After making a big splash in GCW’s Dream On event over the weekend Ricky Starks’ appearances have been cancelled by AEW.

GCW made the announcement on social media mentioning unannounced dates they had planned in advance.

“We have just been informed that Ricky Starks has been pulled from all upcoming GCW appearances including his announced match on 12/14 in Los Angeles, his unannounced match on 12/28 in Seattle and his unannounced match on 1/19 at The Hammerstein Ballroom,” they wrote.

On GCW’s podcast, owner Brett Lauderdale says he never talked to Tony Khan nor was he ever informed this decision was made.

“I found out about this the same time as everybody else did, for the most part. I’ve stated this many times before and it’s no secret, I don’t really have a line of communication with AEW. I’ve never talked to Tony Khan on the phone or via text in my entire life. They don’t talk to me. I’m not trying to say that in a negative context but I guess we’ve never really had to talk. Anybody from AEW who has worked with us, that’s been between me and the talent to arrange it. If they need to get permission or something they handle that on their own. In terms of this with Ricky Starks or anybody else from AEW I don’t really know a lot. I haven’t heard about anybody else. I’m just hearing Ricky has been pulled. Period. I haven’t been on the phone with AEW where they’ve given me an explanation or asked me any questions or anything. I have no communication with AEW over this. I don’t know where it goes beyond Ricky Starks,” he said.

“I’ve always considered GCW and AEW to be on the same team. Is this meant to punish Ricky Starks? Is this meant to punish GCW? Is it somewhere in-between? I just don’t know because I don’t have that line of communication. It doesn’t feel great. I would love to know if there’s something to be done or something we can be doing. We got to the point where this stuff was agreed upon, announced, and fans were looking forward to this. To promote something and have to pull it back is not ideal. At the same time, and I’ve said this many times, when you do book television or contracted talent, you do it with the understanding this could happen at any time for any reason. It sucks but it’s part of the deal,” he continued.

Fightful Select is reporting that the reason Starks was pulled was because of a comment Effy made on a podcast. Effy complained about AEW running shows at the Hammerstein Ballroom on December 21st and December 22nd. GCW is holding their show on January 19th. He supposedly said Tony Khan “does not have a dad who pays him to stay away”.

Fightful reports that while Starks cannot work for GCW he is free to work with other indie promotions.

Fans were quick to comment on the situation:

Starks, Foley, Angle, JBL appear at GCW’s Dream On

Ricky Starks makes a statement at GCW’s Dream On

Starks not sorry for supporting his friends outside AEW