Starks stated that Rhodes has been there for him a number of times.
Cody Rhodes is heading to WrestleMania 39 to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. Rhodes secured that opportunity by winning the 2023 men’s Royal Rumble.
Among those present to support Rhodes was AEW’s Ricky Starks. A photo of Rhodes and Starks together at the Alamodome surfaced on social media.
Rhodes weighed in on Starks being present to support him and in a new interview with Stephanie Chase, Ricky chimed in. He explained why it was important for him to be there for his friend and does not care about the tribalism or who may think it was not a good look for him to be there.
It was important to me (to be at the Royal Rumble for Cody Rhodes) because that’s my friend. That’s a guy who has helped me out through a neck injury, that’s a guy who has helped me through my career, even before AEW. Even before AEW when I was an extra at SmackDown, this guy talked to me and gave me advice when he didn’t have to. When I was on the indies, I ran into him. That is what’s important. I don’t give a sh*t and I want everyone who’s watching this to do this verbatim. I don’t give a sh*t if there’s some tribalism from the fans, I don’t care if someone from my company or over there thinks it’s a bad look. I don’t give a f*ck. That is my friend and one thing about me is I’m genuinely going to be a friend no matter what and if you ride for me, I’m gonna ride for you so it’s important that I go there and see a guy who is ultimately on the biggest chapter (of his career). It was important for me to be there because I would want the same damn thing, someone to come and just support me that way.
I don’t care what tribalism happens from the fans, from the people I work with or over there. It was important for me to go and support my friend on one of the biggest nights of his life because that’s what friends do and if there’s one thing about me is that I’m a genuine, down-ass person that will ride for my friends and nobody will question me for that and I refuse to let anybody question me or even try to give me any pushback on it because I’m a grown ass person. I can do that.
For a good portion of Starks’ time in AEW, he was a part of Team Taz alongside Powerhouse Hobbs, HOOK and Taz. Starks reflected on his pairing with Hobbs and shared what they were able to learn from one another.
He went on to state that he is glad Hobbs got the win in the Face of the Revolution Ladder match in his home-area.
I think the time we had together was very valuable in the sense of it was very bootstrap and what I mean by that is me and (Powerhouse) Hobbs went out there and we did it on our own. We got what we wanted out there on our own, the people fell in love with us on our own, you get what I mean? And there’s a lot of that in my career and there’s a lot of that in Hobbs’ career too where we’re doing it on our own, we’re doing it by ourselves and I think that’s what people can appreciate the most. So taking that time and now utilizing it in a singles-type environment has only done us wonders. I thought it was cool that he won (the Face of the Revolution Ladder match) in his hometown, finally. If I’m not mistaken, I wanna say that’s Hobbs’ second time, maybe third time, I’m not sure but it’s more than once. The other time, me and him were in the same match in Florida for Revolution where Wardlow won. So, it’s cool to see him now at that point and I think the time that we had together where he leaned on me for certain things and I leaned on him for certain things has only helped us grow exponentially.
Back in 2021, Sting’s first match in All Elite Wrestling was a cinematic Street Fight at Revolution. He teamed with Darby Allin to take on Ricky and Brian Cage.
Starks has expressed how much he enjoys and appreciates that match but added that his only criticism is he wishes there was no commentary over it.
My only criticism of that entire match (cinematic match at AEW Revolution 2021) is just I wish there was no commentary over it. I just wish they never had commentary over it, but, that’s okay. It still lives within itself and I believe you can buy the DVD of that pay-per-view and there is no commentary.
This Sunday at Revolution, Starks is scheduled to take on Chris Jericho. Starks is 1-0 against Jericho in singles competition.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Stephanie Chase with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
