AEW star and FTW champion Ricky Starks was recently interviewed by Pro Wrestling Illustrated, during which he discussed representing the legacy of the FTW title and what it means to hold it, check out the interview highlights below:
āI think, for one, coming into AEW and winning the [FTW] Title was a big deal because Iām a big, big person on history and making sure that things from the past arenāt forgotten. Because when youāre forgotten, thatās true death, right? Thatās the original title from 1998, so that thing has seen so much. I would even liken it to the Smoking Skull Title, ya know? Imagine if you had that title, the original one, you would cherish that and honor that with everything because of its history that it is. Iām not saying theyāre on the same level, but Iām just saying, in terms of having such a piece of history like that, is insane.ā
āSo, for me, I think itās more important to have this title and represent it the best way I can and do with it what I can. I know it wonāt be perfect and I know that there are things outside of my control that I just have to deal with, right? But at the end of the day, I wanna make sure that, one, I do the best that I can with the title and represent it and make sure that it has some type of legitimacy, regardless of itās recognized or not.ā
āTo me, itās important to represent this title and its legacy to the utmost that I can. It wasnāt by the previous champion, and when I won it, I made a promise to myself that I would make sure that no matter what, I would ride all the way to the end with it, and then whatever happens at the end of my title reign, I would hope that it goes to someone that actually cares and put in the work for it and dealt with it the best that he could with what he was given.ā
āYa know, I thought about it before but I donāt think I carry it as a chip on my shoulder because Iām always gonna be judged in some type of wayā¦whether itās that Iām too effeminate or Iām too cocky, Iām too much of a pretty boy, or this is a rugged title and it doesnāt really fit. People donāt know my history and where I come from and the things that Iāve had to experience, and thatās fine because I think itās kind of corny when you have to tell people, āoh, Iāve done this, this, and this just to prove a point to them and change their opinion, right?
āSo, I feel regardless of my size and any of that, I can really whoop anyoneās ass. Iām a very hot-tempered person and can go from 0 to 100 really quick and that may not come through initially when you see me. Iām out there with poise, and suave, and this and that, and you go, āoh, Taz was a little more ruggedā and sure he was, but guess what? I can be rugged too and I can dress to the nines and I can do all this stuff. Even when Iām not FTW Champion, Iām still going to be the same guy. So, I kind of tune all that stuff out.ā