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Ricky Saints talks new NXT name, says veterans in AEW ‘stuck their nose’ in his creative

Posted: Feb 19th 2025 By: Bryan Rose

Ricky Starks opened up about his new name and his ideas on what led to his AEW departure.

Talking to Busted Open Radio shortly after NXT went off the air, Starks talked about his new name that was revealed on Tuesday’s show, Ricky Saints. He explained that while he knows it will take time to get used to, he likes paying tribute to his home city.

“It’s as close as you’re going to get to Starks. I like the name. I know a lot of people are going to be…it’s going to take time for them to get used to it,” he said. “I respect that they care so deeply about me that they rebel against the name change. But at the same time, I am a product of New Orleans, first and foremost, and I want to pay respect to that as well. I think this is the best of both worlds and that means a lot to me. Obviously I think it’s cool to have a piece of home with me. And the person doesn’t change. I’m still that guy, so it is what it is.”

Bully Ray then gave him the floor to talk about his departure from AEW. Saints first addressed speculation by denying that it was due to appearances at the Royal Rumble or WrestleMania while under AEW contract, saying that his boss (Tony Khan at the time) was okay with it.

“I don’t know the specifics of what it was. Some people, you ask the internet, it was because you were at the Rumble. Screw you. The footage got leaked from me being at the Rumble. I wasn’t backstage…I left after the first match. Some could say well, you were at Mania in a suite and you got on camera cheering. Screw you. You’re an idiot with no friends and no passion in life if you think the damndest thing I’ve done is cheering somebody on in another company…my boss was okay with it.”

“I can’t tell you exactly what the moment was. You could say it was Punk leaving and things kinda fell apart. Absolutely, I probably agree with you on that, alright? Or you could say is that Ricky didn’t play the politics well enough. Alright, for sure…there’s so many things you can say,” he continued. “What I can say for myself is that when I got hurt in March, that was it, I never came back. And even then, I wasn’t hurt, it was a precaution thing where I got scared as I had a stinger. Then I was fine. After that, no, no dice, no communication. No nothing. And that is okay because….I ended up here. And it’s fine. Everything worked out. I don’t know explicitly where it went wrong, I can’t point to one thing. I can say it was a storm of things probably. Did I do something that may have tipped them off? Sure, asking for my release whenever you know, this past whatever, that could have been about it right? But never once was I not willing to do something, never once was I sabotaging anything.”

Ray asked if he felt it was a personal or a professional reason for the release. Saints said it was probably personal because if it was professional, his departure wouldn’t have happened this way.

“I will say this, there are some people who stuck their nose in my creative business that shouldn’t have happened,” Saints said. “Veterans. And that’s it, I’ll leave it at that. And if they got a problem with me, they got my number. And text me about it. I think what it was is if it didn’t work for their creative, then someone had to get the boot. That’s how I see it. But I’m not trying to be negative in my thought process about it…if you want to step on me to get ahead in your illustrious career, everyone has an illustrious career. Everyone should have an illustrious career. That is perfectly fine. But at the same time, I’m not wet behind my ears.”

Saints will have his first NXT match next week when the brand heads to Cincinnati. He will team with Je’Von Evans to take on Ethan Page and Wes Lee.

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion

Week of Sun 04-26 to Sat: 05-02

04-26 2008 Jerry Bostic def. Joshua Smith for the 3DW Violent Division Title
04-26 2008 Shane Rawls def. Ky-Ote for the 3DW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2014 Buster Cherry def. Bud Barnes for the SWCW All-American Title
04-26 2014 Chaz Sharpe def. Kevin James Sanchez for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Warhammer for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
04-26 2024 Miranda Gordy def. Sgt. Slice for the CPW Women’s Title
04-26 2025 Deacon Hendrix became the RWE Heavyweight Champion
04-26 2025 Family Affiliated (Athan Sorrow & Rika Wildlee) became the RWE Tag Team Champions
04-26 2025 Gluttony became the RWE United States Champion
04-26 2025 Bishop Simon became the RWE Light Heavyweight Champion
04-26 2025 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Corporal Punishment) def. The Main Characters (Sean Ryan & Daniel Aaron Michalles) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
04-27 1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
04-27 1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
04-27 2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
04-27 2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-27 2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
04-27 2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
04-27 2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion
04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Title
04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Title
04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Title
04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Title
04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Title
04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Titles
04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Title
04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
04-30 1971 Toru Tanaka def. Johnny Valentine for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Title
04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Title
04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Title
04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Title
04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Title
05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Title
05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Title
05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
05-02 1975 Mad Dog Vachon def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Title
05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Title

04-27

Yasu Fuji Apr 27th Today!
Siva Afi Apr 28th
Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
Sunshine Apr 29th
Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
Prince Maivia May 1st
Barrett Brown May 2nd
Americos May 2nd
Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
Big Bossman May 2nd
Kari Wright May 2nd
Don Fields May 2nd
Lester Welch May 3rd
Lily McKenzie May 3rd
Johnny Humble May 3rd
Malik Mayfield May 4th
El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
Dory Funk May 4th
Jay Hazzard May 4th
Bull Schmitt May 4th
Olivier Vegos May 5th
Bill Watts May 5th
Zane Morris May 5th
El Gallardo May 5th
Princess Victoria May 5th
El Matador Dos May 5th
Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
Maria Brigitte May 5th
Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
Claire Watson May 6th
Hercules May 7th
Richie Adams May 8th
Jake Danielsson May 9th
Tito Santana May 10th
Billy Brown May 10th
Sunny War Cloud May 10th
Rook Tyler May 10th
Jerry Brown May 10th

1978 The Assassin became the TSW Louisiana Champion
1981 Junkyard Dog & Dick Murdoch def. The Grappler & The Super Destroyer for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
2003 The Sharpe Brothers (Chaz Sharpe & Rich Sharpe) def. John O'Malley & All-American Aaron for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2003 Se7en def. Aaron Neil for the ACW Hardcore Title
2008 Tyrone def. Jerry Bostic for the 3DW Violent Division Title
2019 Brandon Groom def. Brian Dixon for the BPW Lion Heart Title
2019 Doc Black became the BCW Heritage Rivalry Champion

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Unified Wrestling of Oklahoma

Heavyweight Champion
Colton Kinnamon

Women's Champion: Morgan Levay
Dojo Division Champion: Dale Reeves

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