Confronts The Rock; retaliates against mentor? - 4 WWE feuds for Ricky Starks if he debuts at 2025 Royal Rumble

Ricky Starks is one of the most discussed names in the world of pro wrestling currently and for good reason. He is a very talented wrestler but has not featured in AEW for months. There is little idea what the issue is behind the star's exclusion on AEW TV.

Tony Khan has been saying that he is under contract and will return soon. However, that has not yet happened. There is a lot of clamor among fans on how AEW should release him so he can move to WWE to get on with his career.

If that indeed turns out to be the case, the perfect place for his debut could be the Royal Rumble in January. In this article, we will take a look at four such feuds for Ricky Starks if he debuts at the 2025 Royal Rumble.

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#4. CM Punk

CM Punk and Ricky Starks shared a brief history in AEW. The former FTW Champion defeated Punk to win the Owen Hart Tournament Finals. That was a shock to many at the time. While Punk was able to get a victory after that, fans believed this was a rivalry that still had its best yet to come.

However, Punk's time with AEW soon came to an end before the two collided once more. If Starks does indeed come to the WWE, then going up against CM Punk in his first feud should not be ruled out. A feud with the veteran will be perfect to ease him into the WWE Universe and the new surroundings.

#3. Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes is a close friend of Ricky Starks. They are so close that the AEW star was present at WrestleMania 40 to celebrate Cody’s title win over Roman Reigns in the main event. The two clearly have great chemistry between them.

Starks and Cody can have a great feud given that they know each other so well. Cody can help elevate Starks upon his entry to the Stamford-based promotion so that he is believable as a star on the roster. Given that the two are excellent athletes as well, this feud would be a possibility in pushing Starks.

#2. Sami Zayn

Like Sami Zayn, Ricky Starks has not been given a lot of chances to become a main-event star given the obvious talent on display. There are a lot of similarities in their careers and it could be perfect to pit them against each other.

Starks certainly brings a lot to the table and going up against someone of the caliber of Sami Zayn will be beneficial for his career if he ever signs up with WWE.

#1. The Rock vs. Ricky Starks

This is something totally from the left field but there is a sliver of possibility that it might happen. During one of his verbal jousts with Adam Copeland, Starks was compared with The Rock by the veteran grappler, albeit in a funny way.

Given that there is a war of attrition going on between Cody Rhodes and The Bloodline, there is a possibility that Starks could show up at the Royal Rumble in case The Rock interferes in Cody’s business. Starks could stand by Cody's side as he battles the seemingly never-ending members of The Bloodline.