Rewind the clock a few short months ago. News of then Ricky Starks’ removal from the AEW roster page sent shockwaves through the wrestling community. Speculation ran wild in the hours that followed, until February 12, when he showed up in WWE NXT. Fans were ready to get behind the now Ricky Saints, in hopes he’d finally get that top push that never came in All Elite Wrestling. Six months later, much of that momentum has stalled completely.
There’s a lot to unpack about Ricky Saints’ run in WWE NXT. Has he had some fun moments? Of course. His opening promo was a huge surprise, and his feud against Ethan Page lived up to expectations. Their Falls Count Anywhere match at NXT Great American Bash was one of the better matches throughout that weekend. But many wonder what it will lead to.
Since that title feud, he’s dropped a match to Jasper Troy, leading to growing speculation that a main roster call-up is on the horizon. There were rumors that Saints was on the short list of additions to Seth Rollins’ faction, The Vision. Even if that is the case, his run in NXT has left much to be desired.
Much of this is due to the NXT men’s division not being strong. There’s a lot of youth across the division, and while that can be great for the future, there’s a lack of experience to be the foundation today. This is why Ethan Page is so important to NXT, because he’s one of the few pieces who can hold together a full program while the rest of the group develops around him. Saints is a veteran as well, but he hasn’t had as much exposure as Page in a role meant to carry a division.
Six months ago, Ricky Starks was one of the hottest talking points in professional wrestling. Now, he feels like another guy on a packed roster. Will a move to either WWE Monday Night Raw or SmackDown help? Only time will tell. But there are also swirling questions about main roster booking for Black men that don’t bode well for his future. This is one of those situations in which “let it play out” is the way to go. Unfortunately for Saints and the people that support him the most, this situation typically doesn’t play out for those who aren’t among the chosen few.