The wrestling world just witnessed a major shift as Ricky Starks, now going by Ricky Saints, made his NXT debut official. On this week’s episode of WWE NXT, Saints put pen to paper on his new contract in a segment that also featured Ethan Page and Wes Lee, setting the stage for his first match in WWE’s developmental brand.
A New Name, A Fresh Start
Fans speculated for weeks about whether Starks would keep his well-known name upon joining WWE. The suspense ended Tuesday night when, after a heated exchange with Ethan Page and Wes Lee, Saints cleared the ring and finalized his contract. As the camera zoomed in, his new in-ring moniker—Ricky Saints—was revealed.
Immediately following NXT, Saints appeared on Busted Open Radio, where he addressed the name change and why he embraces it.
“It’s going to take time for [fans] to get used to it,” Saints admitted. “I respect that they care so deeply about me that they rebel against the name change. But at the same time, I am a product of New Orleans, first and foremost, and I want to pay respect to that as well. I think this is the best of both worlds and that means a lot to me.”
While WWE is known for altering ring names when signing new talent, Saints’ name still carries a connection to his previous persona. He reassured fans that, despite the rebranding, he’s still the same competitor they’ve followed for years.
What Went Wrong in AEW?
Saints’ move to WWE comes after an extended period of inactivity in AEW, where he had been under contract since 2020. Reports indicated that he originally asked AEW not to exercise his contract’s option year in late 2023, but the company did so anyway, keeping him under contract through early 2024. However, rather than featuring him on TV, AEW largely kept him on the sidelines until his release on February 10.
When asked what ultimately led to his AEW exit, Saints acknowledged multiple factors but didn’t pinpoint one defining issue.
“You could say it was Punk leaving and things kinda fell apart. Absolutely, I probably agree with you on that,” Saints said. “Or you could say Ricky didn’t play the politics well enough. Alright, for sure… there’s so many things you can say.”
His final AEW match was in March 2024 when he and Big Bill lost to Top Flight in an AEW Tag Team Tournament match. Saints suffered a stinger during that bout, which required an on-the-fly finish adjustment. After that, his time in AEW quietly faded.
“After that, no, no dice, no communication. No nothing,” Saints revealed. “And that is okay because… I ended up here. And it’s fine. Everything worked out.”
He also hinted that certain backstage veterans played a role in his creative stagnation.
“There are some people who stuck their nose in my creative business that shouldn’t have,” Saints said. “Veterans. And that’s it, I’ll leave it at that. And if they got a problem with me, they got my number.”
Looking Ahead to NXT
With his AEW chapter closed, Saints is set to make his WWE in-ring debut next Tuesday in Cincinnati. He will team up with Je’Von Evans to take on Ethan Page and Wes Lee in what promises to be an explosive introduction to the NXT audience.
While the road to WWE wasn’t smooth, Ricky Saints is ready to prove himself on a new stage. And if his debut is anything to go by, he’s wasting no time making an impact.
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