Ricky Starks, formerly of AEW, made a surprise debut on WWE NXT on this week’s show. In a promo, he declared that if NXT is indeed the future of wrestling, it needs a superstar of the future, and if it’s the top brand, it needs the top free agent, promising to shake things up.
The Undertaker was on Busted Open Radio, where the debut happened while talking with Bully Ray. He also gave some backstory on his history with Starks. It dates back to 2016, as they met at the gym while Taker was getting ready for his match with Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 32.
“Yeah, I’m training at this gym, and I notice this kid there every day. Doesn’t say anything. Really respectful. As the training went along, we needed different spotters and different help. He was always right there. Finally, we struck up a conversation, and he told me he was trying to break into the business, and I kind of talked to him about different things. On one of the [royal] Rumbles that Michelle [McCool] was a surprise guest in, she wanted to get in the ring, and he came down and trained with her. I’ve seen him a few times here and there, and I’ve always had great conversations with him. He’s such a good kid, such a respectful kid. That completely caught me off guard. I haven’t seen him in probably a year, a year and a half, maybe…That’s how we met, in a gym while I was getting ready for Shane [McMahon] at WrestleMania.”
We got LIVE reaction of @undertaker & @bullyray5150 when they saw @starkmanjones show up on #WWENXT !👀👀👀
Full Interview coming on the #bustedopen247 Podcast! pic.twitter.com/hyNoq8i1Vu
— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) February 12, 2025
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Busted Open Radio with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
