Ricky Saints called up to WWE SmackDown after NXT title reign
WWE SmackDown this week will see one more NXT call-up. Last week, it was Fatal Influence who made their presence known, receiving real heel heat. Now, it's time for a babyface who's graduating from the developmental brand after only one year. Cody Rhodes is thus welcoming him on SmackDown.
The American Nightmare took on X to congratulate Ricky Saints in a post by the latter, in which he promoted his live appearance on May 1 from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Rhodes replied to it with a GIF of 'All these feelings hitting me at once', implying his emotions for the Saints' debut.
Cody and Ricky have been friends for a long time, way before their time in AEW. As the former NXT Champion wrestled his last match in NXT just this week, in a loss against Shiloh Hill.
"Crybaby Ricky gonna'd do something or what? " Rhodes wrote.
Ricky Saints cut an NXT off-air promo ahead of his SmackDown debut. He began by thanking the people in the production truck. He messed up the dates while saying it there, but he did mean Feb 11 as his debut and Feb 25 as his in-ring debut match.
"February (11, 2025), 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 (25th), I had my first match, and then a few months after that, I won the North American Championship. I want you to understand something, I didn't not know what I was getting myself into when I came here, but you welcomed me," said Ricky Saints
In conclusion, Ricky said that if this is the very last time he's on NXT, he'll thank everyone for this journey. He hopes they will continue watching him on SmackDown from now on, too.
