When it comes to the art of professional wrestling, before you see fierce competitors battle it out in the squared circle, you will likely see them talking about said battle in the weeks leading to the big event. That art, being a great talker, is paramount to success in WWE, and when fans first saw the SmackDown Superstar known as Ricky Saints speaking on the mic years ago, the question of him becoming a WWE Superstar wasn’t “if,” but “when.” Saints made his dream come true, and is competing with the best in WWE, but for some, this is the first time they are seeing Saints do his thing. He’s had a career before this, wowing crowds across the pro wrestling circuit.
As he continues to make his mark in WWE, this is everything you need to know about Ricky Saints.
The name Ricky Saints speaks to his New Orleans roots
While known to fans originally as Ricky Starks, upon joining WWE, Ricky altered his ring name to reflect his connection to New Orleans, Louisiana, a nod to his hometown roots. He's also worked under the names "Absolute" Ricky Saints and Ricky Starks across different points in his career.
The name change was a deliberate one, he has said. "I like it, and it's from New Orleans."
Ricky Saints first made his mark in NWA
Saints joined the National Wrestling Alliance in 2018, a few years into a career built on the independent circuit. His time there produced a notable milestone: he became the first-ever holder of the revived NWA World Television Championship, with a big part of Ricky’s tenure in NWA being how captivating he was standing on that sound stage, cutting classic promos on his competition.
Ricky then started to shine in All Elite Wrestling
When Saints landed in AEW in 2020, he joined Team Taz, the faction built around former ECW and WWE star Taz. The alliance gave him a platform and a character, and he made the most of it, capturing the FTW Championship during his tenure with the promotion.
Saints was also a one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion, and even won the Men’s Owen Hart Cup in 2023, which turned into captivating programs with everyone from Bryan Danielson and MJF to Edge, who Ricky Saints even bested in a promo battle.
Ricky Saints then started lowkey dominating NXT
Frankly, WWE didn’t waste time when Saints’s AEW contract ended, bringing in the former AEW star with a surprise appearance at the end of a February 2025 episode of NXT before officially signing with the company (and revealing that he would officially be known as Ricky Saints in WWE). ”The hottest free agent in professional wrestling” received a standing ovation, with commentary framing the moment as the biggest signing in recent NXT memory.
Saints immediately went to work, ultimately claiming two of NXT’s most prominent titles: the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Championship during his run, beating Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at NXT No Mercy in September 2025.
Ricky Saints finally joins WWE’s main roster
After a successful NXT run, Saints was a given for joining the main roster, which he did with a challenge to his IRL good friend (and Undisputed WWE Champion) Cody Rhodes, a bout he lost. Saints has gained favor with the WWE Universe, again for his dedication to his craft and honoring the legacy of acts like the Undertaker, someone Saints looks up to. Don’t believe us? Why do you think he’s always going “Old School” during his bouts on SmackDown?
Currently, Saints is vying for the United States Championship, which is held by Trick Williams. One has to imagine that winning this title would be the stepping stone Saints would need to continue his triumphant journey through the world of professional wrestling.
