WWE Star Ricky Saints (Ricky Starks) Discusses Name Change And AEW Departure

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.

WWE NXT Preview 2/18/2025

WWE NXT tonight on The CW.

  • Fallout from Vengeance Day
  • Ricky Starks to sign WWE NXT contract
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contenders Match: Jaida Parker vs. Kelani Jordan vs. Karmen Petrovic
  • Channing ‘Stacks’ Lorenzo vs. Shawn Spears
  • Jakara Jackson & Lash Legend vs. Sol Ruca & ZARIA
  • Jordanne Grace will likely appear
  • Will he mysterious masked faction strike again

WWE (NXT) Vengeance Day 2/15/2025 (Results)

WWE NXT VENGEANCE DAY QUICK RESULTS

  • NXT Women’s Championship: Giulia (c) def. Bayley, Roxanne Perez, and Cora Jade
  • NXT Championship: Oba Femi (c) def Austin Theory and Grayson Waller
  • Singles Match: Ethan Page def. Je’Von Evans
  • Strap Match: Eddy Thorpe def. Trick Williams
  • NXT Tag Team Championship: Fraxiom (c) def. Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship: Stephanie Vaquer def. Fallon Henley (c)

NXT Vengeance Day delivered a night of thrilling action, title changes, and unexpected chaos, leaving fans buzzing about what’s next for the black and gold brand. Here’s a full breakdown of the night’s biggest moments, including a historic title win, a brutal strap match, and a TNA crossover tease that could shake things up in NXT.


Stephanie Vaquer Captures NXT Women’s North American Championship

In one of the most exciting matches of the night, Fallon Henley defended her NXT Women’s North American Championship against Stephanie Vaquer in a hard-hitting encounter. The early moments saw Vaquer use her technical prowess to keep Henley grounded, locking in an STF and a figure-four headscissors. However, Henley turned the tide with a vicious right hand and underhanded tactics, thanks to interference from Jazmyn Nyx and Jacy Jayne at ringside.

Vaquer fought back with an explosive sequence, hitting a springboard crossbody and a Tiger Feint Kick, before spiking Henley’s head into the mat repeatedly. Despite Jayne’s attempts to interfere, Vaquer refused to stay down, eventually leveling Henley with a brutal Angel’s Wings on the apron followed by a diving splash to the floor.

With Henley reeling, Vaquer sealed the victory with a spectacular Spiral Tap, becoming the new NXT Women’s North American Champion.


Fraxiom Retains NXT Tag Team Championship – But a New Threat Emerges

Fraxiom (Axiom & Nathan Frazer) put their NXT Tag Team Titles on the line against the powerhouse team of Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura in a high-energy clash. Frazer and Axiom used their speed and precision to control the early minutes, but Inamura’s brute strength soon shifted the momentum.

As both teams battled back and forth, the match reached a fever pitch when Briggs delivered a devastating avalanche chokeslam, sending Frazer crashing into Axiom. The champions barely held on, eventually countering Inamura’s offense and hitting a missile dropkick-assisted reverse STO to retain their titles.

However, the celebration was short-lived. The mysterious masked faction that has been disrupting NXT events struck again, ambushing both teams and leaving them laid out. Dion Lennox was singled out by commentary, suggesting he may be involved with the group.


Eddy Thorpe Defeats Trick Williams in a Brutal Strap Match

The Eddy Thorpe vs. Trick Williams strap match didn’t follow the traditional “touch all four corners” rule but instead allowed the strap to be used as a legal weapon. Williams jumped Thorpe before the match officially started, and the two brawled all around the ringside area, whipping each other against the barricade.

Inside the ring, Williams nearly put Thorpe away with a Trick Shot, but the impact sent Eddy rolling out of the ring, saving him from being pinned. Thorpe capitalized on a momentary opening, delivering a low blow with the strap before finishing Williams with a brutal knee strike for the victory.


“All Ego” Ethan Page Stuns Je’Von Evans

In his first major NXT match, Ethan Page squared off against rising star Je’Von Evans, and the two went all out. Evans started hot, launching himself over the announce desk with a torpedo dive and punishing Page with stiff strikes. However, “All Ego” turned the tide by targeting Evans’ leg, locking in an Achilles lock and an ankle lock to slow him down.

Despite absorbing an avalanche Ego’s Edge, Evans refused to stay down, mounting a comeback. However, Page delivered a stiff punch that sent Evans’ mouthpiece flying before planting him with Twisted Grin to secure the win. Post-match, Evans was seen bleeding from the mouth as medical personnel checked on him.


Oba Femi Retains, But The Masked Men Strike Again

The NXT Championship was on the line in a chaotic triple-threat match featuring Oba Femi, Grayson Waller, and Austin Theory. Waller and Theory briefly worked together to wear down the dominant champion, but their alliance quickly crumbled.

Femi’s raw power was on full display as he suplexed both challengers at once and later sent Waller crashing through the announce desk. Theory nearly stole the win with A-Town Down, but Waller yanked the referee out of the ring before he could complete the count.

Femi capitalized on the distraction, delivering Fall From Grace on Waller to retain his title. But as soon as the match ended, the mysterious masked faction struck again, attacking Femi and laying him out with an assisted double powerbomb.

With this group now targeting champions, NXT management will have to address their growing influence.


TNA Crossover? Santino Marella Meets Ava Raine

In a surprising backstage moment, Arianna Grace returned and introduced TNA Director of Authority Santino Marella to NXT GM Ava Raine. The two shared a moment of mutual respect, with Santino noting he hadn’t seen Ava since she was a child.

The segment ended with Santino and Ava heading off to discuss potential cross-promotional ideas, hinting at a deeper collaboration between NXT and TNA.


Giulia Retains NXT Women’s Championship – Jordynne Grace Appears!

The main event saw Giulia defend her NXT Women’s Championship against Bayley, Cora Jade, and Roxanne Perez in a thrilling four-way bout. Giulia smartly let her challengers fight early before asserting dominance with vicious strikes and submission attempts.

The match featured incredible moments, including a double pin attempt by Giulia, stereo superkicks from Perez and Jade, and a Tower of Doom spot that had the crowd on their feet. Bayley nearly won after hitting middle rope Stunners, but the champion regained control, landing Arrivederci on Jade before finishing Perez with a Northern Lights Bomb to retain her title.

As Giulia celebrated, Stephanie Vaquer—her fellow champion—entered the ring, holding up her newly won NXT Women’s North American Championship in a show of unity.

But just as they embraced, a siren blared through the arena…

Jordynne Grace appeared!

Grace stepped into the ring, staring down both champions in a non-confrontational but intense moment.


Final Thoughts

NXT Vengeance Day delivered on every front—great wrestling, a title change, and major storyline developments. Stephanie Vaquer’s title win, the masked faction’s continued attacks, and Jordynne Grace’s appearance make it clear that the road to NXT Stand & Deliver is already heating up.

With NXT’s Roadblock special coming up on March 11 and the looming presence of TNA talent, the landscape of WWE’s developmental brand is more unpredictable than ever.

WWE (NXT) Vengeance Day 2/15/2025 (Card)

WWE NXT Presents Vengeance Day PLE – Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 – Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, D.C.

CARD

THE NXT CHAMPIONSHIP – TRIPLE THREAT:
Oba Femi (c) vs. Austin Theory vs. Grayson Waller

NXT WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP – FATAL 4-WAY:
Giulia (c) vs. Bayley vs. Cora Jade vs. Roxanne Perez

NXT WOMEN’S NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIP:
Fallon Henley (c) vs. Stephanie Vaquer

STRAP MATCH:
Eddy Thorpe vs. Trick Williams

Je’Von Evans vs. Ethan Page

NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH:
Axiom & Nathan Frazer (c) vs. Josh Briggs & Yoshiki Inamura

WWE May Give Ricky Starks A New Name

Ricky Starks wasted no time making an impact in WWE, debuting on NXT just one day after receiving his release from AEW. The former AEW World Tag Team Champion shocked fans by appearing through the crowd and declaring himself the “absolute superstar of the future.” However, one detail stood out—commentary and WWE’s social media team never actually referred to him by name during the broadcast.

According to WalkwayFight.com, this omission was due to how quickly the deal came together. Starks’ WWE signing happened so fast that there wasn’t even time to produce merchandise for him. Additionally, with Starks previously filing to trademark his in-ring name through his company, Dream Palace LLC, there’s now speculation that WWE may rebrand him under a new name.

WWE’s Approach to Superstar Names

WWE has a long-standing preference for owning their talents’ ring names, ensuring exclusivity if they leave the company. However, there have been exceptions in recent years. Stars like Ethan Page and Jade Cargill have kept their AEW names, while others—such as Brian Pillman Jr. (now Lexis King) and Bea Priestley (now Blair Davenport)—underwent rebranding.

Given Starks’ established reputation, it would be surprising if WWE opted to change his name. However, history suggests it’s still a possibility. Whether he remains Ricky Starks or adopts a new persona, one thing is clear—his NXT arrival has already turned heads, and fans will be eager to see what’s next.

Stay tuned for updates as more details emerge about Starks’ WWE future.

Ricky Starks Shocks Fans with Surprise WWE NXT Appearance

Just one day after officially parting ways with AEW, Ricky Starks made an unexpected splash in WWE, appearing live on NXT and delivering a fiery promo from the crowd at the WWE Performance Center.

With no entrance music and no prior announcement, Starks stepped into the spotlight as the ring crew set up for the night’s steel cage main event. The only cue for fans at home was a stunned “Holy crap!” from commentator Vic Joseph, as the NXT crowd erupted in chants of “Ricky! Ricky!”

Grabbing a microphone, Starks wasted no time in making his intentions clear:

“If ‘NXT’ is the future of professional wrestling, well guess what? You need an absolute superstar of the future. If this is the hottest brand, well, you need the hottest free agent right now, baby. Everyone’s been asking when the revolution will be televised again. Well, I’m right here, aren’t I?”

Free Agent Starks Lands in WWE

News of Starks’ AEW departure broke earlier this week, with reports confirming that his contract had expired and that he was free to sign anywhere without a non-compete clause. AEW had previously exercised the option year on his deal, but Starks had been largely absent from television leading up to his exit.

His NXT appearance raises plenty of questions about his future. While he didn’t confirm whether he’d be involved in Saturday’s Vengeance Day premium live event, his presence alone signals that WWE may have big plans for the former AEW standout.

For now, all eyes are on what’s next for Starks—will he make an impact in NXT, or is this just the first step toward an even bigger stage on Raw or SmackDown?

WWE NXT Preview 2/11/2025

A new live episode of WWE NXT airs tonight on The CW. Tonight’s show is the go-home edition before this weekend’s WWE Vengeance Day premium live event.

  • NXT North American Championship Steel Cage Match: Tony D’Angelo (c) vs. Ridge Holland
  • NXT Heritage Cup Match: Lexis King (c) vs. JDC of TNA
  • Cora Jade vs. Bayley
  • Hank & Tank vs. Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura vs. No Quarter Catch Crew

TNA Impact Preview 2/6/2025

TNA Wrestling will present a new episode of Impact tonight on AXS TV, with another WWE NXT tag team title match. 

  • WWE NXT Tag Team Championship: Fraxiom (c) vs. Nic & Ryan Nemeth
  • Mike Santana vs. Matt Cardona
  • The Hardys & Leon Slater vs. The System (Moose, JDC, Eddie Edwards)
  • Tyson Dupont vs. Ace Austin
  • Knockouts Battle Royal for a shot at the TNA Knockouts World title
  • Joe Hendry in concert
  • We’ll hear from Eric Young

Former NXT Tag Champ TNA Star JDC (FKA Fandango) Returns To Challenge For NXT Heritage Cup

The WWE NXT landscape just got a shake-up with the unexpected return of JDC, the star formerly known as Fandango. The TNA Wrestling talent made his presence felt during this week’s episode, interrupting Lexis King’s promo and setting his sights on the Heritage Cup. JDC is now set to challenge for the title on next week’s show.

A Familiar Face Returns to NXT

Lexis King had taken center stage to gloat about his recent Heritage Cup defense against Charlie Dempsey under British Rounds Rules two weeks ago. However, King revealed that moving forward, he would be abandoning the traditional format in favor of standard single-fall matches—a controversial change that immediately sparked debate. Before he could relish his newfound authority over the cup’s stipulations, JDC made his shocking return, signaling his intent to dethrone the champion.

For longtime NXT fans, JDC’s homecoming is a nostalgic one. He last competed for the black-and-gold brand in 2021, where he and Tyler Breeze held the NXT Tag Team Championship in 2020 as Breezango. That reign marked his only championship victory in WWE, closing out a 15-year tenure that saw him rise to prominence, most notably upsetting Chris Jericho at WrestleMania 29 in his main roster debut.

A Career of Ups and Downs

JDC has openly discussed how his WWE career trajectory could have gone differently. He previously claimed he was set to win the Intercontinental Championship in 2013, but an undisclosed concussion reportedly led to backstage heat and derailed his momentum. After his WWE exit in 2021, he reinvented himself on the independent circuit, wrestling for promotions like NWA and GCW under the name Dirty Dango.

In 2022, he resurfaced in TNA Wrestling, a company he had briefly worked for in the early 2000s under his real name, Johnny Curtis. His current moniker, JDC (Johnny “Dango” Curtis), reflects his wrestling evolution, and he has since aligned himself with The System, one of TNA’s top factions.

What’s Next for JDC in NXT?

JDC is poised for a high-stakes showdown with Lexis King next week. Given his experience, charisma, and past connection to the brand, his return could signal a fresh crossover partnership for the TNA star, or it could simply be a one-off special appearance. Either way, NXT fans will be watching closely to see if the former ballroom-dancing showman can once again capture gold in WWE.

Will JDC dethrone King and claim the Heritage Cup, or is this just a brief visit before heading back to TNA? Tune in next week to find out!

WWE NXT Preview 2/4/2025

WWE NXT returns tonight on The CW with a new episode as the build continues for this month’s NXT Vengeance Day.

  • A-Town Down Under vs. Oba Femi & Trick Williams
  • Karmen Petrovic vs. Kelani Jordan
  • Ridge Holland vs. Stacks
  • Stephanie Vaquer vs. Jacy Jayne
  • NXT Women’s Championship Vengeance Day Summit between Bayley, Roxanne Perez, and Giulia