Inspire Pro Championship scene is heating up to a white-hot level, with challengers coming from all directions looking to capture this organization’s top prize. To say Inspire Pro Champion “Dirty” Andy Dalton is a marked man is a severe understatement. We know that Dalton’s next defense of his championship comes at CLASH AT THE BASH 2 when he squares off with J-Crown Champion Steve’O Reno, a man who epitomizes being on a roll. But, both of these men must also take into account the man waiting in the wings following CLASH AT THE BASH 2, Number One Contender “Absolute” Ricky Starks.
At IN THEIR BLOOD 2, Starks scored a championship opportunity with a valiant win over Ray “Death” Rowe, and is now guaranteed a shot at the Inspire Pro Championship – a first-time opportunity for the brash young competitor. We recently sat down with Ricky in an attempt to ask him about the recent developments for him here at Inspire Pro Wrestling. Anytime we speak with Ricky Starks, the conversation is usually full of laughs and a few wise cracks. This time, however, we saw a more austere side to Ricky – one more focused on the big prize, with a current of frustration churning beneath his typically cool exterior. Anyone who’s gone up against this man in the ring knows he has an internal trigger you don’t want to toy with. Once it goes off, both barrels will put you down. But over the course of Ricky’s two years in Inspire, we’ve seen him learn to control his temper and even use it to his advantage. Now, Starks is a man who’s in control and simply biding his time.
We first wanted to get his thoughts on not just defeating Ray Rowe, but the words Ray had for Ricky following the brutal contest. Words with such high praise behind them are not always easy to come by from Rowe. But to Ricky, his win at IN THEIR BLOOD 2 was just another win.
“I’ve beaten Lance Hoyt and Chuck Taylor to name a few so this wasn’t any different. I know how good I am.” Many know one of Ricky Starks’ most prominent traits is his confidence, so a statement like that isn’t too far from his norm. We’ve heard him say things like this before. This time, though, there is a pang of irritability in his tone. One can feel the tension when he discusses the topic of his number one contendership – he’s not just ready to do the damn thing. It’s a foregone conclusion. He’s ready to take that title home, and he’s tired of waiting.
Our next question turned to his feelings on what happened at the conclusion of IN THEIR BLOOD 2, when Steve’O Reno cashed in his Fungressional Medal Of Honor for a title opportunity against “Dirty” Andy Dalton at CLASH AT THE BASH 2 – essentially cutting in front of Ricky, and therefore pushing his title match back.
Some were curious as to if there was if Ricky held any animosity toward Steve’O, a man he knows well. While Ricky denies any contempt, he did state, “I’m fine that Steve gets to jump ahead since I’m used to waiting on stand by. That’s been my whole career sadly.” When I tried to explore that statement even further, Ricky said, “The old and terrible [thrive] while the young and good like myself are left out to dry.”
What does that mean, exactly? The professional wrestling industry has always been notorious for its internal workings and politics. While this comment doesn’t reflect on his opinions regarding Steve’s “line cut,” it conveys Ricky’s feelings toward always having to be the patient guy at the end of the line. Ricky is young and vibrant, but at times feels a blanket has been thrown over that light by seasoned and self-entitled hands. The “who” isn’t exactly relevant, but it has certainly bred a cynicism within Starks.
Ricky went onto say, “I welcome facing Steve or Dalton as long as I finally get my shot at the Inspire Pro title. And if I lose I don’t care to be in the running for it because then I’ll have proved to myself I was good enough to main event.”
Ricky has always flaunted a devil-may-care attitude. He’s not interested in popularity contests. He has continued to win over the Texas fanbase by simply being himself, and by being outspoken. His charisma is balanced by his ability to back up what some call arrogance whenever he steps into a ring. Win or lose, the fight in Ricky is always impressive and every performance is always a victory. While we’ve seen a more fun-loving side to Starks over the last year, our minds return to the man we first saw enter Inspire Pro almost two years ago.
In July 2013, Ricky stood a’top the table infamously referred to as “the VIP lounge,” and spat truth about what he felt he deserved and what would come to pass. To him, it wasn’t just a boast; it was a prophecy. That night, Ricky gave everyone a fair warning. Over the years that have followed, Starks has taken on men twice his size, competed multiple times in a single card, been through gauntlet matches, ladder matches, no holds barred matches, and he’s never backed down from anything put in front of him. In Ricky’s mind, the main event at FADE TO BLACK on August 9th is the culmination of all that he has faced so far. It is his arrival.
PHOTOS via JOEL LOESCHMAN PHOTOGRAPHY