Ricky Starks is not a fan of the word ‘pillar’ being used for certain wrestlers in AEW. Starks was interviewed on The Corner podcast and said that he hates the idea.
The ‘pillars’ of AEW are promoted as being World Champion MJF, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, and ‘Junlge Boy’ Jack Perry. They are 4 names that started out with the company and are widely considered to be the 4 names that are expected to lead the company for years to come. There are many other names who have been with the company since the first year but they are typically not mentioned in the ‘pillar’ conversation.
During his interview, Starks explained why he doesn’t like the term. He said, “I actually hate the idea of pillars. I loathe the idea of a pillar because one, it’s a full gimmick and it came from one guy. There’s nothing behind it. To say that these four dudes are the pillars of the company, do you know what you are doing by saying that? F everybody else who did anything, those people don’t matter, it’s these three guys that we deem, ‘I have bestowed this sacred title upon thee and I want you to for forth and do with it..’ No, I don’t believe in that. It’s a very sweet gesture to say Ricky should be considered a fifth pillar, baby, I don’t need to be a pillar, ok? I can be a foundation, I can be the roof, I can be the person outside maintaining the lawn. I don’t need none of that because to me that’s a box within itself.”
Starks then asked everyone to look at the quarter hour ratings for the pillars.
Starks said, “To say that these four guys are the ones that are going to make or break it, let’s see the numbers. Y’all want to talk about ratings? Let’s see the ratings for y’all, huh? Let’s see how much money y’all make if y’all want to keep bringing up all this BS, let’s see it, pen to paper. How are the quarterly hours doing when y’all are on TV? Let’s see it.”
Starks continued by saying that he doesn’t want to be put in that conversation about pillars and he’s fine with not being labeled as such. He said, “I don’t even like the conversation. I don’t even want to be included, keep me away from that. I don’t want that. I don’t want to be considered a pillar, this ain’t All Japan. I bet I tell Max to his face you don’t know nothing about All Japan.”
It’s possible that Starks is laying the groundwork for an eventual feud with the names he mentioned but the comments sounded like a shoot. Click below to listen to the entire interview.
h/t to F4WOnline for the quotes.
