Who is Ricky Saints
Ricky Saints, formerly known as Ricky Starks, is a 36-year-old professional wrestler who spent years in AEW before joining WWE. He made his NXT debut on February 11, 2025, and quickly established himself as a top talent, winning both the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship during his year-long run on the developmental brand.
Why He's Debuting on SmackDown
Saints is moving to WWE's main roster following his successful stint on NXT. After his final NXT match on April 28, 2026 against Shiloh Hill, he delivered an emotional farewell to the NXT audience, thanking them for welcoming him and helping him succeed. His call-up to SmackDown on May 1, 2026 represents his promotion to the main roster as a developed talent ready for the biggest WWE stage.
Connection to Cody Rhodes
Saints and Cody Rhodes have a history dating back to their time together in AEW. The two were famously photographed together backstage at WWE's Royal Rumble in 2023. Ahead of Saints' SmackDown debut, Rhodes sent him a supportive message on Twitter calling him 'Crybaby Ricky' and saying he was 'pumped for you,' to which Saints responded with his own playful GIF.
NXT Journey
Unlike some AEW stars like Jade Cargill and Royce Keys who went straight to the main roster, Saints spent his developmental period on NXT helping elevate younger talent. In his post-show promo after his final NXT match, he expressed gratitude to NXT fans and the production team, noting that the transition to WWE was challenging but that he worked hard and the fans repaid him with support. 
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