Effy doesn’t feel he’s to blame for Ricky Starks being pulled from GCW shows by AEW.
“It’s all the timing of that happening at the exact same time and then using me as a blame. You know, go ahead, buddy. You can blame me. I can handle the blame. I can take the heat,” he said.
At GCW’s Dream On event, Starks appeared and the promotion announced he would be working several dates for them. AEW had other ideas though.
“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,” the promotion announced.
Word is that Starks was told he could work indies but not GCW. The reason reported was 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”.
“To everyone who’s saying ‘Oh, it’s Effy’s fault he can’t be here,’ this is how things are done in wrestling and it’s something that he’s going to have to go work out on his own. AEW’s going to have to work out with him. They are correct. He is under contract with them but I haven’t seen him on TV in a ten month period,” said Effy.
Effy believes the real reason Starks was banned from working GCW is that details of AEW extending Starks’ contract into spring 2025 were revealed, leaked.
“I think he was very honest and direct about his situation and who approved him being at GCW but somebody was not excited about his contract being leaked, that they’d added on the additional option, which they legally have a right to do,” said Effy. “Someone pointed out a way out and they took the way out and that’s fine. I’m not someone who’s going to go back on what I say. I said what I said and I don’t think I said anything crazy. I just think there’s certain triggers that people have that you have to be mindful of especially if you’re in business with them.”
