During a “Big 4” pay-per-view weekend, there’s typically a lot of non-contracted talent in the area because they are usually booked for a signing/appearance elsewhere but it’s rare to hear of a star from a competing promotion hanging out backstage at a WWE event.
A photo circulating online appears to show Ricky Starks arriving with Cody Rhodes last night just prior to the live Royal Rumble broadcast. Starks and Rhodes are good friends and Starks is also friends with other wrestlers in WWE with Bayley being one example.
Starks is currently being pushed as one of the breakout stars of AEW after he beat Chris Jericho on Dynamite a few weeks ago. For those of you wondering, there has been no indication that he has any plans to leave AEW.
Apparently, Ricky Starks was backstage at the Royal Rumble supporting his good friend Cody Rhodes. pic.twitter.com/58jkU9ebEw
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) January 29, 2023