A dangerous combination was just unleashed in WWE NXT. Ricky Saints had a microphone in his hand and had the opportunity to cut a promo that caught the attention of everyone online. During the October 21 episode of WWE NXT, Saints and Trick Williams had a face-to-face before their Halloween Havoc title match. It was a promo that made everyone take notice and generate some initial excitement akin to when he was at his hottest in All Elite Wrestling.
Whether you call him Ricky Saints now or liked him more when he was Ricky Starks; this is a performer whose biggest strength may be when he’s talking in front of a camera. Ricky Saints has an ability to build excitement with his tangible passion for both professional wrestling and what he’s been through to reach this point in his career. That is what came out during his promo with Trick Williams, and it was that ability that created so much momentum behind him while he was in AEW.
When Ricky Starks stood across from the likes of MJF, Adam Copeland, CM Punk, and several others, he could get white hot at any moment. His cadence, tone, and wordplay helped him become one of the most interesting men on the roster from the moment he stepped out to face Cody Rhodes in an open challenge. For those who knew him as “Stroke Daddy” in NWA, none of this was new. This promo during the latest episode of WWE NXT was just a taste of that.
Now, the question of what is next becomes the focal point. This is a big match against Trick Williams at Halloween Havoc. Saints can and should take the win, as Williams has remained in the main event scene for quite some time and should be on his way to the main roster. But Saints also should not be long for NXT as well. Come this point in 2026, both men should be on either WWE Raw or SmackDown where their talents can help an aging men’s division.
Ricky Saints needs WWE, and WWE needs this version of Ricky Saints. He can quickly become one of the most popular men on the roster if he gets the opportunity to shine like he did during this moment. Fans were excited when he signed with the company, but that momentum died off. It is back, and now is the time to push it as far as it can possibly go.