WWE star Ricochet has responded to the reports about his contractual status with the company and denied the rumors about his future.

The high flying star took on his Twitter yesterday and replying to a report of him possibly leaving the company soon, he claimed that the news is fake:

For those who don’t know, it was first reported back in September that a top WWE star has decided not to re-sign with the promotion and leave the company when his contract expires.

It was then revealed recently that Ricochet’s current deal with the company is expiring soon and the One and Only has not signed a new deal with the promotion.

The former NXT star apparently signed a three year deal with WWE back in 2018 which means that his current contract will be expiring sometimes this year.

• Mark Henry Calls Out Ricochet: “I want him to get fired up to where it pisses people off”

While Ricochet has claimed the news to be fake, we have seen a trend of stars denying reports about their comeback or departure from the company recently which have eventually come true.

So while the Raw star is claiming that the reports are not accurate, it’s very much possible that he is working the fans until he gets free of his WWE deal.

Ricochet could become the next high-profile talent to enter the free agency market.

The 32-year-old high flyer signed with WWE in 2018. It’s believed he signed a 3-year deal, which has lead to speculation about his future over the past several months. Fast forward to January 2021 and Ricochet might have some tough decisions to make about his future.

Bryan Alvarez addressed the situation this week on Wrestling Observer Live. Alvarez does not believe Ricochet has re-signed with WWE. This does not mean that Ricochet is definitely leaving WWE, but this is a developing story we’ll be covering.

Ricochet’s WWE run has been unremarkable to say the least. Sadly, his story is a familiar one. After an impressive career wrestling around the world and tearing up the independent scene, he signed with WWE and had a solid run in NXT before floundering on the main roster. Last year, he was saddled with a “Losing Streak” storyline, which always goes over so well.

In recent weeks, Ricochet has been wrestling on WWE Main Event with occasional appearances on WWE Raw.

WWE was offering big money contracts to talent up until year ago to prevent them from signing with AEW. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there were drastic cost-cutting measures. Dozens of wrestlers were let go last year and WWE’s offers to talent have been far less lucrative.

• Mark Henry Calls Out Ricochet: “I Want Him To Get Fired Up!”

WWE Hall of Famer and co-host of Busted Open Radio Mark Henry recently discussed WWE Superstar Ricochet on the show.

Henry and host Dave LaGreca were covering Pat McAfee and his recent promo work in NXT. Mark Henry was complimentary of McAfee’s work, saying “he’s glib, he knows who he is.” The World’s Strongest Man would then move on to talk about the RAW Superstar Ricochet; saying that he needs to be more forceful in how he approaches his on-screen character.

Mark Henry on Ricochet

“I don’t find this offensive, but I don’t want my guy [Ricochet] to get angry” Mark Henry began on the podcast. I told Ricochet, last time I saw him, ‘why would you allow somebody to tell you who you are?’

Mark Henry would then discuss the idea of WWE talent being given more leeway with their promo and character work. “YOU go out and dictate what the narrative is about you, how you want to be portrayed. Everybody knows that Ricochet is awesome. There’s probably not 10 people better than him as a pro wrestler.”

• News On WWE’s Instructions To Virtual Fans Inside The Thunderdome

“But the difference between Ricochet and Pat McAfee” Mark Henry would continue, “is Pat McAfee knows who he is. And he don’t give a damn if you don’t like it. He don’t give a damn. Ricochet needs to get some [of that]. ‘I don’t give a damn what you think. This is who I am. This is what I am.’

Henry would finish by re-iterating that he is a massive Ricochet fan, but he wants him to move on to the next level with his character work. “Then we’ll have a different Ricochet, because I’m on the Ricochet bandwagon. I want him to get fired up sometimes to where it pisses people off. Sometimes you got to break a few eggs and make an omelette.”

Do you agree with Mark Henry? Let us know in the comments

Ricochet decided to take some time in order to send a message to fans. 

He did so in a post on his official Twitter account after seeing fans comment on how they missed seeing him during this Monday’s RAW episode. Instead, he worked the Main Event TV taping before the show. 

This is where he told them that they should be happy that he gets to perform for them at all.

“Okay, I just want to say everyone should be happy that I get to perform for you all every week. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter to me in what capacity. So let’s celebrate that and not dwell on anything else. #LifeIsGreat.”

Ricochet made another tweet earlier this afternoon where he wrote, “Bouncing back is my thing!”

This comes as his slump continues. He lost a squash to WWE Champion Brock Lesnar at the WWE Super ShowDown pay-per-view event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the Mohammed Abdou Arena. 

The following week, he lost another quick match to WWE 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss on RAW. Of course, this week Ricochet wrestled Eric Young on Main Event. 

Dave Meltzer reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that the original plan was for R-Truth to face Moss on RAW but WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon changed it to Ricochet being booked in the match. 

Ricochet Opens Up About Brock Lesnar Match, If He’d Go ‘Home’ To NXT

Ricochet recently joined Good Morning Washington with Julie Wright on WJLA. During their conversation, the RAW Superstar reflected on his Super ShowDown matchup against WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. He also broached the idea of returning to WWE’s black-and-gold brand, NXT. 

“That’s a place that I would always like to call a home for me,” Ricochet of NXT. “It was a place that I enjoyed thoroughly while I was there. Now that they have more exposure, every Wednesday on the USA network, I think that’s huge.”

He added how any time they might need him, he would “be there for sure, no problem.”

Ricochet’s WWE Schedule & Loss To Lesnar

Going back to NXT would undoubtedly add to an already hectic WWE schedule. Ricochet explained how there is no off-season for WWE Superstars. Despite being on the road for almost 300 days a year, he noted that traveling with friends helps make the journeys easier.

Turning his attention to his loss to Lesnar last month, Ricochet remained positive about his experience. He confessed that the match was a “dream come true” for him. “I can remember Brock facing The Rock or Kurt Angle and I am glad to be a part of that history now.” Ricochet lost to Lesnar in approximately one minute and thirty seconds. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription. 

RAW Superstar Ricochet has been on a losing streak recently. WWE’s “Resident Superhero” recently suffered a quick loss to WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. They competed last week during WWE’s Super ShowDown event in Saudi Arabia. He lost in one minute and thirty seconds. This past Monday night on RAW, the former United States Champion suffered a loss to current WWE 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss.

Taking to his Instagram account, Ricochet shared a message with his fans:

“It’s not bad to dream. But you also have to consider what’s realistic. Whether you win or lose, looking back and learning from your experience is a part of life.”

The quote is reportedly from the anime series My Hero Academia, which Ricochet is a fan of. At last year’s Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia, Ricochet competed in wrestling gear inspired by one of anime’s characters, All Might.

At the time of writing, Ricochet has yet to be scheduled for a matchup at this Sunday’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. He also doesn’t have a match at this year’s WrestleMania 36 event, which takes place on April 5 from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Between now and April, WWE still has the opportunity to involve the Superstar on the “Grandest Stage of Them All.”

WWE’s “Resident Superhero” Ricochet earned himself a huge opportunity this past Monday night on RAW. He defeated Bobby Lashley and one half of the RAW Tag Team Champions, Seth Rollins, in a Triple Threat match to earn a WWE Championship match. However, not everyone is happy for him. Taking to Twitter, Ricochet reacted to some of the negative comments his victory has received.

Ricochet Responds

One of the more succinct messages he shared read “Can’t you all just enjoy things? Haha.” He did, however, wade into a few conversations. Ricochet responded to the more negative reactions regarding his win/loss record and his championship opportunity.

When a fan responded to his open question, they answered that they weren’t able to enjoy the product. They argued that WWE has failed to deliver so consistently they have no faith in the product. Ricochet replied to let him know that he respects his opinion on the matter, even if he might disagree.

Another fan tried to make the conversation about Ricochet’s wins and losses on RAW, to which Ricochet replied: “You do realize I had the most wins on Raw last year, right? Haha”

His victory has seen him get a WWE Championship match against Brock Lesnar at Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia. The event takes place on February 27, 2020, from the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

WWE’s Resident Superhero, Ricochet, has responded to a fan who was critical of his inclusion onto RAW’s Survivor Series team. Engaging on Twitter, Ricochet replied to the fan who wasn’t happy that the Superstar isn’t receiving more championship opportunities.

“My guy, you gotta remember I just got here not even a year ago and I plan on being here a long time. I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot in 9 months. So just relax, I’ve got this. It’s all apart of the plan.”

He followed it up with a tweet highlighting his current win/loss record on Monday Night RAW, adding: “For people who are wanting to know why I got added to the #SurvivorSeries team over others. Maybe it’s because I have the best win-loss on Raw? Not a brag, but a visualization of years of hard work and dedication to my craft. This is something I do not take for granted.”

Ricochet recently commented on his current position within WWE, defending how the promotion has utilized him to date. He noted how he loved being “portrayed as a superhero to hopefully millions of children and people around the world. The entire @WWEUniverse pushes me to be better everyday.”

Ricochet joins Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton as a member of Team RAW. They face the SmackDown Team of Roman Reigns, Ali, Braun Strowman, King Corbin and Shorty G. There are no announced members of Team NXT at this time.

Survivor Series takes place on November 24th from the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois.

RAW Superstar Ricochet has defended how WWE has been utilizing him since his move up to the main roster from NXT. He was responding to several fans via Twitter who highlighted how often he loses on shows and, in their opinion, has no push.

Ricochet shared how he has the most wins on RAW to date. He also pointed to how he won a championship within a few months of arriving on WWE’s main roster. “I love being a portrayed as a superhero to hopefully millions of children and people around the world,” he added. “The entire @WWEUniverse pushes me to be better everyday.”

He denied that he was bothered by the comments, explaining that he just loves to engage with his fans worldwide.

“Whether they agree with me or not. They have a right to express how they feel. I simply just give my thoughts back and hopefully they understand where I’m coming from. Nothing but love here.”

When another fan commented on the “hate” he receives on social media regarding a win/loss record, Ricochet noted how he doesn’t believe their opinions stem from hatred. He thinks they come from the point of passion from fans who want to see him perform to the best of his abilities and be given a bigger spotlight to do so.

Randy Orton is set to appear at Crown Jewel in the 10-man tag team match where he will be part of Team Flair against Team Hogan.

Meanwhile on this Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, Orton delivered a RKO to Ricochet, who is going to be against Ortons team. Bully Ray and Mark Henry discussed this topic on SiriusXM’s Busted Open radio and gave their opinions on whether both the Superstars could do a program together.

Bully Ray wondered and asked Mark Henry if Ricochet could be right guy to work with Orton. Bully believes that finding the right guy to compliment Orton is difficult.

“I’ve been saying it for a long time, when it comes to Randy Orton, the problem is not Randy Orton. It’s finding the right guy to compliment Randy Orton. Do you think Ricochet could be that guy to have a good program with Randy?”

Henry answered that he sees Ricochet and Orton having a successful program together. Henry believes that Orton could bring Ricochet out of his shell as Randy Orton can be a devastating man with his words and he doesn’t care.

“I do. I think that it’ll have legs, I loved him and AJ Styles, but I think that this would be even more,” Henry answered. “Randy would bring Ricochet out of his shell. He’s going to have to, because if you’re in the ring Randy is going to talk about your mama, man, Randy don’t care. He will talk about your wife and kids, he’ll talk about ‘Oh, I saw you out there with that girl, was that your girlfriend or was that one of your side pieces?,’ Randy don’t care, he’ll bring it out of you.”

“For those of you don’t understand, when you say Randy Orton doesn’t care – you know the real Randy Orton, and I know the real Randy Orton – Randy truly does not care. Like, he will say and do just about anything. Randy don’t give a f–k,” Bully said.

Henry agreed and advised Ricochet to not piss Orton off. Henry also added that it could be a test for Ricochet to show his compatibility skills while wrestling Orton.

“And Ricochet, hey, people are not gonna blame Randy Orton if this s–t doesn’t go right. They’re gonna blame you. Because ‘You couldn’t work with Randy?’ ‘You couldn’t elevate yourself with Randy Orton?’ ‘I don’t know if you can after that.'”

Finally, Henry gave his opinion on Ricochet saying that he hasn’t been tested well before and working with Orton will be his ultimate test. Orton will try to gauge Ricochet and see what he has to offer.

“I think Ricochet is confused about what leadership is because he’s young,” Henry said. “He hasn’t had a dancing partner where the dancing partner says ‘Hey man, you call it, I want to see what you got,’ and Randy is going to do that. Randy is going to try him, Randy’s going to see, like, are you just a one-trick pony.”

Backstage news on Drew McIntyre following his return to WWE television has surfaced. 

McIntyre was revealed as the final member of Team Flair on Monday’s episode of RAW by the WWE Hall of Famer in the opening segment of the show before he wrestled his first match back after being sidelined. 

He beat Ricochet in a singles match. Ricochet will be on Team Hogan. 

Drew McIntyre Returns On WWE Monday Night RAW

During the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, it was noted that this match was all about getting McIntyre over and not to push the Team Hogan vs. Team Flair match at WWE Crown Jewel. 

As of this writing, there’s no word yet on exactly where WWE creative is going with both stars or if they have plans for the feud to continue after Crown Jewel.

What was noted is the fact that officials are high on both McIntyre and Ricochet and have plans to give them strong pushes. 

Prior to going down with an injury that resulted in him getting surgery to fix, WWE officials have wanted to push McIntyre in a big way. That’s one of the reasons he underwent surgery that caused him to be out of action as they want him to be on television heading into WrestleMania season. 

WWE is trying to get McIntyre over for a top spot on RAW at this time. Thus, the reason that he went over Ricochet. It was added that WWE is saving Ricochet’s run at the top for later down the line as Ricochet is more of a long-term project.

WWE Superstar Ricochet recently divulged the scariest moment of his WWE career to date during an interview with Digital Spy. When asked, Ricochet shared that the double moonsault he performed off the cage during NXT: TakeOver WarGames last year is what sticks in his mind.

“At that time I hadn’t done the double moonsault since about 2013, so it had been a while. I was like, ‘Man, can I even still do this?’ And it was so high. But when I got up there, I didn’t even think about it. I just kind of went and did it and you can’t practice it.”

His athleticism has captured the imaginations of fans worldwide. His ability to fly, however, doesn’t come from a gymnastics background. Ricochet explained that his move set actually evolved through “trial and error.”

His method of learning what would eventually become his in-ring style was perfected through this mindset. He admitted that “As a kid, there were a lot of shenanigans like jumping off something, or jumping out of something.”

Championship Aspirations

When asked over his current championship aspirations, the former WWE United States Champion confessed he’d like to reclaim that title. He also has an eye on the Intercontinental Championship.

“I really enjoyed my United States Championship run. I feel like there’s still something there I could do with AJ [Styles]. I would also love to share the ring with Shinsuke [Nakamura] again, especially now he has the Intercontinental Championship, which has always been one of my favorite belts.”

Despite championship ambitions, there are still a few Superstars that Ricochet would love to feud with if given a chance. He believes that, if given an appropriate amount of time, he and Cesaro would be “gold” in the ring. He also named Rey Mysterio as an opponent he’d love to wrestle, stating that “there’s something there between us and we could really do some good together.”

It’s not yet clear who the father of Maria Kanellis’ baby is. Last night on WWE RAW, Maria told her husband, Mike Kanellis, that Ricochet was actually the father of her baby. Rusev would then return to WWE at the same time Maria was about to name who the baby’s father really is.

Ricochet’s real-life partner Kacy Catanzaro commented on Maria’s claims from last night on RAW. She posted the following to Twitter:

Ricochet then offered up the following in response:

Rusev returned last night as part of the segment with Maria, her baby, and her husband. He offered up the following on Twitter regarding his return:

Is Kacy Catanzaro Leaving WWE?

It has been reported that Kacy Catanzaro will be leaving WWE. No official confirmation of her departure has been made, however.

Ricochet spoke to SI.com recently and addressed Catanzaro’s status with WWE.

“She’s still with the company. She’s not retired at all and she’s not injured. It’s a tough sport and we’re all hurting, but there is nothing wrong with her,” he said. When asked if Catanzaro would ever wrestle again, Ricochet is not sure.” I don’t know,” he responded. “She’s very family-oriented and she wants kids, so she doesn’t know if being on the road so much is for her.”

• Ricochet Talks King of the Ring & Addresses Kacy Catanzaro Situation

“For me, I’m already too deep—I’m on the road all the time. She loves wrestling and she loves it here, and she’s so good at it, so it’s a very tough decision for her.”

Ricochet will compete in a triple threat match in Madison Square Garden on Monday night against Baron Corbin and Samoa Joe. The winner of the match will go on to Clash of Champions and compete in the King of the Ring finals. Ricochet took part in an interview with SI.com recently and spoke about what the King of the Ring means to him, working with Paul Heyman, and provided an update on Kacy Catanzaro.

Ricochet on King of the Ring

“Being a part of the King of the Ring is awesome. All my favorite guys won the King of the Ring: Steve Austin, Triple H, Owen Hart. I loved Randy Savage as the Macho King,” Ricochet said.

“The tournament has been great for us, too. All the guys in it are all really good in the ring, so it’s been great match after great match. And we’ve been given significant time to make it work, so that aspect has really helped, too. Being a part of something so prestigious is so cool—it’s where Austin 3:16 started—and maybe it can lead to my Austin 3:16 moment.”

He also spoke about working with Paul Heyman on RAW.

“Before I even came to Raw, Paul was always good to me. Our interactions and talks were always great, and I think he sees my passion for professional wrestling. I’m a fan of his. If I’m on his good side, I want to stay there. My goal is to get better every single week and do everything I can to the best of my abilities.”

Ricochet on Kacy Catanzaro

Ricochet’s partner Kacy Catanzaro was reported as having handed in her notice recently via Squared Circle Sirens. The former WWE United States champion addressed Catanzaro’s situation during the interview as well.

“She’s still with the company. She’s not retired at all and she’s not injured. It’s a tough sport and we’re all hurting, but there is nothing wrong with her,” he said. When asked if Catanzaro would ever wrestle again, Ricochet is not sure.” I don’t know,” he responded. “She’s very family-oriented and she wants kids, so she doesn’t know if being on the road so much is for her.”

“For me, I’m already too deep—I’m on the road all the time. She loves wrestling and she loves it here, and she’s so good at it, so it’s a very tough decision for her.”

• Ricochet Discusses Connection With Fans, If Backstage Is Different Under Paul Heyman

The full interview with SI.com can be read here.

AJ Styles is still the WWE United States Champion. 

Styles beat Ricochet to successfully retain the strap at the SummerSlam pay-per-view event. This comes after the two stars have wrestled a few times on WWE programming that could’ve been the blow-off match of this feud. 

WWE SummerSlam 2019 Results & Live Coverage (8/11)

Last month on an episode of RAW in Little Rock, Arkansas, WWE held a Gauntlet Match to determine who will be the next star in line to challenge for the strap. 

Ricochet, Rey Mysterio, Cesaro, Sami Zayn and Andrade were the stars that competed in this contest. As a result of Ricochet winning, he got the shot against “The Phenomenal One.”

Styles beat Ricochet to win the United States Title in June at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view event in Philadelphia, PA.

Ricochet beat Samoa Joe to win the title at the WWE Stomping Grounds pay-per-view event in Tacoma, WA back in June. This marked Ricochet’s first title on the main roster. 

Both stars will likely receive new opponents for different feuds heading into the Clash of Champions pay-per-view event on Sunday, September 15, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina at the Spectrum Center.

What are your thoughts on AJ Styles retaining the United States Title? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.

Ricochet was not medically cleared for last night’s RAW Reunion show in Tampa. As a result, his planned segment with the O.C and DX had to be changed.

According to a report from Wrestling Observer Radio, Ricochet was originally supposed to join DX and the Outsiders from fending off AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson. An elbow infection would keep him from being medically cleared, however, and Seth Rollins was chosen to replace him in the segment.

“Ricochet has an elbow infection,” said Dave Meltzer. “So, the whole spot that Seth did with AJ Styles that was all Ricochet.”

RAW Segment Changed

• 7 Takeaways From WWE RAW Reunion (7/22)

“I know that the idea for the show, one of the big ideas on the show was that Ricochet gets the big rub at the end from DX where they endorse him and they say he’s going to be the next big thing and that’s what that segment was supposed to be,” Meltzer continued.

“Ricochet was not cleared to do anything so Seth Rollins took his place.”

He was cleared as recently as this weekend, however. Ricochet performed on WWE live events in New Jersey and Orlando this Saturday and Sunday. He defeated Cesaro in a single’s match and dropped a triple threat US title match to AJ Styles with Cesaro the other competitor.

Ricochet may have lost his WWE United States Championship to AJ Styles at Sunday’s Extreme Rules event, but that hasn’t affected his popularity amongst the WWE Universe.

Speaking with 969 The Game, Ricochet discussed his move to Orlando, his connection with the fans, and if backstage feels any different now Paul Heyman is Monday Night RAW’s Executive Director.

Addressing his connection with the WWE Universe, Ricochet said that “The very first thing is my in-ring ability that I give to fans. The acrobatics and the style that I have is what catches everyone’s eyes. I’m hoping since people see that I’m just a normal dude, a kid from Kentucky living his dream. I think people can see that and understand that. That helps them connect with me a little bit more. Obviously, at first it’s the visual aspect, but then it’s more…which is awesome.”

“Everyone Has Started To up Our Game”

He confesses that not much has changed backstage since Heyman stepped into his new role, though it’s still early days. That hasn’t stopped himself and other Superstars from pushing themselves, performing to their best ability.

“I feel like all the boys in the locker room, everyone has started to up our game and make the most of what we can get. To do our roles the best we can and make the show the best it can be. Nothing crazy dramatic, but a little bit over time since I’ve been here … slowly we have all tried to do everything we can to the best of our abilities.”

This past Monday night on RAW, Ricochet teamed up with the Usos, defeating The Revival and Robert Roode.

H/T to Wrestlezone for the transcription.

Samoa Joe did not successfully retain the WWE United States Title in his latest title defense as the secondary champion on the RAW roster.

Instead, Ricochet beat Joe to win the title at the WWE Stomping Grounds pay-per-view event in Tacoma, WA. This marks Ricochet’s first title on the main roster.

This contest was set up when WWE held a Fatal 5-Way Match on Monday’s RAW that saw The Miz, Braun Strowman, Ricochet, Cesaro, and Bobby Lashley battle it out to find out who would become the new #1 contender for the United States Title.

As seen in the match, Ricochet won the contest and now has earned the right to challenge Joe for the United States Title at this show.

Joe became champion again once Rey Mysterio was forced to vacate it when he separated an acromioclavicular joint in his shoulder last month. In early June, Rey handed him the title that saw him be crowned the new champion.

Joe originally won the United States Title for the first time when he beat Mysterio, Andrade, and R-Truth in a Fatal 4-Way Match on the March 5th episode of SmackDown Live in Wilkes-Barre, PA. This marked the first set of gold as part of the WWE main roster for the former two-time NXT Champion.

• WWE Stomping Grounds Results & Live Coverage

What are your thoughts on Ricochet winning the United States Title? Was this the right call by WWE officials? Sound off in the comment section.

Ricochet helped lead his team to victory last night on Monday Night RAW. He teamed up with Braun Strowman and The Miz to face off against Cesaro, Bobby Lashley, and the United States Champion, Samoa Joe.

The matchup was put together after MizTV guest, Samoa Joe, was interrupted by both Strowman and Lashley. The men made their arguments over why they were more deserving of a US title shot. Ricochet then inserted himself into the mix before being blind-sided by a sucker-punch from Cesaro.

In a post-match interview with Sarah Schreiber, Ricochet made his intentions clear: he wants a US championship match.

“I came out because almost every week those two are always arguing about who’s bigger and stronger,” Ricochet said. “And again, like I said, bigger and stronger, that’s not me, that’s not why I came here. I came here because I wanted to win. And tonight, I did that.”

He continued, “I’ve had some success in NXT, everybody knows that, but now I’m here, and I need to make an impact here. I’ve had a string of victories over the past couple of weeks, so I thought what better time to keep that momentum going, and I noticed Joe doesn’t really have any challengers, yet. So, I figured I’d step up, use that momentum to challenge for the US Championship, because, y’ know, that’s what it’s all about. Everyone can argue all they want, but I’m here to win.”

Given Samoa Joe’s recent comments regarding long-term challengers, it appears as though Ricochet may be exactly what the Samoan Submission Machine has been searching for.

Prior to signing with WWE, Ricochet had been establishing himself worldwide on the independent circuit. During this time, he honed his craft and developed the style that would bring him to the attention of WWE and, later, the WWE Universe.

Speaking with the State of Combat podcast, Ricochet detailed the transition he experienced segueing from the indies to WWE.

“It Really Helped Me Out”

“That was actually one of the things that I was looking forward to the most when I was getting signed was to come to the Performance Center to work on some of the parts that I wasn’t really the best at,” he said.

“I was learning from guys like Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Terry Taylor, Norman Smiley as far as character and promos, they would say things that are so obvious, but I just wouldn’t think about it. [….] I felt like it really helped me out. Not even with promos and characters, even in the ring stuff that I thought I had ironed out they would tell me things that would make it even better and I would think how they made my process so much better and how I wasn’t sure why I never thought about it. I have no complaints for my time at the Performance Center. It was great.”

He admits that even before signing with NXT, he felt it was the “place to be” and credits the fact that all the NXT talent pushed and supported one another. This allowed them to grow and develop in a positive environment.

“[…] it was good, a lot of friendly competition, a lot of love. We all knew each other a long time before we got here so it is a new company and would want to grow it as much as possible and try to give it everything we got and help it grow.”

Ricochet recently competed in the men’s Money In The Bank ladder match. He successfully won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic on March 27th with his partner at the time, another NXT alumni, Aleister Black.

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Ricochet has been tearing it up on the main roster ever since moving from the ranks of NXT. Despite this, he has been working extensively. He has appeared on not only RAW and SmackDown, but also NXT shows and their subsequent TakeOver events. 

NXT wasn’t only the place where he began to develop himself as a WWE Superstar—it was also the place he met his girlfriend, Kacy Catanzaro

Speaking with Lilian Garcia on her podcast, Chasing Glory, Ricochet reminisced on his time with the yellow-and-gold brand. He discussed meeting Catanzaro, and how their relationship began.

“She Has This Personality You Can’t Ignore. It’s Awesome”

He divulged that they “actually came in the exact same class and started the same day. She was always so nice and kind, and helpful to everybody in any way that she could be, and that was something that I had always admired about her.”

Ricochet complimented not only Catanzaro’s ability in the ring, but her natural aptitude for it:

“On top of that, as far as the physical part of the wrestling, she got that part so quick and is just so fun to see in the ring. I feel like, not only me, but everyone is drawn to her because she has this personality that you can’t ignore. It’s awesome.”

America Ninja Warrior Fame

It turns out that, despite being related to a WWE Superstar, his family were “giddy” to meet Catanzaro over the Christmas period. He recalls that his brother was incredibly “happy and excited” over meeting her as he “never met anyone famous before.” 

The reason being? 

“My family, even before me and her knew each other they watched America Ninja Warrior for years now so they knew all about her and were really excited to meet her,” Ricochet said.

Kacy Catanzaro made her PPV debut during January’s Royal Rumble event. She would enter the Women’s Royal Rumble matchup at number 19, before being eliminated by NXT UK’s Rhea Ripley. 

H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

Four Superstars Debut On NXT Live Event

This past Friday’s WWE NXT Live Event from Venice, FL saw the debut of not one but four new stars belonging to the Performance Center’s February class.

The wrestlers who debuted include Australian talents Brendan Vink who was previously known as Eliot Sexton. He wrestled and defeated Nick Comoroto, who was also wrestling his first bout for the brand.

Apart from these two, the event also saw Canadian tag team 3.0, Jeff Parker and Matt Lee making their debut for the Black and Yellow Brand. They fought in a match against Humberto Carrillo & Raul Mendoza and lost.

You can check out some photos from the event below:

Looking forward to big things from @NComoroto #WheresTheBeast #NXTVenice pic.twitter.com/S49aqtAVVH

— Matt Mayrer (@HoorayItsMatt) March 16, 2019

2.0 vs Carrillo and Mendoza hellllll yeah #NXTVenice pic.twitter.com/7du2SVNSQ9

— tir podcast (@tirWrestling) March 16, 2019

The Freak Beast at #nxtvenice pic.twitter.com/6itTVKAscr

— Brian Beason (@BrianBeason4) March 16, 2019

Someone has interrupted Comoroto and I didn’t catch his name. He’s Australian. #NXTVenice pic.twitter.com/87EXTBFs0l

— Greg Parks (@gregmparks) March 16, 2019

THE FREAK BEAST #NXTVenice pic.twitter.com/RRMrOeL6Ug

— tir podcast (@tirWrestling) March 16, 2019

Ricochet Responds To The Usos

This week’s episode of SmackDown Live saw the Brand’s Tag Team Champions the Usos cutting a promo on the other teams of the show, telling them to step up during WrestleMania season.

Ricochet who has been teaming with Aleister Black on the Blue Brand recently took on his Twitter to respond saying that people always seem to look past guys like him:

Seems like for my entire 15+ year career people always look past guys like Aleister and myself. Only to be put in their place time after time. 👑 https://t.co/5tYFr398k4

— Ricochet (@KingRicochet) March 14, 2019

While not confirmed, it’s believed that the SmackDown Tag Team Championship will be defended in a multi-team match at the upcoming WrestleMania 35 PPV.

Next week on NXT will feature the finals of the 2019 Dusty Rhodes Classic. Aleister Black & Ricochet will take on Steve Cutler & Wesley Blake of the Forgotten Sons with the winner earning a title shot against the War Raiders.

Ahead of next week’s finals, the 4 competitors spoke to WWE.com about Dusty Rhodes’ legacy in NXT.

Tournament Finalists Discuss Dusty Rhodes’ Legacy

Cutler and Blake both trained under Rhodes before his passing in 2015.

“My relationship with Dusty was simple,” Cutler said. “He got me, he understood from the beginning who I am and what I am capable of. He knew that I am someone who just cuts to the chase and tells it like it is. It’s just a shame that no one else in this system other than Blake and Ryker could see that.”

Blake is the only wrestler in the match to have competed in the tournament previously. Along with current Cruiserweight champion, Buddy Murphy, Blake competed in the inaugural version of the tournament.

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Ricochet & Aleister Black Comment On Dusty Rhodes’ Legacy

Aleister Black arrived in NXT after Dusty’s passing. The former NXT champion says that his legacy speaks for itself, however.

“Dusty’s legacy speaks for itself. He’s responsible for the process of NXT. Roman Reigns, Sasha Banks, Finn Bálor, the list goes on,” said Black. “Although I never knew him personally, there is a certain desire to compete to the best of your ability to live up to what he created.”

Ricochet also commented on their opponents in the finals.

“If we win this, it shows we are here to be the best,” Ricochet said. “The Forgotten Sons are dangerous and unpredictable, and they’ve always got a plan. I know Aleister Black and I are a new team, but we aren’t new to each other. I first met Aleister, ironically, while I was competing in a German tournament back in 2012. If we win this and continue dominating on Raw and SmackDown LIVE, we can back up our claim to being the best.”

WWE has posted a video of what transpired after Monday’s Raw from Atlanta, GA went off the air. The show ended with a hot angle that saw the return of Batista, who attacked Ric Flair backstage and ruined his 70th birthday celebration.

After Raw, Jinder Mahal and the Singh Brothers came out for a Punjabi celebration in honor of Ric Flair. They began dancing around before Shawn Michaels hit Jinder with Sweet Chin Music. Kurt Angle then gave him an Angle Slam through the birthday cake that was set up in the ring.

The Singh Brothers got similar treatment as the night ended with Michaels, Angle, Sting and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat standing tall. You can see the footage below:

Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic

Ricochet and Aleister Black are the latest tag team duo to join this year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament. They announced the news backstage at Monday’s Raw:

Onze Nederlandse trots @WWEAleister & de ‘One & Only’ @KingRicochet hebben afgelopen nacht gewonnen van #RAW tag team kampioenen #TheRevival! Ook nemen ze samen deel aan de Dusty Rhodes Classic! pic.twitter.com/akjqha3cgX

— WWE Nederland (@WWENederland) February 26, 2019

The 8-team single-elimination tournament kicks off on next week’s edition of NXT TV. The tournament finals will take place during WrestleMania weekend at NXT Takeover: New York. In addition to Ricochet and Black, other teams confirmed for this year’s Dusty Classic include:

• Undisputed Era (Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)
• The Forgotten Sons
• Aichner & Barthel
• The Street Profits

The remaining three teams will be announced in the coming weeks.

In case you somehow missed it, last week saw a number of NXT’s top Superstars make their main roster debuts. Tomasso Ciampa, Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano, and Ricochet would all appear on Monday Night RAW and SmackDown Live.

To celebrate the achievement, over 60 of Ricochet’s friends and family held a surprise party for former-NXT North American Champion.

WPSD Local 6 was on hand to cover the event, interviewing Ricochet in the process. During the conversation, Ricochet would comment on which brand he would subsequently be featured on.

“I will be on RAW and SmackDown going forward,” he said. “At least until after ‘Mania. After ‘Mania, it’s gonna be one or the other. I’m assuming, I don’t know. But that’s what I’m assuming. But yes, going forward, I am now an official member of RAW and/or SmackDown.”

“Doesn’t Matter Where You Are From, You Can Live Your Dream”

Reflecting on the past week, Ricochet was clearly touched by the party held in his honor.

“This [surprise party] was beyond amazing,” Mann said. “It was awesome. I got to see family, friends, people I haven’t seen in a long time. I was honestly surprised when I walked in, this was great. It just makes you happy to see that many people care. Whether it is close friends you have known since you were three years old or people maybe you have never met, it is just cool that you can inspire so many people. Doesn’t matter where you are from, you can live your dream.”

Post-WrestleMania, which brand would you prefer Ricochet to be on?