Warner2BruceTD
2011 Poster Of The Year
Another very good and highly entertaining Inspire show. But there is one major takeaway from the show that I have to talk about. Inspire was the Ricky Starks show tonight. Another A+ promo, and two very good matches. I'm completely sold on this guy and willing to make bold predictions on his future.
After watching his work on four different shows in three different companies, interviewing him for the podcast, and chatting with him a bit tonight, it's obvious he loves his puro tapes, but he works in the stuff he likes in subtle way, unlike some dudes who get criticized (rightly) for just "copying shit they see in Japan".
For example, im sure everybody is familiar with that spot Tozawa does, where he alternates chops & punches on a dude in the corner, then fakes the last punch, only to crack the guy in the mouth anyway? Well, Starks worked in that spot, only he set it up with the Undertakers punches to the ribs instead of the Tozawa chop/punch sequence.
He also did a KENTA rush, which I guess we can now call the CM Punk rush:
But when Starks used it, he didn't finish it with the high kick. Again, he found something he liked, but modified it enough to were he isn't just ripping it off.
Starks offense is good, but I like other aspects of his work even better. You know how you go to an indie show, even a high level indie show, and there are always one or two guys who just stand out over the others in the charisma department? That's this guy. Even on a show with people like Bolt Brady, Mike Dell, etc, Starks is on another level (and believe me, Bolt is headed for great things and Dell is a pro's pro). On the first show, he was right there with Chuck Taylor and slightly below ACH.
His selling is also already at a major league level, at least in terms of facials. I haven't seen him in a situation where he has had to sell a body part yet, but his overall big picture selling is really, really good.
There is a reason I chose this guy for the podcast when Biss basically offered up the entire roster. He has already relocated and is going to be booked in some fresh places in the coming months. Mark my words: You will all know who Ricky Starks is by the end of 2014.
After watching his work on four different shows in three different companies, interviewing him for the podcast, and chatting with him a bit tonight, it's obvious he loves his puro tapes, but he works in the stuff he likes in subtle way, unlike some dudes who get criticized (rightly) for just "copying shit they see in Japan".
For example, im sure everybody is familiar with that spot Tozawa does, where he alternates chops & punches on a dude in the corner, then fakes the last punch, only to crack the guy in the mouth anyway? Well, Starks worked in that spot, only he set it up with the Undertakers punches to the ribs instead of the Tozawa chop/punch sequence.
He also did a KENTA rush, which I guess we can now call the CM Punk rush:
But when Starks used it, he didn't finish it with the high kick. Again, he found something he liked, but modified it enough to were he isn't just ripping it off.
Starks offense is good, but I like other aspects of his work even better. You know how you go to an indie show, even a high level indie show, and there are always one or two guys who just stand out over the others in the charisma department? That's this guy. Even on a show with people like Bolt Brady, Mike Dell, etc, Starks is on another level (and believe me, Bolt is headed for great things and Dell is a pro's pro). On the first show, he was right there with Chuck Taylor and slightly below ACH.
His selling is also already at a major league level, at least in terms of facials. I haven't seen him in a situation where he has had to sell a body part yet, but his overall big picture selling is really, really good.
There is a reason I chose this guy for the podcast when Biss basically offered up the entire roster. He has already relocated and is going to be booked in some fresh places in the coming months. Mark my words: You will all know who Ricky Starks is by the end of 2014.
