Felix Upton on February 28, 2025
Ricky Saints is officially stepping away from the DEFY World Championship as he shifts his full focus to WWE NXT.
The former AEW star, who won the title from KENTA on February 7, confirmed that he’s relinquishing the belt, calling it a “bittersweet” decision.
“Opportunity knocked, and I had to answer,” Saints said, explaining that while giving up the championship wasn’t easy, his move to WWE was the right call for his career.
With Saints vacating the title, DEFY has announced that a new champion will be crowned at the DEFY Super 8X Grand Prix on March 15 at WA Hall. The promotion has yet to reveal the tournament lineup, but anticipation is already building for what will be a historic night.
Saints’ decision to relinquish the DEFY World Championship comes just days after his in-ring debut in WWE NXT, where he teamed with Je’Von Evans to defeat Ethan Page and Wes Lee. Since signing with WWE, he’s been positioned as a major player in NXT’s future, and backstage sources say he’s been “well received” in the company.
With Saints now fully committed to WWE, fans are left wondering—who will step up and take his place as the next DEFY World Champion? Drop your thoughts below!
February 28, 2025 3:24 pm
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