Ricochet has openly shared how his time in WWE‘s main roster negatively affected his wrestling legacy. The transition came in early 2019 when WWE promoted several NXT stars, including Ricochet, Aleister Black, Johnny Gargano, and Tommaso Ciampa, to Raw and SmackDown in an effort to revitalize the main roster. Ricochet remained with WWE until 2024, but he now believes those years did not represent his true wrestling identity.
Comparing Independent Success with WWE Experience
In response to a WWE-era match clip against AJ Styles, Ricochet commented on social media that
“That’s not me. That was a watered down, different universe version of me. Two completely different people.”
He expanded on this sentiment during an interview with Mark Hoke on the Mark Hoke Show, explaining his perspective in greater detail.
Ricochet said,
“The Ricochet that I am now is the same Ricochet that I was on the independent scene and New Japan, and doing the things that got me popular to where I am today. When I was part of NXT, I was doing specific things. There was an image that got posted, it was me, Johnny, Tommaso, and Aleister. All four of us, ‘Coming to Raw.’ What should be the biggest promotion in our industry, turned out, specifically for Ricochet’s story, at that time, Thanos snap and there was a five-year blip. That’s how I put Ricochet’s wrestling career. Those five years were like being blipped away to a different universe. It just wasn’t me. Coming back to AEW and finding that love was like when Tony Stark finally defeated Thanos and all the people came back. Ricochet finally came back to what he was doing. I already know how this is going to sound and how people will take this, but the day we got called to Raw was the worst thing that happened to Ricochet’s wrestling career. Despite meeting my wife there, making friends, making memories, having a crazy platform, all the positive stuff, specifically for Ricochet’s wrestling career, that’s where it got blipped. What I was doing and the trajectory I was on, compared to the trajectory that I got for those five years, and how it completely changed the public’s image for Ricochet and who Ricochet was. I really think those five years, specifically the wrestling side of it, that five years really tarnished Ricochet’s wrestling legacy,”
Mark Hoke Show
Different Versions of a Wrestling Persona
Ricochet likened his WWE persona to a variation of a Marvel character existing in an alternate universe, distinct from the individual who gained recognition on the independent circuit and in New Japan Pro Wrestling. This metaphor highlights his sense that the version of himself presented during his WWE run diverged significantly from the authentic wrestler he identifies with today.
Current Status and Upcoming AEW Title Defense
Following his WWE departure, Ricochet has re-established himself as a leading figure in AEW, where he holds the AEW National Championship. He is scheduled to defend this title against Jack Perry in an upcoming match set for Wednesday. Ricochet’s resurgence in AEW contrasts sharply with his WWE experience, reinforcing his belief that his legacy suffered during the five-year stint on the main roster.
That's not me. That was a watered down, different universe version of me. Two completely different people.
— Lightskin Kingpin (@KingRicochet) January 30, 2026
