Ricky Saints Bio
Richard Starks, known professionally as Ricky Saints and earlier in his career as Ricky Starks, is an American professional wrestler born on February 21, 1990, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Standing 183 cm tall and competing at 93 kg, he has built a reputation as a versatile performer across multiple major wrestling promotions. As of 2025, he performs on the WWE NXT brand under the Ricky Saints ring name and holds the NXT Championship in his first reign.
Starks began his professional career in 2012 on the independent circuit in Texas before rising to national prominence with the National Wrestling Alliance and All Elite Wrestling. After a five-year tenure with AEW, he signed with WWE in 2025 and quickly captured championship gold, cementing his place as one of the most talked-about performers of his generation.
Early Life and Background
Richard Starks was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he grew up as an African-American wrestler who has spoken publicly about being light-skinned. He was raised by a single mother alongside two siblings, and he has discussed how his appearance led to bullying and fights during his childhood years. Those early experiences helped shape his resilient character, both inside and outside the squared circle.
As a young fan, Starks idolized a wide range of wrestling icons, including The Undertaker, The Rock, and Mankind. He spent hours studying the craft on television before deciding around the age of seventeen that he would pursue professional wrestling as a career. That decision set him on a path that would eventually take him from small Texas venues to nationally televised events.
Starks completed his early training through a combination of independent ring experience and brief appearances as an enhancement talent in WWE, where he worked matches against wrestlers such as Jinder Mahal, Enzo Amore, Colin Cassady, Kane, and The Revival. These early tryouts, although unsuccessful in securing a contract at the time, gave him valuable in-ring exposure before his official debut.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Starks made his official in-ring debut on October 14, 2012, at the NWA Velocity Haunted Havoc event in Austin, Texas, competing in a triple threat match. He quickly became a regular on the Texas independent scene, working with promotions such as Anarchy Championship Wrestling and Inspire Pro Wrestling. His athletic ability and charisma earned him a reputation as a promising young talent, leading to brief WWE backstage appearances in 2013 and 2018.
In 2018, Starks signed with the National Wrestling Alliance and made his NWA debut at the NWA 70th Anniversary Show on October 21, 2018. Within the promotion, he entered the tournament to crown the inaugural NWA World Television Championship at Hard Times on January 24, 2020, defeating Eddie Kingston, Matt Cross, Tim Storm, and Trevor Murdoch to win the title. That championship victory established him as a legitimate main-event talent and set the stage for his jump to a national platform.
Ricky Saints Career
Early Career (2012-2018)
From 2012 to 2018, Starks honed his craft across the Texas independent circuit, where he became known for his athleticism and confident persona. He appeared in a WWE backstage segment on the July 29, 2013, episode of Raw, where he was slammed through a table by Ryback, and again on March 19, 2018, as a US Marshal who was attacked by Roman Reigns. These moments, though brief, kept him on WWE’s radar.
During this developmental period, Starks built a strong foundation in promotions like NWA Velocity Pro Wrestling, Anarchy Championship Wrestling, and Inspire Pro Wrestling, learning the fundamentals of match psychology and crowd engagement. His willingness to take risks and adapt to different styles prepared him for the national spotlight that awaited in 2018.
National Wrestling Alliance Era (2018-2020)
Starks made his NWA debut at the NWA 70th Anniversary Show on October 21, 2018, in a four-way elimination match won by Willie Mack. He returned to the promotion in October 2019, defeating Trevor Murdoch on NWA Powerrr, and continued to climb the ranks with a strong showing against NWA National Champion Colt Cabana at Into the Fire in December 2019.
His defining NWA moment came at Hard Times on January 24, 2020, when he won the tournament to become the inaugural NWA World Television Champion. The reign was brief, as he lost the title to Zicky Dice two days later in a match aired on the March 3, 2020, episode of Powerrr. His contract expired in May 2020, opening the door for a new opportunity.
All Elite Wrestling Era (2020-2025)
Starks made his unannounced AEW debut on June 17, 2020, answering Cody’s open challenge for the AEW TNT Championship in a losing effort, before AEW CEO Tony Khan announced his signing. He quickly aligned with Brian Cage under the management of Taz, forming the Team Taz stable, and won the FTW World Championship from Cage on July 14, 2021, at Fyter Fest. That reign lasted 378 days, making him the longest-reigning FTW Champion at the time before losing to Hook.
After turning face and feuding with Powerhouse Hobbs, Starks defeated Ethan Page in the finals of an AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament on November 23, 2022, earning a title shot against MJF at Winter Is Coming. He also won the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament in 2023, defeating CM Punk in the finals on the July 15 episode of Collision. On October 7, 2023, he and Big Bill won the AEW World Tag Team Championship from FTR, holding the titles for 123 days before dropping them to Sting and Darby Allin. In February 2025, AEW removed his profile from their website and released him, ending his five-year tenure.
WWE Era (2025-Present)
Starks returned to WWE on the February 11, 2025, episode of NXT as an unnamed free agent, adopting the ring name Ricky Saints soon after. He quickly made an impact, defeating Shawn Spears on April 1 to win the NXT North American Championship and successfully defending it against Ethan Page at NXT Stand & Deliver on April 19. He lost the title to Page on May 27 in a rematch that also resulted in a laryngeal contusion.
At NXT The Great American Bash on July 12, Saints failed to regain the NXT North American Championship from Page in a Falls Count Anywhere match. His momentum shifted dramatically on September 27, 2025, at NXT No Mercy, where he defeated Oba Femi to win the NXT Championship, capturing the brand’s top prize in his first reign.
Style and Strengths
Starks has described his in-ring style as a pastiche of influences, most notably The Undertaker’s selling and Shinjiro Otani’s technical precision. Wrestling analysts have compared his persona to confident Attitude Era stars like The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin. His finishing maneuvers include the Rochambeau inverted powerbomb, the Buster Keaton lifting double underhook facebuster, and a leaping spear, giving him a versatile and dangerous offensive arsenal.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Starks’ most significant career milestones are becoming the inaugural NWA World Television Champion in 2020, winning the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament in 2023, and capturing the NXT Championship at NXT No Mercy in September 2025. His 378-day reign as FTW Champion set a record for that title, and his 123-day run as AEW World Tag Team Champion with Big Bill added to his tag team legacy.
Ricky Saints Career Wins
Throughout his career, Ricky Starks, performing as Ricky Saints in WWE, has captured championships in every major promotion he has worked for, building a resume that spans the independent circuit, NWA, AEW, and WWE.
NXT Highlights
As Ricky Saints, he won the NXT North American Championship on April 1, 2025, and successfully defended it against Ethan Page at NXT Stand & Deliver on April 19, 2025. He captured the NXT Championship at NXT No Mercy on September 27, 2025, defeating Oba Femi for the brand’s top prize in his first reign. These victories established him as a central figure on the NXT brand within months of his arrival.
Other Wins and Performances
On the independent circuit in 2024 and 2025, Starks won the DEFY World Championship from Kenta on February 7, 2025, before relinquishing the title on February 28, 2025, after signing with WWE. He also made appearances for Game Changer Wrestling and House of Glory during this transitional period, demonstrating his continued relevance outside the major promotions.
Ricky Saints Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Richard Starks was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, by a single mother alongside two siblings. He has spoken openly about the challenges of growing up light-skinned in a wrestling industry where race is often discussed, and how those childhood experiences influenced his drive to succeed in the business.
Personal Life
Starks has kept much of his personal life private, focusing public attention on his professional wrestling career. Details regarding a spouse or children have not been publicly disclosed. He has credited his mother and siblings as a key source of motivation throughout his journey from the independent circuit to the bright lights of WWE.
2025 Season Performance
Ricky Saints’ 2025 has been a storybook year, beginning with his unannounced return to WWE on the February 11 episode of NXT and culminating in a championship reign that few predicted. Within weeks of his arrival, he captured the NXT North American Championship and successfully defended it at NXT Stand & Deliver, immediately establishing himself as a top star on the brand.
After losing the North American title to Ethan Page in May, Saints rebounded from a laryngeal contusion and a failed rematch at NXT The Great American Bash to challenge for the brand’s top prize. At NXT No Mercy on September 27, 2025, he defeated Oba Femi to win the NXT Championship, marking a defining moment in his WWE career and positioning him as a central figure in the brand’s future.
Looking ahead, Saints’ outlook as NXT Champion suggests he will remain a focal point of WWE’s developmental brand heading into 2026, with potential marquee matches and defenses expected to headline upcoming premium live events. His blend of charisma, in-ring skill, and championship experience makes him a cornerstone of the new NXT era.
