Ricky Starks

Starks idolized wrestlers including Undertaker and Mankind among many others while growing up watching professional wrestling. Around the age of seven, Starks decided he would pursue his dream of becoming a professional wrestler. Starks made his debut in NWA's Velocity Pro Wrestling on October 14, 2012 at the NWA Velocity Haunted Havoc event in Austin, Texas. There he wrestled in a Triple Threat match against Jaykus Plisken and Big Ricky. Since 2012, Starks became a regular talent featured across numerous promotions in the state of Texas, like Anarchy Championship Wrestling or Inspire Pro Wrestling.

During the following years, he would have four matches for WWE as a jobber, losing against WWE wrestlers like Jinder Mahal, Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady, Kane and The Revival.[5][6][7][8]

Starks made his debut in the National Wrestling Alliance on the September 30, 2019 episode of NWA Power defeating Trevor Murdoch.[9] Soon after, Starks would find himself in contention for the reintroduced NWA World Television Championship as he was announced for the NWA World Television Championship tournament at NWA Hard Times. He defeated Eddie Kingston in the first round, Matt Cross in the second round, Tim Storm in the semi-finals and Trevor Murdoch in the finals to become the new NWA World Television Champion.[10] However, two days later at the NWA Power TV tapings (aired on tape delay on March 3, 2020), Starks lost the title to Zicky Dice.[11] On May 18, 2020, it was announced that Starks was no longer with the NWA as his contract had expired.[12]

On the June 17 episode of AEW Dynamite, Starks made his unannounced debut as he answered Cody's open challenge for the TNT Championship in a losing effort.[13] After the match, All Elite Wrestling's CEO Tony Khan announced that Starks had signed with AEW.[4]