WWE star Ricky Saints appears destined for great things even if his path to WrestleMania glory has gone awry.
Up until last week Saints was the reigning North American Champion in NXT, WWE’s developmental division.
Formerly Ricky Starks in AEW, Ricky Saints has been a big hit in NXTHe enjoyed a run with that gold after making a huge splash in the company after arriving from rival organisation All Elite Wrestling.
He’d spent five years with AEW and steadily carved out a name for himself as a hard-working and believable performer under Tony Khan’s umbrella.
Previously a world tag team champion there, he was a sizable acquisition for WWE early this year, quickly snapping up title gold in April by defeating former AEW colleague Shawn Spears.
He was upset by another AEW alumni in Ethan Page on NXT TV at the end of last month, however, though the news isn’t thought to be all bad for the New Orleans native.
A new report suggests he might have given up the accolade for a move to WWE’s main roster on Raw or SmackDown.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter has stated the grappler is: ‘expected on the main roster imminently,’ joining fellow NXT names Stephanie Vaquer and Jordynne Grace in being ready to make that switch – the former already confirmed last Friday as joining Raw.
How or when Saints will be thrown into the mix by top boss Triple H hasn’t yet been confirmed, but his trajectory since joining the company would at least lend credence to the idea he’ll be moving on to bigger and better things after NXT.
Undoubtedly one aim the 35-year-old will have for the future is to feature at WrestleMania – the biggest show of the wrestling calendar.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT’s Jon Jackson prior to this year’s instalment, he had a clear vision for a future moment of glory at the showpiece event.
At the time he’d set his heart on winning the coveted Intercontinental title at WrestleMania 41 in his home city, describing the scene next Spring as a celebratory one.
Saints appeared at WWE Stand and Deliver over WrestleMania weekendWWE Saints has toiled with Ethan Page, also a WWE signing from AEWWWE WWE Head of Creative Paul ‘Triple H’ looks set to welcome fresh talent on to the main rosterGettyEnvisioning it, he said: “I’m on the WrestleMania card and I’m facing someone for the Intercontinental Championship, then I win, and I jump in the crowd and celebrate with my family.”
Cruelly for Saints, however, those specific hopes have been brutally dashed – at least for now.
Despite WWE having confirmed New Orleans as the venue for the next ‘Mania’, plans have now shifted – with the Show of Shows now set to return to Las Vegas for a second successive year in what appears a move less than popular with fans.
While the company have yet to formally confirm Vegas as the ‘new’ host city for WrestleMania, it has been formally confirmed that New Orleans will host 2026’s Money in the Bank in August, months after their original Mania would’ve taken place.
Whether Saints gets the chance to shine at WrestleMania 42 – wherever it is held – or in his home city at Money in the Bank, remains to be seen.
What’s less doubtful is his future in WWE which looks plenty bright, and a far cry away from washing cars as a kid so he could buy a cake.
Ricky Saints hidden career highlights
2012: Lost first WWE match to Jinder Mahal aged just 22 2016: Beaten by WWE legend Kane in two-minute match 2018: Played the role of a police officer in segment with Roman Reigns on WWE TV 2025: Made debut as an on-screen ‘free agent’ on WWE NXT after formally signing with company 2025: Wrestled first WWE match since 2018“I washed cars for a living,” he recalled of the decades before his time under the bright lights of WWE.
“I was eight and I walked around the neighbourhood with a bucket and washed cars so I could take the money and buy a king cake.”
Come 2025, Saints has joined good friend Cody Rhodes – one of WWE’s biggest stars – in working for the most established wrestling company in the world.
It now looks like his run with NXT North American gold may be just the beginning.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Major WWE decision sets former car washing star on course for glory after shock WrestleMania call )
Also on site :