Former AEW Champion Ricky Saints Joins WWE, Set for NXT Title Match

Ricky Saints, a former AEW TNT Champion, revealed that WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H personally called him to join WWE shortly after his release from AEW. The call happened while Saints was at an airport in Seattle, where he initially mistook the unknown number for a prank but answered anyway, leading to a conversation about WWE's interest in signing him, though not immediately for the main roster. Triple H invited Saints to meet Shawn Michaels, which Saints saw as a key opportunity to develop his skills, describing himself as a "rough diamond that just needs a little polishing." Since joining WWE's NXT brand in early 2025, Saints has made a significant impact, winning the NXT North American Championship before dropping it to Ethan Page. Saints is set to challenge Page again in a Falls Count Anywhere match at the Great American Bash on July 12, seeking to reclaim the title. His rapid rise in NXT demonstrates WWE's belief in his potential and the successful transition from AEW.