Ricky Starks shockingly returns, but not in AEW

'Absolute' Ricky Starks has been absent from AEW for most of the year, but he just made a shocking return to the ring. However, it wasn't an appearance for Tony Khan's promotion.

Glory Pro Wrestling is running its Nightmare on Broadway show today at the South Broadway Athletic Club in St. Louis, MO. Starks made a surprise appearance during the show and speared Sean Logan.

Ricky Starks then took the mic and claimed that he wasn't going to let "the opportunity of a lifetime" pass him by. He challenged his old rival, Kody Lane, to a match at Glory Pro's WrestlePocalypse on November 24.

"I'm going to prove something a lot of people may have forgotten about me," Starks said. "I am the man. I am the one. And most importantly, I'm Absolute, baby." [From 01:19 to 01:32]

Ricky Starks has plenty of history with Kody Lane. The two battled across several different promotions from 2017 to 2019. Their series in singles competition is currently tied at 2-2, which is why Starks wants to finish their feud once and for all.

The former AEW World Tag Team Champion has been off television since March of this year, but he did defeat AEW's QT Marshall at an independent event back in May. There has been plenty of speculation regarding a future jump to WWE, but as of now, he's still under contract with the Jacksonville-based promotion.