Tag: ricky saints

Two matches announced for WWE Raw next week

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A pair of tournament matches have been made official for WWE Raw next week.

The June 8 episode of Raw is set to be held in Paris, France at Accor Arena. WWE has announced that King & Queen of the Ring will continue to play out with first-round matches in each tournament. On the men’s side, it will be Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Talla Tonga vs. Ricky Saints. The women’s bout is Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green.

Both tournaments kicked off today with Oba Femi and IYO SKY becoming the first participants to advance to the semifinals. The remaining first round and semifinal matches will take place on Raw and SmackDown in advance of the June 27 finals at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia.

At stake in the tournament are World title shots at SummerSlam. Though Morgan is already the Women’s World Champion on Raw, her explanation for still participating in Queen of the Ring is that she wants to take everything she can.

Next week’s Raw, like today’s episode from Turin, has a special start time of 2 p.m. Eastern. It’s airing live on Netflix during WWE’s ongoing European tour.

WWE Raw (Monday, June 8) —

  • King of the Ring first-round match: Seth Rollins vs. Je’Von Evans vs. Talla Tonga vs. Ricky Saints
  • Queen of the Ring first-round match: Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Chelsea Green

Updated brackets for King & Queen of the Ring —

WWE King of the Ring 2026 bracket (Image credit: WWE)
WWE Queen of the Ring bracket
WWE Queen of the Ring 2026 bracket. (Image credit: WWE)

Who should face Drew McIntyre at WWE Clash in Italy? | Opinion 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

On the road to next weekend’s WWE Clash in Italy PLE, Drew McIntyre is advertised for both tonight’s and next week’s WWE SmackDown.

It will be his first televised appearance since his unsanctioned WrestleMania 42 match loss to Jacob Fatu after which have been tumultuous changes in storyline dynamics and rising talents in his absence. 

So what’s next for the former champion? Here’s a few ideas for his direction ahead of next weekend’s big event in Turin.

Ilja Dragunov

Dragunov’s pursuit of the United States title seems to be on hold after Trick Williams’ win at WrestleMania, and Sami Zayn still holding on to hope for another rematch. 

While that develops, Dragunov could pick a feud with McIntyre. Going up against an established name like McIntyre could offer him a fresh rivalry outside of the championship scene. McIntyre’s frustration following the loss to Fatu could create a natural conflict for Dragunov’s relentlessness. 

Even if the rivalry does not have long-term storytelling, one match is enough to appeal to fans. Both men are known for their intense matches making their rivalry a perfect fit for a PLE like Clash in Italy.

Trick Williams

With Williams becoming a breakout star on the main roster in McIntyre’s absence, a rivalry between the two is going to come at some point.

Within six months of his SmackDown debut, Williams not only became a fan favorite, but he competed in his first WrestleMania match and won the United States title as referenced above. That in itself could irk McIntyre to call him out, being unsupportive of his rise to stardom in his time away.

It would create the classic veteran vs. rising star dynamic, enabling Williams to gain further credibility by facing and possibly defending the title against McIntyre. 

Additionally, McIntyre’s persona, along with Williams’ charisma and confidence amid conflicting fan support, could create some fun tension for a rivalry. 

Ricky Saints 

Saints competed in his SmackDown debut against undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Despite their history dating back to their AEW tenure, Saints’ in-ring capability captured the WWE audience’s attention. 

Saints already has the self-assured, verbally sharp and main character energy persona. Meanwhile, McIntyre is brutal, hardened and emotionally driven. He could call out Saints for embodying what WWE values like his charisma. This would provoke a retaliation from Saints, concluding in a verbal confrontation that could lead to a match next weekend.

Matt Cardona 

A similarity between Cardona and McIntyre is that both men reinvented themselves following their WWE exits in early years of their careers.

McIntyre rebuilt himself and become World Champion worthy while Cardona transitioned from a comedy centric undercard talent to self-made independent wrestler. This would lay the foundation for a philosophical clash.

Ever since his return, Cardona has not been featured in a dominant rivalry. He attempted to influence Randy Orton’s decisions during his Rhodes feud for WrestleMania but that did not end well. 

He has lacked a defining feud and storyline upon his return, and a match with McIntyre could reverse the situation, providing Cardona with the platform to showcase that his accomplishments outside of WWE were validated and relevant.

Ricky Starks says goodbye to WWE NXT in post-show promo

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

WWE main-roster bound Ricky Starks, aka Ricky Saints, has bid adieu to NXT following a long, successful run.

After spending years in AEW, Saints made his long-awaited WWE debut on the February 11, 2025 episode of WWE NXT. Shortly after, Saints won multiple titles at the promotion, and after a year-long run, he is now moving to the main roster.

Heading to Friday Night SmackDown, Saints competed in his last NXT match on April 28, where he suffered a defeat against Shiloh Hill. After the match, in a post-show promo, Saints delivered his farewell message.

“I should be thanking you. I should be thanking the people in the production truck. All of them. February 7, I stood up there, and I talked my stuff, and you guys welcomed me, and you chanted ‘Ricky Starks’, and you made sure I remembered who I was. On the 11th, I had my match, and then a few months after that, I won the North American Championship. I want you to understand something, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I came here, but you welcomed me,” he said.

“I’d be lying if I said this was all a very easy transition, but it was not, and that is okay, that’s how it gets sometimes, but at the end of the day, I came out here, I busted my a**, I made sure that I did what was needed for business,” Saints added.

“You guys repaid me with love, with stroke, with buying the shirts, with all of that. I don’t think that I would even get this far had it not been for the people here, and definitely for the people in the back.”

In the final moments of his goodbye speech, Starks broke character and addressed the crowd in an emotional manner. “So, if this is the last time that you may see me in this NXT ring, then thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I would hope that this Friday on SmackDown, I would hope that you’d watch me there too.”

Saints, 36, is a former NXT Champion and NXT North American Champion.

WWE NXT live results: Tony D’Angelo appearance, Ricky Saints vs. Shiloh Hill

Posted on by Chris Aiken

Tonight’s episode of WWE NXT is the first since last week’s call-ups to the main roster. Fatal Influence, Sol Ruca, Ricky Starks, Ethan Page and Blake Monroe among those called up.

NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo will be on the show tonight as GM Robert Stone reveals who is his next challenger.

Before Starks heads to SmackDown this Friday, he will take on Shiloh Hill in his final NXT match.

In a defense of the men’s NXT North American title, Myles Borne puts the title up against Saquon Shugars of DarkState.

The MVP of last year’s SummerSlam tryouts — Lizzy Rain — will make her NXT in-ring debut tonight.

EK Prosper & Dorian Van Dux vs. Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo & Uriah Connors of BirthRight rounds out the announced matches.

Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.

******************

NXT is back on the air in front of a live studio audience from a sound stage at the Performance Center in Orlando.

The show begins with a clip from earlier today of General Manager Robert Stone meeting with Shawn Michaels and Matt Bloom. They are talking about the call-ups, and how there are big shoes to fill. Stone pitches for new faces. HBK says to “throw a stick of dynamite into that locker room and see who the hell runs out.”

Opening the show in the ring is a title match.

Myles Borne vs. Saquon Shugars (with DarkState) for the NXT North American Championship

—

Fast start with a quick pace. Shugars powders, which leads to Borne doing a flip dive over the top rope to the floor on DarkState. Shugars’ cohorts try to interfere, but Borne fights them off. He is soon cut off, and Shugars has momentum. Shugars works over Borne during the break.

As they fight on the ring apron, Shugars pulls Borne into a turnbuckle. On commentary, Vic Joseph claims the metal turnbuckle was exposed. Borne sells his throat from the spot as the show cuts to a commercial break.

Soon after the show returns from the break, Borne comes back as they trade near falls. Borne with a rally and his is fired up. Dion Lennox tries causes a distraction to allow Shugars to gain an underhanded advantage. Shugars lands on is own head on a modified Northern Lights suplex.

Cutler James and Osiris Griffin distract the referee as Lennox stalks Borne with a metal folding chair. Before Lennox can use the chair as a weapon, Shugars rushed out the ring to stop him. Shugars yells at Lennox as he takes the chair away from Shugars. As they argue, Borne shoves Shugars into Lennox. Borne thwarts the interference of Lennox, and Borne soon thereafter uses his Borne Again finisher on Shugars. Borne then covers Shugars to win the match.

Match result: NXT North American Champion Myles Borne defeated Saquon Shugars via pinfall to retain his title.

In a post-match angle, Tristan Angels debuts with a microphone to cut a promo on Borne. Angels introduces himself as “Mr. England”, and he says we will see much more of Angels on NXT.

As Angels is cutting his promo, Kam Hendrix from LFG runs in to ambush Borne. Hendrix lays out Borne as Angels looks on from afar.

— WWE Women’s Speed Champion Wren Sinclair and Kendal Grey are talking backstage when Kelani Jordan interrupts them. They bicker until Sinclair challenges Jordan to a match for later tonight.

—

EVIL debuts to confront NXT Champ Tony D

NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo enters the sound stage for an in-ring monologue. The main focus of his promo is the mystery box he received last week. This leads to the surprise debut of EVIL. A cloaked and hooded figure appears through fog to confront D’Angelo in the ring. The mysterious figure offers a shirt with something written in Japanese on it.

The figure then reveals himself as EVIL, although he was never called by that name. On commentary, he is referred to as a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Vic Joseph wonders aloud if the gift is given to Tony for admiration, or if it is “gift of pure evil.”

EVIL leaves the ring with Tony D holding the gift, and the impact of the debut is immediately lessened when Tavion Heights ambushes D’Angelo. Heights gives Tony D a belly-to-belly suplex. Heights is fired up as he leaves the ring. While he is leaving, an unidentified individual (Will Kroos) in a WWE hoodie climbs the turnbuckles and does a moonsault press on D’Angelo.

— Tatum Paxley and Shiloh Hill are featured in an outdoor skit where they are burying Blake Monroe’s casket in a wooded area. They hope her soul find peace wherever she ends up. The conversation shifts to Hill’s match tonight against Ricky Saints. Hill ran a series of simulations on how to defeat Saints. Hill then leaves, and Paxley lays down next to the grave.

— Out comes BirthRight for an in-ring promo. WWE Speed Champion Lexis King speaks while flanked by Arianna Grace, Stacks and Uriah Connors. King throws to a video clip from earlier today where Grace films BirthRight attacking Dorian Van Dux in an injury angle. That leaves EK Prosper without a partner for a tag team match against BirthRight.

Prosper storms the ring and takes the fight to BirthRight. They gang up on Prosper until Sean Legacy runs in for a save. Prosper has a tag partner after all.

EK Prosper & Sean Legacy vs. BirthRight (Uriah Connors & Stacks with Lexis King & Arianna Grace)

—

Hot start by the babyfaces, and a lots of high spots and dives before a commercial break. BirthRight with an advantage as the show cuts to commercials. Legacy is being worked over as the show returns from the break. Legacy creates separation after an avalanche backdrop.

Hot tag to Prosper, and he runs wild on the heels. Near fall for Prosper with a Michinoku Driver. Connors with a swanton bomb for another near fall. Parade of high spots down the stretch. Legacy executes a crazy finisher that combines a Burning Hammer with a twisting neckbreaker. Legacy then covers Stacks for a pinfall. On commentary, the outcome is called an upset.

Match result: Sean Legacy & EK Prosper defeated Uriah Connors & Stacks when Legacy pinned Stacks.

— In a post-match angle, BirthRight gang up on the babyface team for a beat down. Tate Wilder runs in to make a save. Wilder marks another debut on the show, and I have already lost count on the run-ins so far.

— Kali Armstrong has words with Jaida Parker in a locker room skit, which sets up a match between the two for next week. The match is later made official for next Tuesday on NXT.

— Shawn Michaels voices over a plug for the new deal with CW to air NXT premium live events. Not exactly a “premium” for the shows when the supercards air on free broadcast television, but the supercards are nonetheless begin airing on CW this summer.

— Robert Stone has an encouraging words with Tate Wilder backstage. NXT Women’s Champion Lola Vice walks by and she vows to call out Izzi Dame.

NXT Women’s Champ Lola Vice & Mr. Iguana thwart The Culling

—

Vice storms the ring and calls out Dame. Shawn Spears appears on the Titantron, which serves as a distraction while Izzi Dame and Niko Vance sneak up behind Vice. The heels have the tables turned on them when Mr. Iguana sneaks up on them with La Yesca. Of course, Iguana and Vice are the AAA Mixed Tag Team Champions.

Mr. Iguana and Vice send the heels packing. The Culling flees, and this would seem to set up a mixed tag match for the near future. Later in the show the mixed tag is made official for next Tuesday, albeit it appears to be non-title.

— DarkState argue among themselves in a backstage skit. Shugars argues with Lennox, and they are yelled at by Griffin and James. Besides teasing dissension, the point of the skit is DarkState is going for tag team gold again.

Lizzy Rain vs. Nikkita Lyons

—

Rain debuts with a voiceover that proceeds her ring entrance in which Rain vows that she and heavy metal will never die. The heavy metal gimmicks very much fits Rain as she is the niece of Iron Maiden’s original drummer Clive Burr.

Lyons in a pretaped promo vows to ruin Rain’s debut, only for Lyons to put over Rain in her in-ring debut in NXT. In the match, Lyons briefly gets heat on Rain. Comeback by Rain, and she is fired up. She chops Lyons while the studio audience chants “make it rain” in unison.

Rain is briefly cut off, but she soon makes another comeback. Rain executes her finisher, which is called “Thunderstruck”. Rain then covers Lyons for a pinfall to win her debut match in NXT. Fun debut for Rain, and she brings a ton of energy.

Match result: Lizzy Rain defeated Nikkita Lyons via pinfall.

— Myles Borne bickers with Tavion Heights over Heights’ run in from earlier. This teases a potential match between the former associates. Borne turns around to find Keanu Carver confronting him. Carver issues a warning to Borne.

— Vanity Project is backstage chatting, and they agree that Jackson Drake should make an impact. Jasper Troy then confronts Drake. They get face-to-face, and Troy challenges Drake to a match next week. The match is made official in a plug later in the show.

WWE Women’ Speed Champion Wren Sinclair (with Kendal Grey) vs. Kelani Jordan in a non-title match

—

Being a non-title match, no Speed time limit. Thus, they were given a lot of time. They made the most of it. The match goes through a commercial break. Doing a dive before the break, Sinclair looks to have apparently tweaked her left knee. She shrugs off concern while telling the ref she can continue.

Jordan is working the left leg as the show returns from the break. Sinclair sells the leg but still makes a comeback. They go back-and-forth. Sinclair goes for her “Final Wrench” submission hold (cattle mutilation), but Sinclair’s knee buckles. She sells big before taking an Olympic slam from Jordan. She follows up a split-legged moonsault, and Jordan covers Sinclair for a pinfall. With Jordan pinning the Speed champ, this would seem to set up a title match.

Match result: Kelani Jordan defeated WWE Women’s Speed Champio Wren Sinclair via pinfall in a non-title match.

— Zaria is focus of a video package, along with Sol Ruca. Zaria voices over the package, which was heavily edited with special effects and such. Seemingly, this is meant to get Zaria over as a killer heel.

Shiloh Hill vs. Ricky Saints

—

They are having a decent enough match when Hill goes under the ring. Saints goes to pull out what he thinks is Hill. Instead, Saints puts out a dummy dressed like Hill with a hockey mask similar to horror movies monster Jason. With the clothing, the dummy may have looked more like Casey Jones from TMNT fame. Regardless, Saints is distracted by the bait and switch tactic. Hill then leaps off the ring steps with a somersault senton.

AS the show cuts to a commercial break, Hill props the dummy on the barricade so it can watch the rest of the match. Saints cuts off Hill during the break, but Hill fights back. When the show returns from the break, they are having a slugfest.

They trade numerous near falls down the stretch. Saints bumps into the referee, who hits the ropes. That causes Shiloh to crotch himself on the top rope. Ref bump leads into Saints executing a superplex for yet another near fall.

They soon go home after an “Old School” spot. Saints first slaps Hill across the face, and Hill’s false teeth go flying. Saints then attempts to walk the top rope like he is The Spoiler. Hill losing his false teeth only serves to hulk him up.

Saints cuts off Hill to give him a Dominator on the floor. Saints tries to use a metal folding chair, only for that to backfire on Saints. Hill trips Saints, and Saints takes a bumps on the chair. Hill executes his falling neckbreaker finishing move, and he covers saints for a pinfall.

Match result: Shiloh Hill defeated Ricky Saints.

— A fired up NXT Champion Tony D’Angelo cut a promo on the recent choas. D’Angelo appears to yell “let’s f****** go!” That was censored, and the show goes off the air.

Ricky Saints to make WWE SmackDown debut next week

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The Revolution is coming to SmackDown.

It was announced on Friday that Ricky Saints would be making his SmackDown debut on next week’s show in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The move comes as he is set to have one final match on NXT this coming Tuesday when he takes on Shiloh Hill.

The former NXT Champion caps off a week of many NXT call-ups. Ethan Page and Sol Ruca made their debut on Monday’s Raw, with Joe Hendry set to make his official debut on Raw next week holding a concert. Friday’s show also saw the debut of all three members of Fatal Attraction (Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid). A Blake Monroe vignette also aired, making it clear she is heading to the blue brand.

Fatal Attraction made their mark on Friday, attacking not only Paige, Brie Bella, Alexa Bliss, and Charlotte Flair, but also Rhea Ripley as she was wrestling Jayne. In a backstage segment, Flair told Ripley she would take on Jayne next week, nixing any idea the three would work together to take them out.

WWE SmackDown (May 1)

  • Ricky Saints debuts
  • Charlotte Flair vs. Jacy Jayne

Ricky Saints’ main roster call-up may reportedly be delayed

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Ricky Saints might not be moved to the WWE main roster anytime soon. 

According to BodySlam, WWE has discussed for Saints to move up to the main roster however the CW Network is keen on fixing a major concern – to have an established name on the brand amid the other call ups like Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams, Oba Femi, Ethan Page and Joe Hendry already moving on. 

Saints attacked Shiloh Hill backstage on the latest edition of NXT, setting up a match between the two for next week. And raising questions about WWE’s plans for him. 

Saints made his NXT debut in February 2025 after a five year stint with AEW. In April, he won the North American Title and nearly five months later captured the NXT Championship from Oba Femi. 

January saw a wave of NXT talents officially moving to Raw and SmackDown, and they even made their WrestleMania debuts last weekend after engaging the audiences.

On the Raw after Mania, Sol Ruca and Page made their brand debuts and stepped in the ring for their first matches. Hendry did not make an appearance but during the show it was announced that he will host his concert on Raw next week and was an official member of the brand’s roster. Additional reports cited that more NXT names are expected to join the main roster soon.

The upcoming edition of SmackDown is also reported to feature NXT call-ups and roster shakeups. Jacy Jayne and Rey Mysterio in particular were potential names discussed to switch brands.

Ricky Saints grades his AEW and WWE NXT runs

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Ricky Saints compared and graded his AEW and NXT runs. 

Speaking on Ringer Wrestling, Saints praised the women’s division in NXT and the creative liberties talents are given on the roster. He proceeded to discuss how his colleagues often approach him for advice.

“Yeah, it’s incredible only because first off, let me talk about the women’s division. I’m seeing that stuff weekly. I’m seeing them go out there and kill it weekly and and to me that’s just like this is what I was seeing in other companies before them being able to do this. Now it’s here. I think it’s a great thing for them because they’re not put in a box, so to speak. I love the creative freedom that they have about what this is and what they want to do and things of that nature. On the men’s side, it’s even crazier because I don’t see myself as that person, but I look around, I’m like, ‘Oh, there’s people coming to me for advice. There’s people talking to me about what should I do.’”

Saints was asked to rank his AEW and NXT tenures. He explained that he was grateful for contributions to his former promotion and graded it a B while NXT a B+.

“Dang, that’s hard. I love my run at AEW for all intents and purposes. You can say whatever you want about the other stuff but I think when you look at it in a totality form, I did enjoy it, just wanted more out of it. I think I would give it like a B. Maybe a B. Cause I have to remove certain personal things of accomplishments that I wanted that I didn’t necessarily get. I gotta remove that. I gotta look at what the actual work was. What actually was done. And now when we compare that to NXT, I would give my NXT run, just because I’m a perfectionist, I’d give it a B+. We’re edging out an A. I’m still doing it.”

Despite exiting AEW in 2025, Saints competed in his last match on the promotion nearly a year earlier. He debuted on NXT in February 2025.

Ahead of SNME in December, Saints and Oba Femi battled it out at Deadline for the NXT Championship. The additional stakes were that the winner would face Cody Rhodes at the special WWE event. Saints and Femi officially appeared on SmackDown the week before to greet Rhodes. 

NXT star responds to The Rock comparisons, says Ava doesn’t see the resemblance

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Ricky Saints addresses comparisons to The Rock, claiming that even his daughter Ava disagreed with any commonalities. 

In his interaction with TMZ Sports, Saints explained how the comparisons have become a common occurrence and do not bother him. He often brushes it off as a lazy insult. 

“Well, you know, talking to his daughter, she would argue that’s not the case. She denies that at all. But getting compared to The Rock is fine at this point, it doesn’t bother me, it genuinely doesn’t. I think it’s kinda funny when you do one thing The Rock does and everyone’s like ‘see we knew it! We knew you were trying to be like The Rock for years and years!’. It’s like ‘Shut up, oh my God!’. 

He joked about the parallels intended to be criticism which doesn’t quite land the way some may expect. 

“Saying that I look like The Rock, if that’s the worst insult you have, that means I’m pretty damn attractive. The whole ‘Temu Rock’, hey buddy, you’re shopping on Temu? Wow.’”

“At this point I hear it so much that I find it funny, I used to get Mark Wahlberg at certain points. Matt Damon, I’ve got Matt Damon before.”

Saints made his NXT debut in February 2025 after nearly five years in AEW. Throughout his career, fans often pointed out similarities between him and The Rock, particularly when it comes to charisma and presentation. 

Saints competed in the fatal four-way match for the NXT Championship at Stand & Deliver on April 12 where Tony D’Angelo walked away with the victory. 

Ricky Saints addresses long-running AEW absence before WWE jump

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Before joining WWE in 2025, Ricky Saints (then known as Ricky Starks) was one of the most popular names on the AEW roster; however, after a March 2024 loss on Collision, Saints went missing from AEW.

While still under contract with AEW, Saints continued to wrestle for independent promotions during his AEW absence. Recently speaking on Getting Over: Wrestling Podcast, Saints opened up in detail about that period and the feeling of “restlessness.”

“Yeah, no. You know, no real discussion or anything like that from my side of it, in terms you know, what was discussed and all that, but there was some restlessness just because I’m so used to wrestling all the time. And I think that’s the type of person I am,” Saints said.

“I’m used to creating. I’m used to using my body for these things. And to not have that was a very odd place to be at mentally. And so you’re having to figure out these other things, especially when it goes to like the independence. It was not as easy to get some of these independent dates cleared.

“And for that’s not a knock on the company itself. It’s just a conflict of interest for AEW and whatever independent that I wanted to do. Um, but at the end of the day, it all worked out. Truthfully,  it all worked out. And I’m thankful for both sides. I’m thankful for AEW. I’m thankful for the Independence as well,” he finished.

Saints’ last indie appearance dates back to his DEFY World title win at DEFY Hundredth – 8 Year Anniversary on February 7th, 2025, following which he made his WWE NXT in-ring debut on the February 25th episode of NXT.

Shortly after joining the WWE NXT roster, Saints became a one-time NXT and one-time NXT North American Champion.

Ricky Saints explains viral WWE photo with other former AEW stars

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Ricky Saints addressed the intention behind the Saturday Night’s Main Event XLI photo in November 2025. He was photographed with Jade Cargill, CM Punk and Cody Rhodes backstage, all who happened to be formerly associated with AEW. 

In an interview with the New York Post, Saints reflected on the photo with the WWE champions. He cited there was no malicious intent towards his former promotion. He attended the show to watch Cargill’s match from backstage, and the others happened to be around while he was taking promo photos with his NXT Championship. 

“That picture was not based on us wanting to prove a point or anything. I was there to see Jade (Cargill) have her match and it just happened that I saw Punk. It was all just circumstance. It wasn’t like a deliberate thing and Punk wanted a picture, so I said, ‘Hey, why not?’ I was there with my (NXT) title because I was also taking promo pictures. It just worked out. There was no ill will about it. We all know each other, we all like each other, and it was a cool moment. Look at us, we’re all champions right now. Whatever agenda people want to apply to it is up to them. I doubt anyone really cared over there (in AEW) or over here.”

At SNME XLI, Punk defeated Jey Uso for the World Heavyweight Title while Cargill captured the WWE Women’s Title from Tiffany Stratton.

Rhodes defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre in a singles match. There was an added stipulation that if Rhodes was disqualified or counted out, he would lose the title.

Saints has often praised Rhodes for being an impactful figure in his life and career.

Saints made his WWE debut on NXT in February 2025 after nearly five years with AEW. He won the NXT Championship in September, a title he held for around 70 days before Oba Femi dethroned him. 

WWE NXT live results: Tony D’Angelo vs. Ricky Saints

Posted on by Marc Quill

Former WWE NXT Champion Ricky Saints will take on hopeful future challenger Tony D’Angelo in the headliner for tonight’s WWE NXT on The CW.

This came about as D’Angelo was gunning for a title shot against Joe Hendry, but Saints got involved instead.

The next challenger for the men’s North American title will be determined in a gauntlet match featuring Jackson Drake, Dion Lennox, Shiloh Hill, Charlie Dempsey and a mystery entrant. The winner will challenge Myles Borne at Stand & Deliver.

After winning the Women’s Speed title last week, Wren Sinclair will team with Kendal Grey against Fatal Influence’s Fallon Henley and Lainey Reid as Grey is targeting NXT Women’s Champion Jacy Jayne.

In a tournament match to determine the number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team titles, The Culling battle Eli Knight & Elio LeFleur.

Following a backstage skirmish, Thea Hail will go one-on-one with Kelani Jordan.

Our live coverage begins at 8 pm Eastern.

****************

– Following the Then, Now, Forever signature, we went right to the WWE Performance Centre before a recap of last week’s episode from Houston, Texas was shown.

– Backstage, we saw Mr. Stone chatting with Shiloh Hill, as Tatum Paxley asked him where her NXT Women’s North American Title was, as well as Blake Monroe. Paxley left with Shiloh, who was on his scooter. Meanwhile, a referee appeared and tried to get Stone’s attention for an important matter.

WrenQCC (Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey) vs. Fatal Influence (Fallon Henley & Lainey Reid) (w/ Jacy Jayne)

Henley charged at Sinclair early, but got taken down instead. Henley got the advantage soon enough in the cornerf with stomps, but got reversed into an early pin attempt by her opponent. Henley got hit with a spinning kick from Sinclair, as she quickly recovered and taggged Reid in. The Fatal Influence duo shelled Sinclair with consecutive elbow drops, but Sinclair fought back. Meanwhile, we got a picture-in-picture inset during the match of Mr. Stone checking in on Eli Knight and Elio Lefleur down and out backstage after being beaten down by mysterious assailants.

Back in the ring, Sinclair got blasted with a kick by Henley, as she quickly recoered with a floatover double underhook suplex. Henley tagged in Reid, who took down Sinclair with a modified Blockbuster while Henley had a hold of Sinclair. This led to a commercial break.

We returned from break as we learned that Eli Knight & Elio Lefleur were taken to medical attention after the backstage attack. Bringing attention back to our match at hand, Sinclair hit Grey with an enzuigiri as she reached out to Reid for a tag. Reid dodged an attempted strike from Grey, which opened her up for a back body drop from Sinclair. Reid finally entered the match and held her own against Grey and Henley for a bit. The Fatal Influence duo soon took advantage with a double team on Reid, before Grey hit a modified ushigoroshi on her opponent. Sinclair broke up the count to keep this match going.

Grey tried for that ushigoroshi again, but Reid reversed and hit a nice spinning elbow instead. Grey found herself trapped in Reid’s armbar while Sinclair locked in the Final Wrench on Henley to keep her from interfering. Grey tapped out to win this match.

After the match Grey called her shot against Jacy Jayne, but Lola Vice appeared and instead said that she’d be the one to be the NXT Women’s Champion. NXT General Manager Mr. Stone soon showed up and declared that next week in New York, we’d see Kendal Grey vs. Lola Vice, with the winner going on to face Jacy Jayne for the NXT Women’s Title at Stand & Deliver next Saturday.

WrenQCC def. Fatal Influence via submission

This was a good opener for tonight’s show, especially as someone who enjoys technical wrestling as much as I do. The scheduled Grey vs. Vice match for next week’s NXT should prove to be an interesting encounter to watch.

****************

Sol Ruca’s face-to-face with Zaria

Ruca was already in the ring and said that she has seen everything that Zaria had to say on social media, telling everyone who would listen. Ruca said that she thought that she and Zaria were stronger than this, but she found out how Zaria thought she wasn’t worth standing next to her anymore.

Ruca talked about how she stood beside her as a friend, every time after every spear, after every snarky comment. Ruca discussed about Zaria didn’t want a team, she just wanted a moment, and that when she got that moment, Zaria decided to take her out instead. Ruca said that she genuinely believed that she and Zaria were better together, which is why she took every opportunity given to them. Maybe that’s where she went wrong, according to Ruca. She gave Zaria her spot in a women’s title battle royal, vouched for her in a TNA Knockouts championship match, and let her fight for her NXT Women’s North American Title.

Ruca said that while it was clear she was fighting for her and Zaria, it was clear that Zaria was simply just fighting for herself. Ruca said that she now knows what Zaria is, and it was time to ftake her on at Stand and Deliver.

Zaria appeared and provided a rebuttal. She accused Ruca of stealing the spotlight, stating that Ruca only saw her as nothing more but a “partner” in her shadow. Zaria said that hitting the spear and F5 was a liberating feeling. And it was fitting that Ruca wanted to fight her at Stand and Deliver, because that’s where it’s started and it’s where it will end.

Zaria yelled that Ruca chose the Women’s North American Championship over her last year at Stand and Deliver, which she hated greatly. Zaria said she hated seeing Ruca succeed, because it meant that she’d stand behind her former friend as a result. Zaria said that she cared enough to realize that as long as Ruca stood, she wasn’t going to herself. Zaria pointed out that this isn’t wasn’t about Ruca, but being about caring about only her interests.

Ruca got upset at Zaria’s gaslighting and silent treatments just because she didn’t get opportunities, then accusing her of being the villain in her story. Zaria corrected Ruca, declaring her not to be the villain of her story, but nothing more but a mistake.

I find this feud having no true heel/face dynamics and it being treated as a realistic breakup (or as realistic as a wrestling storyline can get anyway) between friends. The Performance Center crowd siding with either woman adds to this. Hopefully the presumed Stand & Deliver match between Ruca and Zaria delivers.

****************

– Ricky Saints & Ethan Page argued about who would be the NXT Champion, which annoyed Josh Briggs. Page uttered that between him and Saints, he was the one who pinned Joe Hendry, which brought out the man himself. Hendry said that he doesn’t care which one he’ll face, or if it’s Tony D’Angelo, he’d handle either one of them at Stand & Deliver. After Hendry left, Saints and Page continued to argue amongst themselves.

Kelani Jordan vs. Thea Hail

This match got underway with chain wrestling between Jordan and Hail before the latter hit a Lou Thesz Press. Jordan caught Hail’s leg and began hitting her with punches to the face. Jordan then followed that with an overhead suplex for a two-count. Jordan smashed Hail’s head against the turnbuckle twice, but the third attempt was block before Hail gave Jordan a taste of her own medicine.

Hail struck Jordan in the corner and tried for a suplex, but that was block. Jordan escaped a standing armbar from Hail with a slam, but she got caught in it once more. Jordan broke it up by throwing her into the middle turnbuckle before connecting with an X-Factor. Jordan then got the victory after a Rob Van Dam-style split-legged moonsault.

After the match, Jordan continued the attack on Hail before she locked in an arm bar on her. Jaida Parker ran in and went after Jordan and sent her to a retreat.

Kelani Jordan def. Thea Hail via pinfall

Kind of a short match, which makes it really hard to judge on its own merits or lack thereof. Hail did show some nice fire, but it was ultimately for naught. The Jordan vs. Parker feud should prove to be a hard-hitting one.

****************

– We got remarks from Jasper Troy about what Keanu Carver did last week in his attempt to ruin Booker T Appreciation Night. Troy said that he and Carver would face off next week in New York and he promised to make Carver pay for what he tried to do with Booker.

– Backstage, Shiloh Hill was talking with Tatum Paxley, telling her that he put a picture of Blake Monroe through some tracking software, apparently having a tutorial of some sort for that. Hill gave Paxley the supposed info about Monroe’s whereabouts before leaving for the Gauntlet Eliminator Match that was coming up next.

Gauntlet Eliminator Match (#1 Contender for NXT North American Championship): Shiloh Hill vs. Dion Lennox vs. Jackson Drake vs. Charlie Dempsey vs. ???

Hill entered first before the commercial break, with Jackson Drake being the man he would face first in this Gauntlet Eliminator.

Drake applied a headlock on Hill, but got hit with a running shoulder block. Drake attempted a neckbreaker, but Hill countered that into an attack on the arm. Drake recovered and dropped him on the top rope with the guillotine. With Hill stunned, Drake hit a knee drop to the head and maintained control of this match early on. Hill recovered, but got hit with a standing Russian leg sweep from Drake. The former Evolve Champion soon found himself hit with consecutive tilt-a-whirl slams from Hill.

Entrant #3: Dion Lennox

Lennox stormed the ring and hit Hill and Drake with spinebusters to take command of the match as the match headed to a commercial break.

Entrant #4: Charlie Dempsey

The Birthright’s patriarch entered during commercial, as he took over in the match as we returned. He had Lennox locked in a submission, with Drake and Hill soon joining in a train of sorts. Lennox escaped, but it was Hill who got control with scoop slams a-plenty. Dempsey trapped Hill in a modified STF that was broken up by Drake. Dempsey and Drake brawled it out in the ring, while Hill was thrown into the barricade by Lennox.

Lennox entered the ring and hit a double German Suplex on Dempsey and Drake. While Dempsey and Lennox fought, the final competitor was set to enter. The voice of Candice LeRae was heard, stating that she had tried everything to snap a certain someone out of a funk, and maybe it took a place that he called home… and the final entrant, as we’d find out, is Johnny Gargano!.

Entrant #5: Johnny Gargano

Gargano seemed confused but the WWEPC crowd chanted for him before entering the ring. Drake kicked Gargano as he entered, which seemd to knock him out cold. Dempsey took down Lennox with a triangle choke, but was lifted into a sitdown powerbomb. Drake kicked Lennox out of the ring, which left him at the mercy of OTM, who laid Lennox out with a curbstomp into the broken barricade. Lennox was thrown into the ring, as Hill hit his finisher, a back suplex into a neckbreaker to score the first elimination.

Dion Lennox has been eliminated

We returned from the commercial break as Dempsey and Hill had Drake locked in a simultaneous leg lock that got broken up as the two began trading blows. Meanwhile, Gargano was still out cold on the apron as Drake leapt over the top rope to take both Hill and Drake out with an amazing dive. In the ring, Drake connected with a 450 Splash on Hill, but that wasn’t enough to get the elimination. Dempsey entered the ring and attempted a German suplex, but Drake landed on his feet. Drake clotheslined Dempsey out of the ring as he then hit a suicide dive on the follow-up. Drake tried for a leap, but got caught in the finisher of Hill, which got him the three.

Jackson Drake has been eliminated

Dempsey stepped back into the ring and and began to mix it up with Hill, as he connected with a Northern Lights Suplex, followed by a double underhook Suplex. Dempsey attempted a back suplex, but he found himself with Hill’s finishing move to get the elimination. Afterwards, The Birthright assaulted Hill as Stacks Lorenzo and Uriah Connors threw him into the steel stairs. Dempsey hit a German Suplex on Hill, who was then thrown into the ring. With Hill left beaten, Gargano stood up and was pushed by LeRae, which was counted as a pinfall win.

Johnny Gargano wins the Gauntlet Eliminator to become No. 1 Contender for the NXT North American Championship

The actual gauntlet match was pretty fun, and the finish was a bit ridiculous, but oddly fitting for the rather ridiculous world of NXT.,

****************

– Robert Stone was a busy, busy man as a referee complained that nobody wanted to officiate the Jasper Troy vs. Keanu Carver match next week. Stone said he’d think of something. Jaida Parker rolled up and wanted to face Kelani Jordan next week, Stone then booked the match for next week.

– OTM were backstage as we found out that we’d see them and Darkstate in a six-man tag match next week in New York. TNA World Champion Mike Santana was revealed to be the partner of OTM in this big six-man tag match.

NXT Tag Title Contenders Tournament: Shawn Spears & Niko Vance vs. Los Americanos (Rayo & Bravo Americano)

El Grande Americano’s two charges were revealed as the replacement for Elio & Eli after their winning effort against The Vanity Project last week.

Bravo started out against Spears in this match with a tie-up in the middle of the ring. Bravo broke out of an arm wrench from Spears and hit an arm drag as she showed off. Spears taunted Bravo by flexing his derriere, and got a dropkick in response. Rayo tagged in as Vance entered for his team. Los Americanos’ attempt at a double team was overpowered by a double clothesline from Vance. Rayo chopped at Vance’s chest, but that did minimal damage to the area. Bravo blind tagged in as their attempt at a double team finally succeed against Vance with stereo kicks. Bravo took out Spears with a dive, as Rayo tried one of his own. Vance caught him, but Bravo assisted with the suicide dive to bring Vance to his knees. We took a break in the action.

The match continued from break as Bravo soared and took Spears out with the diving crossbody. The two men made the tag to their respective corners as Rayo was on fire against Vance and Spears. Rayo hit a moonsault from the top against Vance, as he and Bravo attempted some kind of double team move, but Vance caught the two. Vance chokeslammed Bravo onto Rayo. Bravo showed some nice strength with a scoop slam on Vance. He tried the airplane spin on Spears, but Vance stopped that.

Vance headed to the top rope, but Rayo pulled Bravo out, which caused a distraction as Bravo put something under his mask. Spears superkicked Rayo on the apron, as he hit a slam on Bravo. Outside, Rayo loaded his mask and hit the headbutt on Spears. Vance got taken out with a loaded headbutt on the apron by Bravo. The cover on Spears and this one’s done.

The Birthright were seen taunting Los Americanos from the NXT Balcony, as the two teams will face off with the winner facing The Vanity Project at Stand & Deliver

Los Americanos def. Shawn Spears & Niko Vance via pinfall

This was an okay match. Like with El Grande Americano, it all comes down on the enjoyment on the whole Americanos thing. I just couldn’t really get into this match as much as I’d hope to.

****************

– Josh Briggs volunteered to be the referee for Jasper Troy vs. Keanu Carver for next week’s show. Elsewhere, Tatum Paxley was seen pacing at a hallway, in search of Blake Monroe.

– Blake Monroe was seen with the NXT Women’s North American Championship that she stole. Monroe was enjoying a bath when a knock on the door was heard. It was Tatum Paxley, who grabbed at her as we learned that they’d be facing off next week in New York for the Women’s North American Title.

– We got remarks from Sexyy Red about her appearance at Stand & Deliver next Saturday.

Next Week on NXT

  • Darkstate vs. OTM & Mike Santana
  • Jasper Troy vs. Keanu Carver (Guest Referee: Josh Briggs)
  • NXT Women’s Championship Contender’s Match: Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey

Ricky Saints (w/ Ethan Page) vs. Tony D’Angelo

Our main event kicked off with a staredown between the two as D’Angelo blocked a kick from Saints by grabbing at the foot. Saint tried to engage in a mat-based duel with D’Angelo, and managed to keep up with him in this duel. D’Angelo eventually used his strength to overpower Saints with a lifting takedown that sent him rolling out of the ring. At ringside, Saints blocked an overhead belly-to-belly from D’Angelo. However, he couldn’t block the military press throw between the ropes from D’Angelo. Saints went for a leap from the apron, but D’Angelo caught him. The attempted powerslam on the outside was countered by Saints, who pushed him right into the steel steps, which took us to the final commercial break of the evening.

We returned from commercial as Saints applied a resthold on D’Angelo. The hold was broken up as D’Angelo rammed his foe into the corner. Saints tried again with a sleeper on D’Angelo, but he got thrown out of it. D’Angelo tried to fight back with a standing Samoan Drop. Ethan Page pulled at D’Angelo’s leg to create a momentary distraction. Off of this, Saints attempted the Revolution DDT, but D’Angelo muscled his way out of it to hit a suplex instead. Saints recovered and hit two shotgun dropkicks as he attempted a Rochambeau on his foe. Saints couldn’t connect on that, but he did manage to hit a Spear for the near-fall.

Saints threw D’Angelo into the corner as he then stomped at the leg. Another Irish Whip from Saints to D’Angelo into the opposite corner. Saints chopped at D’Angelo’s chest as he then landed two kicks to the back. That seemed to wake up D’Angelo, who got fired up and hit Saints with a hard strike to the face. Big clothesline by D’Angelo was followed by two overhead belly-to-belly suplexes. Spear by D’Angelo made no mistake, as he held Saints up for the Chokeslam. Page attacked D’Angelo to force the DQ as he and Saints attacked him two-on-one.

After the match, Saints and Page attempted a spike piledriver on D’Angelo, but Joe Hendry ran in for the save and fought off the two. With Saints and Page disposed of, Hendry stared down D’Angelo and hit him with the Standing Ovation. In the midst of this, Saints and Page stared down one another as they got a hand each on the NXT Championship.

Before the show wrapped, Sarah Schreiber interviewed Robert Stone, who revealed that we’d see a fatal-four way match for the NXT Title with the four men we just saw. On top of that, we’d get a contract signing with Hendry, D’Angelo, Saints, and Page on next week’s show.

****************

An okay main event that was meant more to set up the Stand & Deliver main event match than anything else. The Page/Saints dynamic is honestly proving to be the most entertaining element amidst everything.

As for this show, it’s NXT. Your enjoyment will come down to whether the sort of show that Shawn Michaels and crew have come up with on here is something to enjoy. I will say that the gauntlet eliminator and the opening tag match were the standouts for me on this night. Also, the build to Stand & Deliver has been good from what I’ve seen, and in some cases, perhaps a bit better than some of the WrestleMania matches being set up.

Daily Update: Sgt. Slaughter, Lilian Garcia, Ricky Saints

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • Preview and business notes on AEW Revolution
  • Updates on WrestleMania, how we got to Rhodes vs. Orton and feuds that are starting
  • A look at the UFC White House show and how we got here
  • Full UFC 326 coverage including the most viewers of a TV UFC show since Paige Van Zant vs. Michelle Waterson
  • A look at the new AEW streaming service
  • NXT Vengeance Day coverage and poll results
  • Odds on upcoming pro wrestling matches
  • Logan Paul’s grandstand challenge to football players gets several takers, including some big names, but nothing can transpire and how it ended
  • Full coverage of the 16 Carat Gold tournament in German featuring many of the best independent wrestlers in the world
  • A complete look at the TV ratings from all the pro wrestling shows over the past week, including breakdowns in various categories, placings, how Raw did on Netflix, competition and more
  • CMLL’s lineup for its No. 2 show of the year next week
  • Full rundown of the CMLL all women’s show onFriday
  • Konnan news
  • Behnid the Nino Hamburguesa firing
  • Rey de Reyes notes
  • Stardom Cinderella tournament news
  • New Japan Cup and anniversary show news
  • Pro wrestler and MMA star looks back at a fixed fight and more comments including the Japanese attempt to get a major WWE star to job in an MMA match to theri guy
  • Notes on a new promotion debuting
  • Attendance updates for future WWE, AEW, TNA and other shows including Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
  • Giant weekend in Europe including the two big Eve shows and the controversy
  • TNA future direction
  • Notes from the Tony Khan media call
  • Putting recent Collision numbers into perspective
  • How Zuffa boxing’s biggest show did
  • Rousey vs. Carano and Rousey’s promotional tactics as well as responses from other fighters
  • Lots of new UFC fights
  • Jake Paul’s women’s boxing group makes ESPN deal
  • Changes to the WWE writing team
  • ESPN reporting side does exactly what they said they wouldn’t do regarding pro wrestling
  • More vacant WWE titles

This Week’s Back Issue

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Wednesday Update

Booker T WWE NXT Appreciation Night
WWE celebrates Booker T on NXT in Houston. (Image credit: WWE)

WWE

  • WWE uploaded the full Tatum Paxley vs. Izzi Dame steel cage match for the Women’s North American Championship that headlined NXT last night.
  • A video package celebrating Booker T aired during the NXT episode, which took place in Houston and was Booker T Appreciation Night. 
  • Ricky Saints spoke with KRON 4 News about his acting ambitions:
    • It’s so taboo to talk about like, ‘Oh, he’s a wrestler and he’s talking about wanting to go from wrestling to acting.’ Yes, for sure, my body won’t be able to do this forever. So, for those who hate hearing it, yes, I want to get into acting. Who cares? I loved acting. I loved [CW’s] Wild Cards. I loved the whole experience. I thought it was really good, and it really gave me a sense of something that I’m able to do after this. [When] this life is over, and so, you know, the hope is more of that to come. And the network, they love me. They really did. They enjoyed me. They cherished me. All my fans. They said, ‘well, Ricky, you did great. You were a natural.’ And I say, ‘Yeah, can’t help it.’
    • I’ve always said I think I could play a really, really good Gambit [from X-Men]. I just need to learn how to throw cards and, you know, shuffle a deck. But, yeah, that’s like the top of the list. If I can get Gambit, it’s a wrap or Blade. Imagine me as Blade. I think I look good in leather.”
  • Sgt. Slaughter told Going Ringside that he was the only wrestler to go to Iron Sheik’s funeral when Sheik passed away in 2023:
    • In 2023, he passed. And I was the only wrestler at his funeral, which I thought was pretty horrendous, that I was the only wrestler to go to his funeral. And he lived in Atlanta where all the wrestlers lived, so I thought that was kind of a slap in the face. [Sheik did] so much not only for wrestlers but for the professional wrestling business.
  • Lilian Garcia was a guest on Busted Open Radio today. She noted that she’ll be doing some ring announcing at WWE’s summer 2026 European tour and will be in Las Vegas for WrestleMania 42 weekend:
    • To be able to get called back, to come back and still have a role. You know, Saturday Night’s Main Event, Worlds Collide. I’ll be doing some of the Europe tour now, they just let me know. And some things here at WrestleMania. It’s just always fun. It’s just in my blood.
  • When asked how WWE has changed across her different stints with the company, Garcia pointed to how much the Wellness Policy has cleaned up things in the locker room:
    • I just listened to the podcast with Chris Masters and Chris Van Vliet actually, and he was talking about some of the things that were happening with the Wellness Policy and how things have changed now and the partying that was before and the Wellness Policy, how it cleaned up a lot. And so it changed.
    • I think for me, that was really great to see too. Obviously, I think for all of us. You know, Tommy [Dreamer], you and I have experienced the loss of so many wrestlers dying way too young. When I started counting it one day, I’m like, ‘I’ve lost my fingers. All my fingers are gone. All my toes are gone. It’s crazy.’ And so I think that’s the biggest thing, that the wellness is better in there. And you’re not expected to be this monster of a wrestler to be able to be effective.
  • Liv Morgan will be appearing at a live podcast taping for Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” during the Wednesday of WrestleMania week.
  • Complex’s Graps podcast interviewed Jade Cargill.
  • Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson will be featured in the next season of the video game Fortnite.
  • For a 3:16 Day video, Danhausen tried to trick wrestlers into thinking he was “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

Other Wrestling

  • In an interview with High Times, Marina Shafir opened up about her relationship with husband Roderick Strong:
    • He’s such an amazing partner. I love that I can speak my love language with my husband while training together. That’s a different level of trust. He understands who I am, and I understand who he is.
    • There’s so much going on outside of my bubble that I can’t control…  It’s a lot. So I take it one week at a time.
    • We really try hard to carve out time for our son, too. Soccer practice, going to the farmers market, and just making time for family.
  • MVP appeared on Your Entertainment Escape in Fresno ahead of tonight’s Dynamite.
  • Denise Salcedo uploaded video of her live show with Willow Nightingale from Revolution weekend.
  • AJPW Tag Team Champions Titans of Calamity (Ren Ayabe & Tolos) will compete in the 2026 NWA Crockett Cup in Forney, Texas on April 4.
  • During an Instagram Q&A, Maki Itoh was asked what her biggest career goal is right now: “Go to the Tokyo Dome with STARDOM. And suddenly show up in AEW again..make the crowd want me, and leave for Japan right away lol”

Ricky Saints says Undertaker has given him ‘so many gems’ of WWE advice

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Getting advice from his favorite wrestler of all time has been a wild experience for Ricky Saints.

In an interview with KRON 4 News, Saints named The Undertaker, The Rock, and Mankind as his three favorite wrestlers. Undertaker takes the top spot on that list, and it’s still surreal for Saints to be in the same company as Undertaker and receiving advice from him.

“I met The Undertaker several times. He’s awesome, given me so many gems of advice and knowledge that he’s dropped on me,” Saints said. “It’s wild. It’s wild to see every time I see him at the [Performance Center] or at some of these shows that we go up and greet each other and, you know, catch up a little bit. But, yeah, it’s insane, like watching as a kid and now being on the same show, being a part of the same company with him, is wild.”

Saints and Undertaker actually first met in a gym while Undertaker was training for his WrestleMania 32 match against Shane McMahon, and Saints later helped Undertaker’s wife Michelle McCool prepare for a Royal Rumble appearance.

Undertaker’s behind-the-scenes influence has grown over the past year with him becoming an important voice in Lucha Libre AAA’s creative after the promotion was acquired by WWE.

At NXT Vengeance Day earlier this month, Saints came up short in his attempt to win the NXT Championship from Joe Hendry. A match between Saints and Tony D’Angelo is set to take place on NXT next week.

Tony D’Angelo vs. Ricky Saints, number one contender’s gauntlet part of next week’s WWE NXT lineup

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Following an event-worthy March 17 episode of WWE NXT and Booker T appreciation night, WWE has already announced another packed NXT episode for next week.

Next week’s March 24 episode of WWE NXT is scheduled to take place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

While this week’s episode has three title matches, next week’s will be more about a number one contender chance.

A Gauntlet Eliminator match has been scheduled to determine the number one contender for Myles Borne’s NXT North American Championship at the Stand and Deliver PLE on April 4, 2026. Ricky Saints, with Ethan Page in his corner, will also take on Tony D’Angelo.

Eli Knight & Elio LeFluer will also take on The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) in the Tag tournament match for the NXT Tag title shot. Below are several other matches announced.

Update lineup for next week’s WWE NXT

  • Ricky Saints (with Ethan Page) vs. Tony D’Angelo
  • Gauntlet Eliminator for a shot at Myles Borne’s North American title at NXT Stand and Deliver
  • Sol Ruca and Zaria to meet face-to-face
  • Eli Knight & Elio LeFluer vs. The Culling (Shawn Spears & Niko Vance) – Tag tournament match for the NXT Tag title shot
  • Thea Hail vs. Kelani Jordan
  • Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley) vs. Wren Sinclair & Kendal Grey

Report: Reason why WWE removed Ricky Saints segment from social media

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Ricky Saints’ infamous concert segment from WWE NXT is now nowhere to be found on WWE’s official social media handles, and Fightful Select has released a report explaining why.

Last week on the March 3 episode of NXT, Saints performed a live concert in what was promoted as “The Ricky Saints Absolute Experience.” While the concert was similar in concept to that of Joe Hendry and The Rock’s, it failed to create an impact. Shortly after releasing the segment on social media, it drew attention, before WWE ultimately decided to remove it.

Fightful Select recently reported that WWE removed the clip after the major negative reaction it received online. Sources close to Fightful Select in NXT claimed that the segment was not his pitch or idea. Saints has been trying to move away from things that could draw his character’s on-screen comparisons to The Rock.

The segment received a lukewarm reaction backstage, and there were no worries about Hendry or Saints moving forward. It was also believed that the two recovered well for NXT Vengeance Day. It was also reported that Saints was not expected to be in NXT for a full year when he joined in 2025 after a run in AEW.

On March 7, 2026, Hendry successfully defended his NXT title against Saints at NXT Vengeance Day.