Earlier this year, Ricky Saints, formerly known as Ricky Starks, was released from AEW, leading to his debut in WWE. In a profile by Cameron Hawkins on The Ringer, Saints revealed the rapid nature of his WWE signing.
He stated, “It was a very quick turnaround. People think that was days in advance. I had never spoken to WWE at all before any of that. I never got on the phone with anyone before that, blah, blah, blah. So all of that, when I say it happened so fast, it happened so fast and it never let up off the gas.”
Saints’ last match for AEW was in March 2024. Following that, he participated in a few independent events but did not return to AEW television.
Reflecting on the later part of his AEW tenure, Saints drew a parallel to his recovery from a neck injury, explaining, “similar to his the fallout from his neck injury, he was going crazy because he was unable to do what he loved. I have to do things. For me, at least, fulfillment comes from actually making art, doing art, and actually being the person that makes something and then puts it out there. And so when you don’t have that opportunity to do that, so to speak, my fulfillment is stalled out. I need that. That’s how everything operates for me. I think that was the toughest part (of that period). It reminded me (of) when I had my neck injury and I couldn’t wrestle. I was going crazy because I couldn’t do the one thing that I love to do.”
Looking ahead in WWE, Saints shared a similar ambition to his hopes in AEW: “My aspirations in AEW were to just be given a chance and given the ball fully. I want that in WWE, obviously. I want the WWE Championship, but along the way, the Intercontinental Title would be great.”
Since arriving, Saints has quickly established himself in WWE NXT. He currently holds the North American Championship and is in a feud with Ethan Page.