Ricky Starks, a prominent WWE NXT talent, recently shared a humorous story about his first conversation with WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H, where he misinterpreted a key part of the call. The mix-up involved Ricky thinking he was headed straight to WWE’s main roster shows, RAW or SmackDown, which turned out not to be the case. This moment occurred as Starks was arriving in Seattle, and it offers a glimpse into his early experience transitioning within WWE.
Wrestling Career and Background Leading to WWE Call
Ricky Starks, now known in WWE as Ricky Saints, made the jump from All Elite Wrestling (AEW) to WWE earlier this year and has rapidly risen through the ranks. Since joining WWE NXT, he secured the NXT North American Championship and gained attention as a potential high-caliber star within the company. There are widespread rumors about his possible inclusion as the fifth member of Seth Rollins’ faction on RAW, which would mark an important step in his career.
Details of the Misheard Call with Triple H
On the podcast What Do You Wanna Talk About?, co-hosted by Cody Rhodes, Starks recounted the story about his phone call from Triple H, known as Hunter in the wrestling world. The call happened moments after Starks had just landed in Seattle. Due to airport noise and the unfamiliar phone number, Starks initially didn’t recognize the caller.
“Just got off a flight to Seattle, actually, and he called me, and I was like, I didn’t know the number, and it didn’t say Stanford or anything. So I was like ‘who is this?’ and I always answer, even if it’s unknown, I always answer. So Hunter [Triple H] calls me, I’m getting off this flight in Seattle, and I can barely hear him because airports are loud. And he asked me, ‘Hey, would you wanna come in? We’re interested. We would love to have you, you’re talented.’ I was like ‘yeah, sure.’ And right as I am getting on the tram, he says something about RAW or SmackDown. I was like ‘Wait, what?’ And I was so scared to say, ‘Hey, can you repeat yourself?’ I said, ‘Yeah, sure.’ Basically, what he was saying was, “We’re not going to put you in RAW or SmackDown just yet.’ But he wanted me to meet Shawn [Michaels], and so that was like a big thing.”
—Ricky Starks, WWE NXT Star
Starks’ excitement was palpable upon hearing the mention of WWE’s flagship shows, RAW and SmackDown. However, the reality was that Triple H intended for him to start in NXT first, allowing the company to develop his talents further. Triple H also wanted Starks to meet Shawn Michaels, a legendary figure in WWE, which was a meaningful step in establishing his career path in the company.
Upcoming Matches and Future Prospects for Ricky Starks
Ricky Starks made his WWE debut on February 11, 2025, and has quickly garnered attention for his in-ring abilities and charisma. He is currently scheduled to compete against former AEW star Ethan Page in a Fall Count Anywhere Match at the NXT Great American Bash on July 12. This high-stakes match may further define Starks’ trajectory within WWE and showcase his skills to a wider audience.
The story behind the call from Triple H highlights the intensity and anticipation involved when wrestlers transition between promotions and climb WWE’s ranks. As Ricky Starks continues to make his mark, fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how his career unfolds.
Credits for the quotes should be given to the What Do You Wanna Talk About podcast, with a hat tip to ITR Wrestling for the sourcing.
