On a recent episode of his podcast, Grilling JR, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross shared his thoughts on Ricky Starks’ high-profile jump from AEW to WWE.
Starks, who was granted his AEW release on Monday, made his WWE debut the following night on NXT, sparking buzz about his future in the company.
Ross acknowledged Starks’ talent and charisma but took a wait-and-see approach regarding his long-term success in WWE.
“Well, he’s a high-motor guy. I don’t know if he’ll be the next Shawn Michaels at his size, but he certainly has a unique future. He’s got a big personality, so hopefully, he’ll do well and live this dream. It seems like the dream for a lot of talents is to make it to WWE and call it a day. And that’s not where it ends. That’s where it begins.”
Ross admitted he was caught off guard by Starks’ surprise debut on NXT:
“So, I saw the episode of NXT last night. [I was] surprised to see Ricky Starks. [I] don’t know how he’s going to do. He’s got a high opinion of himself, and he’s got a lot of abilities. There’s no doubt about that.”
Despite Starks’ clear potential, JR emphasized the challenge of getting over and staying relevant in WWE’s system:
“It’s never easy to get over, and hopefully, he can get over [and] stay over as a top star. It remains to be seen. Let’s see how it goes.”
With Starks now officially part of WWE, fans will be watching closely to see how his journey unfolds in NXT and beyond.
