Wrestling veteran Vince Russo recently took aim at AEW star Ricochet and AEW president Tony Khan, condemning their approach to social media interactions. Russo highlighted their tendencies to engage in online disputes as a problematic pattern, drawing attention to Ricochet’s recent controversial exchanges with fans. This criticism surfaced amid ongoing tensions around Tony Khan social media behavior, which Russo said mirrors Ricochet’s own actions.
Ricochet has frequently responded to fans on social media, sometimes clapping back at critiques. One notable incident involved him comparing the financial backing of WWE founder Vince McMahon to that of Tony Khan, suggesting both benefited similarly from family wealth. Vince Russo dismissed these claims, stating that Tony Khan and Ricochet both partake in verbal battles online, worsening the overall discourse.
“They all do it bro, he is not the only one that does it. Tony Khan does it.”
— Vince Russo, WWE veteran
Disputing Ricochet’s Claims About Vince McMahon’s Financial History
Vince Russo strongly disagreed with Ricochet’s suggestion that Vince McMahon’s initial success in WWE was due to financial support from his father. On his podcast Writing with Russo, Russo emphasized that Vince McMahon took enormous personal risks to launch WrestleMania 1, a pivotal event for the company’s future. According to Russo, McMahon mortgaged his own assets rather than relying on family money.
“Vince mortgaged everything he had and put everything on the line. Vince didn’t have that money man… Vince would have been finished, if WrestleMania 1 was not a success, Vince was done. So Ricochet really needs to learn his history because Vince did not get his money from his father man.”
The dispute highlights the contrasting perspectives on the roots of WWE’s rise and the risks its founder undertook, countering Ricochet’s assertions on social platforms.
Ricochet’s Current Standing and Uncertainty About Future Moves
Ricochet remains contracted with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), the Jacksonville-based promotion run by Tony Khan. Despite his ongoing presence in AEW, the future trajectory of Ricochet’s wrestling career in the organization is unclear. Given recent controversies fueled by his social media activity and the criticism from WWE veterans like Vince Russo, speculation surrounds his next steps.
Russo’s remarks underscore the growing tension between wrestlers’ public personas and their professional environments, exposing the challenges of managing personal expression without inviting backlash.
Social Media Behavior in Professional Wrestling: A Contentious Issue
The criticisms directed at Tony Khan and Ricochet illuminate a wider issue in professional wrestling: the role of social media in shaping public image and internal dynamics. Russo’s firm stance draws attention to how prominent figures in the industry often engage in heated exchanges online, potentially damaging reputations and relationships. The ongoing debates point toward the difficulty of balancing transparency and professionalism amid the intensely engaged wrestling fan community.
As social media continues to influence wrestling coverage and promotion, the behavior of key players like Tony Khan and Ricochet will likely remain under scrutiny, impacting how the industry manages its public face going forward.
