Ricky Starks has been removed from his scheduled appearances for Game Changer Wrestling.
The promotion announced Starks’ removal from its upcoming events in Los Angeles, Seattle, and at the Hammerstein Ballroom.
The news comes days after Stark appeared at GCW’s ‘Dream On’ event in New Jersey and was announced for a match against Matt Cardona at ‘Highest in the Room 3’ on December 14.
While the company didn’t disclose the reason for Starks being pulled, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp is reporting that it was a call made by AEW. The outlet reports that AEW decided on Tuesday after taking issue with recent comments by GCW performer Effy on his Weekend at Effy’s podcast.
During the podcast, Effy responded to AEW booking the Hammerstein Ballroom for three nights next month in advance of GCW’s return to the venue on January 19.
Y’all have no buzz, no draw and we’ve been riding the lighting on having to actually run a profitable company for the past few years to continue existing. We do not have as much backup. I’ll put it this way, GCW can’t run on a $40 million deficit and continue to run shows but some of us have the privilege of being able to run at a $40 million deficit. Brett (Lauderdale) does not own a football team, Brett doesn’t have a Dad who pays him to stay away. I don’t want this to be a personal thing, but hey guys, you’re not the only game in town.
AEW BITES GCW
ON HAMMERSTEIN?
PART 2 pic.twitter.com/2cUW6T5Kxk— Weekend at Effy’s (@weekendateffys) November 19, 2024
Fightful reports that Starks has a contract with AEW into 2025 and can take other independent bookings.
Starks has not commented on his removal from the shows but an interview with the AEW wrestler was posted on Tuesday with Chris Van Vliet and detailed his hiatus from AEW programming.
The 34-year-old has not wrestled for the promotion since March.
