Since making his WWE NXT debut just over a year ago after leaving AEW, Ricky Saints has experienced various challenges and successes in his NXT run. Throughout this time, he has competed for both the NXT Championship and the NXT North American Championship, while also forming notable rivalries, including a recent high-profile match against Joe Hendry at NXT Vengeance Day where he fell short of winning the NXT Title. Despite the ups and downs, Saints has expressed satisfaction with how his journey has unfolded.
Reasons Behind Saints’ Acceptance of His NXT Experience
During a detailed discussion on the Battleground Podcast, Saints was asked if he would alter any aspect of his time in NXT. He emphatically stated that he would not make any changes, emphasizing that changing anything would seem pointless considering the growth and experiences gained. Reflecting candidly, he admitted only to having some regrets about his choice in attire during his run.
“No, no. There’s nothing that I would change honestly, I think only because what would be the point, right? What would be the point in that? If anything, if I had to give you an answer — and I’ll pull it out of my wazoo here — there were some questionable outfits that I shouldn’t have worn.”
– Ricky Saints, WWE NXT Star
Comparing NXT’s Locker Room Atmosphere with Other Promotions
Saints also shared insights into the environment within the NXT locker room, contrasting it with his previous experiences in AEW and NWA. He highlighted the eagerness of less experienced wrestlers who use the opportunity to observe and absorb knowledge by interacting with veterans, describing an atmosphere driven by curiosity and the desire to learn.
“Well, I think there is an opportunity for people who may not know a lot about wrestling, there’s an opportunity for them to kind of sit around the learning tree so to speak, and further their their knowledge by just being around. By listening to stories and things like that. So it’s really cool to see that type of spirit, that type of like, ‘Oh, I’m curious.’ There’s a inquisitive nature that some people have in the locker room.
But I mean, beyond that it’s kind of what you would expect out of the locker room. It’s the same when I was at NWA. There were people there who were experience-wise just starting or just two years in. And they wanted to learn more, and so they made sure their hands were in a lot of different pots. The same thing when I was at the other company. So you know, you’ll find that everywhere. And I love that part about it of all the locker rooms.”
– Ricky Saints, WWE NXT Star
Significance of Saints’ Perspective on His Career Path
Ricky Saints’ contentment with his NXT run, despite its hurdles, reflects a mature outlook on professional growth and the wrestling industry’s demands. His appreciation for the locker room’s learning culture across different companies underscores the wider wrestling community’s shared spirit of development. Moving forward, Saints’ openness to both challenge and education will likely continue to shape his evolving career within WWE NXT and beyond.
