Ricky Saints Reveals Toll of AEW Hiatus Prior to WWE Move

Ricky Saints is finally finding his groove in NXT, but the road to WWE was anything but smooth. In a new interview with The Ringer’s Cameron Hawkins, the former AEW star got real about the frustrating downtime he experienced after leaving AEW—and how badly it affected his mental state.

Saints’ last AEW match went down on Collision back on March 30, 2024. He wouldn’t pop up in WWE NXT until February 2025, and while he worked a handful of indie shows in between, the lack of regular action nearly drove him over the edge.

“I have to do things,” Saints said. “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.”

He continued, “I think that was the toughest part. It reminded me 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.”

In February, Saints reminded everyone why he’s one of the best out there when he defeated KENTA at DEFY’s 8th anniversary show to win the promotion’s top title. The crowd’s reaction hit him hard—and in a good way.

“I remember just really crying because I was so moved by these people, and they didn’t understand at the time why it meant so much,” Saints shared.

Now firmly in WWE territory, Saints is making the most of his second act. After jumping into NXT storylines and capturing the North American Championship, he’s already got his sights set higher.

“My aspirations in AEW were to just be given a chance and given the ball fully. I want that in WWE, obviously,” Saints said. “I want the WWE Championship, but along the way, the Intercontinental title would be great.”

From nearly losing his passion to reigniting it in NXT, Ricky Saints is ready to prove what he can do with the spotlight.

Do you think Ricky Saints has what it takes to climb to the top in WWE? Which title should he go for next? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you.