Fantasy Booking Potential Roles for Aleister Black, Rusev and Ricky Starks in WWE

Monday, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reported All Elite Wrestling stars Malakai Black, Miro and Ricky Starks had been granted releases from the company, the culmination of a tumultuous final year for all three competitors.

Sapp said: "We're told all of these talents are free to go wherever they choose and there are not non-competes associated with the releases."

With that said, buzz surrounding the three stars and potential deals with WWE dominated the conversation, some eager to see Black and Miro back in the company in which they competed as Aleister Black and Rusev, respectively, for years.

Others expect big things from the uber-charismatic Starks, who wasted little time debuting with the company as part of its NXT brand.

What might a run with the most prominent company in professional wrestling look like? Find out with this fantasy booking of their potential WWE roles.

Nightmare Fades to Black

Upon his arrival in AEW, Black targeted Cody Rhodes. In three matchups with The American Nightmare, he picked up two wins over the promotion’s preeminent babyface.

Rhodes won the final showdown in their series, but Black got the best of the EVP and put an exclamation point on a successful debut with the upstart company.

Black would have moderate success after that program, including as one-third of the AEW world trios champions with Brody King and Buddy Matthews, but he never returned to the level he was at upon entering the company. This opened the door for a potential return to WWE.

The same WWE where his old rival sits atop the pro wrestling mountain as its undisputed champion.

What better way to reintroduce the former NXT champion into the mix, in the most significant way imaginable, than by having him target Rhodes and reignite one of the biggest rivalries of his career?

A storyline in which Black further drives Rhodes toward the dark side, a place we have seen him approach as recently as the Royal Rumble and his brutal beatdown of Kevin Owens in the closing minutes of their ladder match, would catapult him into a meaningful main event storyline that lets the fans know he is worth investing their energy in.

Triple H has always understood how to present Black and recognized the importance of the dark allure to his character.

While some may question whether the Dutchman is the same wrestler he was when he left the company in 2021, there is no reason to think the WWE chief content officer will put him in any position other than the right one to succeed.

Programming Black against the top star in the company is one way to do it.

The Bulgarian Brute Redeemed

The last time WWE fans saw Rusev, he was a frustrated shell of the Bulgarian Brute he had been at his peak in the company.

“Rusev Day” had gotten over with fans to the extent that he was routinely met with one of the biggest ovations in any arena. Instead of having the opportunity to build on that, he was shut down and ultimately released in April 2020 as part of a round of roster cuts.

While he put in some great work as part of AEW, including a run as TNT champion and in matches against Darby Allin, Powerhouse Hobbs, Lance Archer, Orange Cassidy, and Sammy Guevara, inconsistent appearances attributed to a variety of reasons prevented him from every truly building momentum.

Now free to return to the company that made him a star upon his call-up from NXT, the artist formerly known as Miro has the opportunity to return and ensure the lasting impression he leaves is that of the dominant force who captured the attention of the WWE Universe in the first place.

An introductory rivalry with Braun Strowman would do wonders for the 39-year-old, as it did for Bronson Reed. A battle with the Australian would also be a fun utilization of unstoppable competitors, as would a program with Jacob Fatu.

Rusev was a dominant competitor early in his run with WWE. And if anyone has excelled at booking that type of character to this point and understanding their appeal, it's Triple H.

Considering The Game introduced Rusev to the wrestling world during his time overseeing NXT, he will know firsthand how to present the Bulgarian and provide him the opportunity to redeem himself after a few years of frustration.

Absolute Superstardom

All Elite Wrestling

The most interesting potential WWE signing of the three new free agents is Ricky Starks.

The 34-year-old has spent his young career showcasing charisma and in-ring ability that should have made him a sure thing in AEW. Instead, a frustrating run concluded Monday, just under a year since fans last saw the former tag team, FTW and 2023 Owen Hart Cup champion in the ring.

An electrifying performer who can talk and is an explosive in-ring competitor, Starks is seemingly made for WWE—and the opportunity will almost certainly present itself.

With that said, NXT is the perfect first stop.

Not because he cannot excel on the main roster, but because there is enough talent on Raw and SmackDown that he would run the risk of being overshadowed.

Instead, let him debut in NXT and show the die-hard fanbase what he is capable of. Let him bolster a men’s division that badly needs it. Let Starks work with fellow AEW alum “All Ego” Ethan Page, help elevate Trick Williams and become the central star he has always had the potential to be.

That feud with Williams could do wonders for the guy who has helped define this era of the brand while also helping him to up his game on the mic.

It would be beneficial for all parties in that it further solidifies the former NXT champion and lets Starks be the top star on a show and get the exposure in that role that was denied him in his previous stop, bar the short-lived interaction with CM Punk.