Ricky Saints: Cody Rhodes has been ‘very impactful’ in my life and career
Posted: Mar 5th 2026 By: Joseph Currier
Cody Rhodes’ friendship has made a big impact on Ricky Saints both personally and professionally.
In 2020, Rhodes brought Saints (Ricky Starks) into AEW for a match that led to him being signed by the company. Both are now part of WWE with Rhodes on the main roster and Saints in NXT. They do not get to see each other in person too often at the moment, but Rhodes still helps guide Saints in his career and life in general.
“The friendship in itself is great because, you know, I don’t know if he sees a younger kid in me [like] when he was first starting out. I don’t know. I would think so, but I really don’t know,” Saints told the Battleground Podcast. “But he’s great in the fact that there are things that I’m figuring out on my own. And there are little pockets that I kind of miss, right? He is great at identifying those pockets and giving me words of wisdom that allow me to ultimately guide myself to what it is that I should be learning or figuring out.
“He’s really, really good at that. He’s really good at giving you a perspective and you ultimately being like, ‘Oh, okay. I get it now.’ It’s so undervalued in that sense, because you’re usually used to people like physically showing you this or doing that, right? Since we don’t live very close to each other, it’s hard. So when we do have these moments where we do see each other and we talk, the conversations are in depth. They have such a deep magnitude to them of like life and sh*t outside of wrestling, you know what I’m saying? It covers all of it. So he’s been very impactful in my career and in my life too, personally and professionally. So I can’t really thank him too much [for] that.”
Saints has been in NXT since debuting for WWE in February 2025. He has the chance to become a two-time NXT Champion when he challenges Joe Hendry for the belt at Vengeance Day this Saturday.
This week will also see Rhodes challenge for gold when he faces Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship on SmackDown. That matchup will have a big impact on WrestleMania plans with Randy Orton now confirmed to be challenging for the belt at Mania.
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Spotlight in History
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- 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
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- 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
- 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
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- 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
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- 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
- 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Title
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Week of Sun 04-19 to Sat: 04-25
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- 04-19 2013 Bree Ann def. Barbi Hayden for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 04-19 2014 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
- 04-19 2014 Jake O'Brien def. Brian Breaker for the OWA Heavyweight Title
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- 04-19 2014 Miss Diss Lexia def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
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- 04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 04-21 1979 Mike George def. Jerry Stubbs for the TSW Louisiana Title
- 04-21 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
- 04-21 2007 Kareem Sadat def. K-Rob for the AACW Hardcore Title
- 04-21 2007 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. The Re-Gex (Seth Shai & Mace) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
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- 04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 04-22 1985 The Great Kabuki became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
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- 04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
- 04-23 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-23 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
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- 04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
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- 04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
- 04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
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- 04-24 2026 Nate Bourne def. Skidz for the RDW Iron Man Title
- 04-24 2026 Morgan Levay def. Shylynn for the UWO Women's Title
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- 04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
- 04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
- 04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
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- 04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
- 04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
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- 04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
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- 04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions
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Oklafan Quiz
Missy Hyatt was married to Eddie Gilbert at the time of his death.