Is Zoey Stark Related to Ricky Starks? The Truth Behind the Wrestling Surnames

Posted by Mittie Cheatwood on Thursday, June 20, 2024

Introduction

If you are a fan of professional wrestling, you might have wondered if Zoey Stark and Ricky Starks are related. After all, they share the same last name and both work for prominent wrestling promotions. Zoey Stark is a rising star in WWE, where she performs on the Raw brand and is a former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion. Ricky Starks is a charismatic wrestler in AEW, where he is one-half of the current AEW World Tag Team Champions and a former FTW Champion. But are they really family, or is it just a coincidence?

The Answer

The short answer is no, Zoey Stark and Ricky Starks are not related in real life. The pair have very little connection at all, other than being in the same industry. Zoey Stark’s real name is Theresa Serrano, and she was born on January 25, 1994 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ricky Starks’ real name is Richard Starks, and he was born on February 21, 1990 in New Orleans, Louisiana. They have different backgrounds, training, and career paths, and have never worked together in any wrestling promotion.

Zoey Stark’s Career

Zoey Stark began her wrestling career in 2013, working for various independent promotions in Texas, such as Anarchy Championship Wrestling and Inspire Pro Wrestling. She also made some appearances as an enhancement talent for WWE, losing to wrestlers like Jinder Mahal, Kane, and The Revival. She signed with WWE in 2021, and debuted as Zoey Stark on 205 Live, teaming with Marina Shafir in the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. She then moved to NXT, where she impressed fans and critics with her athleticism and power. She had notable matches with Io Shirai, Toni Storm, and Raquel Gonzalez, and won the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship with Shirai at The Great American Bash. She was later drafted to Raw in 2023, where she formed a partnership with Trish Stratus and feuded with Becky Lynch.

Ricky Starks’ Career

Ricky Starks started his wrestling career in 2012, working for various independent promotions in Louisiana, Texas, and elsewhere. He also made some appearances as an enhancement talent for WWE, losing to wrestlers like Enzo Amore, Big Cass, and Roman Reigns. He also appeared as a US Marshal who was attacked by Reigns on Raw in 2018. He joined the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 2018, where he became the inaugural NWA World Television Champion in 2020. He left NWA later that year, and debuted for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2020, answering Cody Rhodes’ TNT Championship open challenge. He then joined Team Taz, a faction led by Taz and featuring Brian Cage, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Hook. He won the FTW Championship from Cage in 2021, and later formed a tag team with Big Bill. They won the AEW World Tag Team Championship from FTR in 2023, and have been defending the titles ever since.

Conclusion

Zoey Stark and Ricky Starks are both talented and successful wrestlers, but they are not related by blood or marriage. They have different origins, styles, and personalities, and have never crossed paths in the wrestling world. They just happen to share a common surname, which is not uncommon in the wrestling business. There are many other examples of wrestlers who have the same last name but are not related, such as Bret Hart and Jimmy Hart, Edge and Beth Phoenix, and Sasha Banks and Snoop Dogg. So, the next time you see Zoey Stark and Ricky Starks on your TV screens, don’t assume they are family, but enjoy their performances as individual performers.

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