything. It's not recorded. It's just for the live. I was not it.

Okay. Anyways, cut in this promo. I'm reading it, right? And I just process it in my own way. And so the writer comes back and he goes, okay, you got the promo down. I said, yeah, he was okay. I was like, yeah, I'm good, I'm good.

I got it. He goes, all right, you don't want to read it out loud or anything like that. I said, no, I think I got it. And I can't remember who I was standing next to. But I wonder if it was like Natalia or it was somebody. They were like, they want you to read it back to them. I said, oh, okay. So I read it and he goes, well, it's not exactly what I wrote down.

And I was like, okay. I see, I get what's going here. And I said, got it. And I just read it verbatim. And it was like some weird verbiage of like, you waterburger fat fans dip in your French fries and your mayo. And I was like, God, this is, this is terrible. Like, I'm not saying the guy wrote some terrible stuff, but the insults were just bad coming from me. So I did that.

Go out there and we have this match. And it is insane to me because I'm wrestling Kane. I'm getting hit in the face with this glove. And the finish was I jump off and he gives me a punch and then I take a choke slam. No one knows is when I took the thing off the top rope, I like, I smacked myself too hard. And I was like, oh, my God. I wasn't knocked out or anything because, but I was just like, whoa, that was crazy. Just to turn around and get a choke slam.

And I swear to you. I got Chokeslam and got up so high. It felt like the cartoon where you drop. And it was like, and that's all I heard. Get to the back. And Kane's very nice. And he started speaking Spanish to me. And I'm like, I don't speak Spanish.

And he goes, oh, I thought someone told me you were, you were from the Valley area. I said, no, I'm from New Orleans, actually. Only because Kane grew up in Spain. And he knew some Spanish come to find out. Yeah, just speaking of Spanish. That's wild. And I knew a little bit of Spanish, but I was like, I don't know who told you that. Man, that's a wild story that Kane just started speaking Spanish to you.

Yeah, it was sick. And his gloves thunk and everything. It was awesome. What did smell like? It just, it smelled like old sweat. It smelled like he had worn it a lot. A lot. A lot, yes.

But it was awesome. It was a really cool experience. A lot of people don't realize I've been in, I've been in extra since 2012. And I think fans think they're so funny when they tag you in that Ryback. Yeah. Yeah, it's called the arena worker, you know. That's what it's called. And it always pops up in the most random times in my life.

But I still look young. You look the same. You wouldn't know. You look the exact same. You wouldn't know. It looks like they filmed that last week. I know. I know.

Yeah, just stay out of the sun. That's it. Yeah. You had so many opportunities there. Like you said, it's surprising that you didn't get signed in 2017. Yeah. I think it's just the odds timing. That's really it.

I'm not a person that dwells on why it didn't happen and what the reason was, right? Because I already dealt with it at that time period. I already dealt with what that was like and why I wasn't getting signed and what was wrong with me. That's what that time period was. Like, what was wrong with me? Why am I not good enough? What am I missing? And I went and dyed my hair and all that.

I went crazy. And thereafter, I went to. I went to London for three months, bro. Had a terrible time because I wasn't really booked on anything and I wasn't fitting in. And that's kind of like a constant thing or I just don't really fit in where I feel like I don't fit in. Where did you find yourself again? After that.

Yeah. I was back on the Indies coming back. But like where did you feel like you found who you were at your core again if you were lost? It happens right before. It comes back right before I go to Japan in 2019. I think of 2018. And then the match with Brian is when I really, really, really, really the child itself in me was like, wow, you are, yes, you are a main inventor. You've always been a main inventor.

This is it. Is there some doubt that's crept back in now? I mean, yeah, for sure. When I was sitting at home and was trying to figure out like, well, no one sees me. I'm not on TV. No one sees me. no one. I didn't think that no one cared. I just thought like, well, this is it. Like, I don't want to be frozen. You know, I don't want to turn into a frozen turkey. But I don't let

that dictate me. I'm still in the gym working hard. And I'm still. Still look great. Thank you. I'm still just doing stuff. I think the assumption from people online because you're friends with Cody is you're going to end up in WWE at some point. I could end up anywhere, actually. Like, that's so, that's so crazy that, you know, it's not, let me, let me phrase that, it's not crazy. I understand it. I definitely get it. Like, you know, you just go where your friends are.

Yes, I love my friends. I would like to always see them every day in my life, whether they come to me or whatever the case may be, right? That's just how it is in life. You have people that you are cool with and you're always going to have people say, like, well, you're going to do that because of this person. It's like, well, damn, yeah, you know, I can't act on my own accord. I guess it's a matter now of like, where do you go, right? Where to, is it more indie bookings?

Is that what it is? I don't know. Like, I feel like any answer I give is going to, is not going to be sufficient enough for anybody. Then maybe it's just watch and say. Yeah. That's really it. And I think people have been watching me long enough that if you continue to watch me, then it will turn out good. Obviously, I have my hopes of what I want out of my life. And that's what really matters. But yeah, you know, one thing about me, man, I've never strayed away from working hard. Yeah. And I will be damned if I have anyone put that in the question. That's insane. I have worked tremendously

hard, tirelessly hard since 2020 in A.E. And then even before EW, I've worked hard as well. Even at NWA, there's no one at NW that would tell you that I was a lazy worker. Ask Nick Aldous. Ask Billy Corrigan. Ask Eddie Kingston. You know, ask at lay night. You'll never find it. It's unheard of. So, if, if you're not a lot of, so if you're If anyone ever says that I'm difficult to deal with, that I'm lazy or, you know what I'm saying? Yeah. Or I was an alcoholic and got arrested in Canada. What?

It's all lies. You didn't hear that. Man, you got to be more on line. I'm Canadian, too. Yeah. Arrested in my country, huh? Yeah, they said I got, I beat up your cops and then got thrown in the back of a cop car. Honestly.

What city did this happen in? Saskatchewan, maybe. Okay. Maybe Gary. Gary, Indiana? Or is it Allen? It's Alan. That's right.

What? It's a small town. You wouldn't know about it. In Saskatchewan? No, it's actually somewhere in Winnipeg. Outside of Winnipeg. Manitoba. Probably.

That's in Manitoba. You know it? No, I know all the provinces. Well, I've done a lot of tours there, so I know them as well. But just for the record, this didn't happen. Didn't happen, but I will say I sound like a total badass man. Sounds like it. I beat up a cop and got arrested.

and was able to wrestle the following year. There's definitely some stories, crazy stories about there. There's a few crazy stories. And they're all, they all come from a place of trying to tear me down. Where's your just headspace at right now? It's space. I mean, I've been pretty good. I feel like I've been in a better headspace than I was, you know, earlier this year.

I think that I'm having things move for me and have that feeling of something pushing forward, whatever that may be. Obviously, things aren't what I want them to be at all. Like, I think that's fair to say, right? I can say that. Like, it's not what I want. But we are moving towards something. What is what you want? What I want?

I want a lot. I want, I want, I'm in my prime. You know what I'm saying? What I want is to be successful on the checklist that I have for myself. I want to be able to continue to build a legacy for myself. I want to be able to have something look back on and be proud of that. 13 years I've been doing this. I want more than what I've just had.

And I don't feel like that I should ever have to be content. hint with just, well, this is it? No, I'm not, I'm not that person. I'll never be that person. It's great. Like, someone said, well, you're still getting paid, you know, sit at home. Who cares? Who cares?

Are we going to see you wrestle in AEW again, do you think? I don't know. Hopefully. Maybe. We got to, we got to choose one of those titles to put in the clickbait, the headline. Maybe, Ricky says, maybe he'll wrestle. Maybe he'll wrestle, you know? We got to choose one of them, but I don't know.

Because if it was, if it was my decision already, don't you think that's the crazy part. Like, how am I to blame? And I think that people don't realize that. No, I think they, I think some people do. And they choose not to think otherwise. That's just my personal opinion. Yeah. But like, at the end of the day, I have barely reached my position.

potential. I've barely peed. This, this can't be it. You know what I'm saying? This can't just, this interview is not where Ricky starts as well. See, you got it on Indies. I don't think anyone thinks that. Good. I don't think anyone thinks that. I wasn't trying to say that they do. No, but I think that everybody realizes that you have far too much talent for this to just be it. Right. And I think I have, there's too much passion inside of me to just let it ever die out. When it's all said and done, I would really hope that this ends up being a lot better. And this was just an interesting period for me. So I will ask you the question.

I ask everyone at the end of these conversations. And by the way, good to see you. Absolutely. Gratitude is such a big part of my life. What are three things in your life right now, Ricky, that you're grateful for? I'm grateful for the people in my tribe. I'm extremely grateful for the people in my tribe because to reciprocate love, to reciprocate love, to reciprocate that type of care back and forth,

I could get through anything. I could get through the darkest of days. So I'm very grateful for that. I'm very grateful for support of people, people I don't know, nameless, faceless people, people who support me from the shadows, people who check in on me that don't know me from Smith,

that have a genuine care for me, a person that wrestles that they feel some type of energy from. And thirdly, I'm very, I'm very grateful for me. I'm very grateful for me and the fact that I am happy and very proud of myself for showing up in times where I didn't think that I would be able to show up.

I'm very happy and grateful for me in the fact that I was able to show up for the younger version of myself who wanted this for the long time. And despite every storm that I've had to weather and despite every block of shit that I've been given, I have made the best out of it.

I couldn't have done that without the other two. So to get to this point, I'm just happy and grateful for the fact that I have that ability, the God-given passion, and drive that I have because I would have been done a long time ago. Yeah, and you're still doing it.

Yeah, I would have been out. The neck injury would have done me in. Or living in my car would have done me in. But I've come so far to just give up now. And I have so much further to go. And these things, these minute bullshit things that we have to kind of deal with and navigate around, I don't take it to heart.

It is what it is. You know what I'm saying? but at least like my voice will always be loud and proud of the fact of the things that I've done and the people that I care for yeah the people like people like uh Cody people like jade people like alley and and Eddie and you know what I'm saying I should be able to speak so proudly of people like that am I well good to see you man it's always a pleasure Appreciate this. When are you coming to a show?

You tell me. We got a little baby on the way. I know. Congratulations. I love that. Baby number two on the way, so there won't be probably as much traveling. You don't have any gray hair.

I think I do. The camera's just not close enough here. We don't need to go look. Yeah, it's okay. Don't go looking for it. They don't give you gray hair. Children? I mean, not yet.

I feel like that's just something parents say. I'll see all these gray hairs. That's because of you. Wow, blaming already. But there are definitely a few. You know, I'm actually great with kids. Kids and animals love me. Would you like to babysit our little girl, Logan?

How? She's 17 months right now. She'd cry a lot? No, but she's starting to like, when she doesn't get her way, she's starting to, like, oh, yeah, I can do that. I'll just give her what she wants. Yeah. That's easy.

But she can't speak enough. like she only speaks like 20-ish, 25 words. You don't know what she wants sometimes. I can do that. I used to work with kids. She doesn't know the word yes, so everything's, no, no. Do you want that's no? And then I give it to her, oh, yeah.

I like that she knows no first. She loves no. That's going to actually come in hand with me. All right, great. Uncle Ricky's going to come babysit my daughter. Listen, honestly, wait until I have my own kids. They're going to be a rowdy bunch. I bet.

Yeah, they're going to be. so charismatic and so unruly and suplexing each other everywhere. Actually, you know what? I thought about this other day. What if my kid ends up being like a professional golfer or something? It's not a disrespect to golfers. I'm just saying their bodies, you know, it's a little bit more preserved than rest of me.

Maybe. Oh, brother. Thank you so much. Yeah. Do we do a presidential handshake? Would you like to? Yeah. Okay, there we go.

Apparently, I have a new baby. sitter in Ricky Stark's there. So we'll have to see when that ends up happening. Thank you so much for being with us on this episode. Big thank you to Ricky as well. Thank you for listening all the way until the end here. We just saw Ricky Stark show up in GCW over the weekend. It'll be really interesting to see where he shows up next. He has a match against Matt Cardona in GCW on December 14th in L.A. But like he said, he's still under contract with AEW. He's in the prime of his career, and he wants to wrestle. Snap a screenshot.

Let us know that you listen to this episode by tagging us. He's at Starkman Jones on Twitter. He's at Starkey Baby on Instagram. I'm at Chris Van Fleet, and I will wrap this up with a quote that I saw. It was from Diamond Dallas Page. My good friend Diamond Dallas Page, he's just so wise. He shared this on social media, and I thought, man, this is too good to not also share here as well. staying positive doesn't mean that you have to be happy all the time.

It means even on hard days, you know that there are better ones coming. Be great and be grateful, my friends. Happy early Thanksgiving if you're in the U.S. And we will see you back here on Thursday for some more insight with the legend himself, Jake the Snake Roberts. The Hammer Alley podcast, an 80s flashback mockumentary. In the 80s, there were a thousand bands trying to make it in the world of rock. But there was one band that had it all.

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