March 3, 2026 • 18 mins
Ricky Saints stops by The Battleground Podcast ahead of NXT Vengeance Day to talk big goals (including becoming a two-time NXT Champion), his acting debut on Wild Cards, and what’s made the NXT locker room stand out during his first year in the brand. He also reflects on the moments he knew he was a star, the advice Cody Rhodes has given him behind the scenes, and we even put him on the spot to call a “famous friend” from his contacts for a hilarious surprise.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ladies and gentlemen, it's no Battle.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Brown, Battle Brown, Battle Brown Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Welcome back into another episode of the Battleground Podcast. Really
excited for today's interview for sure, as you saw the
notification Ricky.
Speaker 4 (00:21):
Saints is on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
This is actually the first time he's been on the
show as Ricky Saints.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
So super excited about that.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Of course, he's got a big matchup this weekend WWE
NXT Vengeance Day him versus Joe Hendry for that NXT title.
I didn't say his names. He didn't show up, so thankfully,
no Joe Hendry siding, although we have had Joe Hendry
on the show. If you want to go back and
check those interviews out, just kind of scroll down you'll
see it and go listen to Joe Hendry if you
(00:48):
want to check that out, or any of our past
interviews as well. Thanks for subscribing to the Battleground Podcast.
It really means a lot that you listen to this
show every week and also subscribe to our YouTube channel
as well, where you could watch this interview and make
sure you're following us on social media. Instagram probably the
best place to follow us Battleground Podcasts on Instagram. But
(01:10):
without further ad do, let's go ahead and bring on
the man. You're really here to listen to Ricky Saints?
Speaker 4 (01:19):
What's up you guys?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Welcome back into iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, The Battleground Podcast.
Vengeance Day is upon us and man very excited for
our guests on the show today, it's the face that
runs the place, and for the first time on the
Battleground Podcast, as Ricky Saints give it up for the Man,
the Myth, the Legend, Ricky Saints joins the show.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Ricky, how are you doing, man?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I'm doing fantastically well. I'm doing great. You know, I
have a lot going on for me.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I am a star in the CW television hit show
Wild Cards, obviously making my acting debut. I'm going to
become the two time NFC champion. I am still attractive.
I just had my birthday and I'm still here and gifted,
and I'm rich.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
It's a lot to take on, but there's only one
guy who could and that's me.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And I want to talk about your acting for a second,
because a couple of weeks back, we were at the
NXT show here in Nashville, and we were watching your
match and I saw you just sitting in the corner
and I was like, oh my god, like, Ricky is hurt.
Like you literally saw it on your face that something
was bad.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
You were shaking. I was genuinely concerned for you.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
And then you got all of us, So major props
to you on that one, pulling the rug under everybody
in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
I don't remember that. Actually, I don't remember that happening.
I remember having a great match. Yeah, the people were
loving it.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Everyone was Ricky, we love you, rick I heard some
of that too. Yeah, yeah, I didn't see you on
the crowd. Where were you.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
I was next to the ramp in the second row
right there. I was visibly concerned for you. They're in
that match.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
I it slipped my mind. I don't remember it happening. Sorry,
but I thank you for caring about me.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
We always care about Ricky Saints here on the show.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Now, I do want to talk about it, because we're
here to talk about Vengeance Day. That NXT title could
be back in your hands where it rightfully belongs. Of course,
you're going up against Joe Hendry. How are you feeling
heading into this matchup.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
I'm feeling very confident.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Honestly, I am relentless in my pursuit of getting that back,
only because for the past few months, more than a
few months, I've worked really hard to make NXT a place.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Let me your phrases I made.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I've worked very hard to make NXT a place that
stands up to the standards that I have of myself
and what other people expect to me. Obviously, I don't
do anything half assed, or you know, anything less than
one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
So I am very very.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Focused on getting that back the NXT Championship and making
sure none of that hard work is messed with rightfully.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So, and you talk about the time that you've spent
in NXT, and here we are celebrating coming up on
the one year anniversary of you joining n XT.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Now, looking back on this.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
You've accomplished.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Yeah, you've accomplished so much in just one year.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
There is there anything looking back that you'd maybe want
to do a little bit differently.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
From when I first came on February seventh.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yep, 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
(05:03):
outfits okay that I shouldn't have worn, but even then
I still look great.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
So it's right. You know, what are we doing.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Right exactly now?
Speaker 3 (05:15):
One great thing is is we've been following your career
for so long. I mean, as people that are watching
this right now on YouTube will notice the NWA Ricky
Starks trading card behind me up here.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Yeah, let's bring it to the camera, serve. I could
see it.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Wow, collector's item right here. I had to like steal
this from my kid because he had it in his cards.
But you've been a part of a lot of places,
a lot of locker rooms. What is the one thing
that has kind of stood out to you with this
NXT locker room compared to other ones that you've been into.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Well, I think there is an opportunity for people who
may not know a lot about wrestling, and there's an
opportunity for them to kind of sit around the learning tree,
so to speak, and further their knowledge by just being around,
by listening to stories and things like that. So it's
really cool to see that type of that type of spirit,
(06:11):
that type of like, oh, I'm curious. There's an inquisitive
nature that some people have in the locker room. But
I mean beyond that, it's kind of you know, it's
kind of what you would expect out of locker room.
It's the same when I was at n w A,
there were people there who were experience wise, you know,
(06:31):
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,
it's you'll find that everywhere.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
And I do. I love that part about it of
all the locker rooms.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Yeah, and you know the thing that I sit here
and look at as a wrestling fan, and it drives
me crazy. Why can't wrestling fans just be fans of wrestling?
How do they have to be like, oh, if you
like this, I can't be your friend, or if you
like that, I can't do this.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Well, I mean it's like you're a Titans fan, right.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Unfortunately, yes, So it's like I'm a Saints fan. So
it's like I can't be your friend. You know, you'll
have that in every aspect. I think it's it's I
think it's a little bit more sensitive and touchy just
for the fact that we're we're all on social media
and so it's a little bit more saturated. But then
when you actually go out into the crowds and you
(07:30):
go to these live events like in Nashville, no one cared.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
No, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Knowing there are people who were fans of me from
aw people who were fans with me from NWA, people
who are fans of me now they all meshed, they
all share a commonality. I do think that it is
kind of cool to a certain degree that people have
such an ownership and stake in a specific company or
a specific wrestler.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I do find that I like.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The fondness of that, because if you ain't got passion
for your team, then what are you doing?
Speaker 1 (08:04):
You know?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Right? Absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
And that's the thing is, like you knows as as
much of a Titans fan i am. I've got a
friend who's an Eagles fan, and like we still hang out,
we still talk football. But again, it's one of those things,
it's like I'm not gonna say, oh, you're a fan
of this team, So I'm not gonna be your friend. Like,
it's a really cool time to be a wrestling fan
because there's wrestling for everybody.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Absolutely think about to think about twenty eighteen, right about
twenty nineteen, so to speak, Like when.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
I was an NBA, it was just NWAWW. Yeah, that
was it, and then you had of course New Japan
and still like that. But it's a great time to
be a fan of professional wrestling, right And.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
It's definitely a great time to be a Ricky Saints
fan because, uh, he is going to be the new
NXT champion after Vengeance Day. We're putting it out there
in the universe for sure. And uh, I gotta tell you,
watching your career, we've been big fans of yours for
a very long time. What is that one moment that
kind of stands out to you where you could fill
the crowd shift going from.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Like, oh we like him to oh, this dude's a star.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Oh man, Uh that's hard. That's hard because I felt
it twice. Obviously, the Brian Danilson match that I had,
the strap match, was really great, but there's also a
sleeper match that I don't think people really remember.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
It was a big tag match. It was me Punk
FTR against the gun Club.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
And it was it was in Toronto into it was amazing.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
That was such a great feeling that I had where
I go, Wow, I get it. I get it now.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
So I think those two like stand out in my
mind of that type of scenario. And you know, it
still happens. It's still happening for some people. So uh yeah,
it just it's kind of crazy to think about.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, And I mean you're you're born for this.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I mean not to uh you know too your own
horn and we'll give you the flowers. I mean, you
are a star and we're gonna see it one day,
Ricky Saints versus your friend and I'm gonna put this
out in the universe Cody Roads at WrestleMania. I think
that that's a match that I think a lot of
people kind of want to see. And you know, Cody
obviously a big parts of your wrestling journey.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
How has that friendship with him evolved?
Speaker 3 (10:33):
And what is something that he's kind of helped you
with backstage that you could talk about?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Uh, well, the friendship in itself is great because you know,
I don't know if he sees a younger kid in me,
you know, when he was first starting out.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I don't know. I would think so, but I really
don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
But he's great in the fact that there are there
things that you know, I'm figuring out on my own,
and there are there are little pockets that I kind
of miss right, and he is great at identifying those
pockets and giving me words of wisdom that allow me
to ultimately guide myself to what it is that I
(11:18):
should be learning or figuring out. He's really really good
at that. He's really good at giving you a perspective
and you ultimately being like, oh, okay, I get it now,
that's I can't. It's so undervalued in that sense because
you're usually used to people like physically showing you this
(11:40):
or doing that right, And since we don't live very
close to each other, it's hard. So when we do
have these moments where we do see each other and
we talk, the conversations are in debt. They have such
a deep magnitude to him of like life and ship
outside of wrestling, you know what I'm sayings all of it.
(12:01):
So he's been very impactful in my career.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
I end in my life too.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Personally and professionally, so I can't really think him too
much on that.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Yeah, definitely a good friend to have in your corner
for sure, of course.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Ricky Saints is our guest on the show right now.
Got a big match NXT Vengeance Day, big, big, big
match for him and Joe Hendry. Now, speaking of some
other big names outside of Ricky Saints, there's been guys
like seeing Punk somebody you know. Trick Williams as well,
had small roles previously in WW is kind of like,
(12:38):
I guess, enhancement or extras in a way. What was
that moment that you knew you would be back at
a much larger and more important role like you're in now,
other than being like a security guard and a cop.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Oh my gosh, I think I really think it was
I got put through the ORI back I'm telling you
I how to do that stuff three times. I think
that wasn't like the for sure moment because I was
back there you know, thereafter, But that was a moment
where I go, Wow, this will be the funniest story
(13:14):
when I come back here and take it over. I
had another thought about that when I didn't get called
for the tryout and then I think when I didn't
get called for the tryout, I may have had one
match after that, and it was a tag match with
Aaron Solo on a raw and I do remember that
being a situation where I drove home and I was like,
(13:35):
the next time I come that's it. The next time
I come back here will be I'll be signed here.
And that may have been the last time I ever
did anything extra wise. You know, there are people who
can look that up. But yeah, that was like the
two moments, the right back one for sure though, when
I'm getting tune, I slept in my face. Yeah, when
(13:57):
I come back, it's gonna be over for y'all.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
And it's definitely gonna be over for that NXT roster
once Ricky Saints becomes the new NXT World Heavyweight Champion
after beating Joe Hendry.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Good, doesn't it like just say, it just rolls all
the tongue?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
It does? I mean, it needs to be on your
waist when w W two K twenty six comes out
because we've already seen that entrance, by the way.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
And great model, right, what a great game model. They
couldn't have gotten it in better and even did you
see the entrance.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Oh, I saw the entrance. I was watching it before
we started this interview.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Interest was crazy great, the movements, the swag to it.
Oh my god, like they got in my body and
recorded it.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Insane. I cannot wait for the game for sure.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Now as we come to the end of our interview,
we always like to have fun with our guests. Who
do you think is the most famous person in your.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
Phone right now? Like if we were to scroll through
your contacts, be like.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Ah, I got a few Okay, I got a few
famous friends. You know, Gordon Ramsey's one of them. Uh,
we could call Gordon Ramsey you know.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
You know what.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Let's see if you were to FaceTime him or call
him right now, do you think he would answer?
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Can we can we try this and see?
Speaker 2 (15:17):
I have another friend? Well, I don't know, because you're
you guys gonna get me in trouble. I have another friend.
Her name is Ali Cat. Yeah, she's one of my
famous friends. Okay, we can try her. Yeah, let's see
if she'll answer. Do you think do you think she's
gonna answer?
Speaker 1 (15:33):
I don't know, but we can try.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Let's try. Let's see. You know, crazier things have happened.
Let's see, she's gonna come on this this time. That guy.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Let's see, let's see, I don't know you.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Know, m hm, she's probably gonna ignore on us.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Well, oh, there she is. That's my most famous friend.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
We uh we we asked Ricky to call a famous
friend in his phone and see if they would answer,
and uh, luckily you picked up. So thank you for
joining the show.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Guys, please follow, subscribe, like, comment, share, what okay, that's her?
I guess you that guy? She didn't even say where,
but whatever. I okay. I didn't expect my friend to be,
you know, trying to share all her social medias though.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
Well, sorry, you know.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
You call me my mill prop because some of us
want it.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
What are you doing being late?
Speaker 2 (16:41):
That's what I thought?
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Okay, all right, well there you have it.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Ricky has famous friends and and she put herself over
on your interview, So now put yourself over on this interview.
Where can people follow you out on social media?
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Good at it?
Speaker 1 (17:00):
You know?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Well, obviously you can find me on Instagram starky Baby,
and my Twitter is starkman Jones. But most importantly you
can find me every Tuesday on NXT on the CW
Network being the greatest guy that I am. Now I
can put on my resume. I'm an actor. I ain't
(17:21):
going to be a two time NFC champion. I'm a
former North American champion. You know, I might as well
go over the tag the NFC tag titles while we're
at it.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
I might as well do a full sweep, a full
sweep of it.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Get the Speed title too as well.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Maybe yes, wow, I didn't even think of that.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I mean, you could go take the North American title
from Trey Miguel and TNA if you want that as well.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Yeah, well we have a North American so I'm okay.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
You don't want there's either you don't want to have
both of them.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
And then just like you know, that's a lot of work.
That's a lot of work. I don't know if I
want to do that.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Yeah, I understand.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Ricky Saints, our guest on the show today, Man, always
a pleasure to get some time to talk to you.
Good luck, I mean you don't need luck for your
big matchup against Joe Hendry this week n X Steve
Vengeance Day and Ricky, anything you want to say to
the people listening or watching right now. Okay, Ricky is
(18:25):
just hitting his post, so I guess that means the
interview is over now
Ladies and gentlemen, it's no Battle.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Brown, Battle Brown, Battle Brown Podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Welcome back into another episode of the Battleground Podcast. Really
excited for today's interview for sure, as you saw the
notification Ricky.
Speaker 4 (00:21):
Saints is on the show.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
This is actually the first time he's been on the
show as Ricky Saints.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
So super excited about that.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Of course, he's got a big matchup this weekend WWE
NXT Vengeance Day him versus Joe Hendry for that NXT title.
I didn't say his names. He didn't show up, so thankfully,
no Joe Hendry siding, although we have had Joe Hendry
on the show. If you want to go back and
check those interviews out, just kind of scroll down you'll
see it and go listen to Joe Hendry if you
(00:48):
want to check that out, or any of our past
interviews as well. Thanks for subscribing to the Battleground Podcast.
It really means a lot that you listen to this
show every week and also subscribe to our YouTube channel
as well, where you could watch this interview and make
sure you're following us on social media. Instagram probably the
best place to follow us Battleground Podcasts on Instagram. But
(01:10):
without further ad do, let's go ahead and bring on
the man. You're really here to listen to Ricky Saints?
Speaker 4 (01:19):
What's up you guys?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Welcome back into iHeartRadio's official wrestling podcast, The Battleground Podcast.
Vengeance Day is upon us and man very excited for
our guests on the show today, it's the face that
runs the place, and for the first time on the
Battleground Podcast, as Ricky Saints give it up for the Man,
the Myth, the Legend, Ricky Saints joins the show.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Ricky, how are you doing, man?
Speaker 1 (01:42):
I'm doing fantastically well. I'm doing great. You know, I
have a lot going on for me.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I am a star in the CW television hit show
Wild Cards, obviously making my acting debut. I'm going to
become the two time NFC champion. I am still attractive.
I just had my birthday and I'm still here and gifted,
and I'm rich.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
It's a lot.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
It's a lot to take on, but there's only one
guy who could and that's me.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And I want to talk about your acting for a second,
because a couple of weeks back, we were at the
NXT show here in Nashville, and we were watching your
match and I saw you just sitting in the corner
and I was like, oh my god, like, Ricky is hurt.
Like you literally saw it on your face that something
was bad.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
You were shaking. I was genuinely concerned for you.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
And then you got all of us, So major props
to you on that one, pulling the rug under everybody
in Nashville.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
I don't remember that. Actually, I don't remember that happening.
I remember having a great match. Yeah, the people were
loving it.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Everyone was Ricky, we love you, rick I heard some
of that too. Yeah, yeah, I didn't see you on
the crowd. Where were you.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
I was next to the ramp in the second row
right there. I was visibly concerned for you. They're in
that match.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
I it slipped my mind. I don't remember it happening. Sorry,
but I thank you for caring about me.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
We always care about Ricky Saints here on the show.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Now, I do want to talk about it, because we're
here to talk about Vengeance Day. That NXT title could
be back in your hands where it rightfully belongs. Of course,
you're going up against Joe Hendry. How are you feeling
heading into this matchup.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
I'm feeling very confident.
Speaker 2 (03:31):
Honestly, I am relentless in my pursuit of getting that back,
only because for the past few months, more than a
few months, I've worked really hard to make NXT a place.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
Let me your phrases I made.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
I've worked very hard to make NXT a place that
stands up to the standards that I have of myself
and what other people expect to me. Obviously, I don't
do anything half assed, or you know, anything less than
one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
So I am very very.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Focused on getting that back the NXT Championship and making
sure none of that hard work is messed with rightfully.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So, and you talk about the time that you've spent
in NXT, and here we are celebrating coming up on
the one year anniversary of you joining n XT.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
Now, looking back on this.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
You've accomplished.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Yeah, you've accomplished so much in just one year.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
There is there anything looking back that you'd maybe want
to do a little bit differently.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
From when I first came on February seventh.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Yep, 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
(05:03):
outfits okay that I shouldn't have worn, but even then
I still look great.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
So it's right. You know, what are we doing.
Speaker 4 (05:13):
Right exactly now?
Speaker 3 (05:15):
One great thing is is we've been following your career
for so long. I mean, as people that are watching
this right now on YouTube will notice the NWA Ricky
Starks trading card behind me up here.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Yeah, let's bring it to the camera, serve. I could
see it.
Speaker 3 (05:30):
Wow, collector's item right here. I had to like steal
this from my kid because he had it in his cards.
But you've been a part of a lot of places,
a lot of locker rooms. What is the one thing
that has kind of stood out to you with this
NXT locker room compared to other ones that you've been into.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Well, I think there is an opportunity for people who
may not know a lot about wrestling, and there's an
opportunity for them to kind of sit around the learning tree,
so to speak, and further their knowledge by just being around,
by listening to stories and things like that. So it's
really cool to see that type of that type of spirit,
(06:11):
that type of like, oh, I'm curious. There's an inquisitive
nature that some people have in the locker room. But
I mean beyond that, it's kind of you know, it's
kind of what you would expect out of locker room.
It's the same when I was at n w A,
there were people there who were experience wise, you know,
(06:31):
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,
it's you'll find that everywhere.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
And I do. I love that part about it of
all the locker rooms.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
Yeah, and you know the thing that I sit here
and look at as a wrestling fan, and it drives
me crazy. Why can't wrestling fans just be fans of wrestling?
How do they have to be like, oh, if you
like this, I can't be your friend, or if you
like that, I can't do this.
Speaker 1 (07:04):
Well, I mean it's like you're a Titans fan, right.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Unfortunately, yes, So it's like I'm a Saints fan. So
it's like I can't be your friend. You know, you'll
have that in every aspect. I think it's it's I
think it's a little bit more sensitive and touchy just
for the fact that we're we're all on social media
and so it's a little bit more saturated. But then
when you actually go out into the crowds and you
(07:30):
go to these live events like in Nashville, no one cared.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
No, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Knowing there are people who were fans of me from
aw people who were fans with me from NWA, people
who are fans of me now they all meshed, they
all share a commonality. I do think that it is
kind of cool to a certain degree that people have
such an ownership and stake in a specific company or
a specific wrestler.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
I do find that I like.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
The fondness of that, because if you ain't got passion
for your team, then what are you doing?
Speaker 1 (08:04):
You know?
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Right? Absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (08:05):
And that's the thing is, like you knows as as
much of a Titans fan i am. I've got a
friend who's an Eagles fan, and like we still hang out,
we still talk football. But again, it's one of those things,
it's like I'm not gonna say, oh, you're a fan
of this team, So I'm not gonna be your friend. Like,
it's a really cool time to be a wrestling fan
because there's wrestling for everybody.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Absolutely think about to think about twenty eighteen, right about
twenty nineteen, so to speak, Like when.
Speaker 5 (08:32):
I was an NBA, it was just NWAWW. Yeah, that
was it, and then you had of course New Japan
and still like that. But it's a great time to
be a fan of professional wrestling, right And.
Speaker 3 (08:44):
It's definitely a great time to be a Ricky Saints
fan because, uh, he is going to be the new
NXT champion after Vengeance Day. We're putting it out there
in the universe for sure. And uh, I gotta tell you,
watching your career, we've been big fans of yours for
a very long time. What is that one moment that
kind of stands out to you where you could fill
the crowd shift going from.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Like, oh we like him to oh, this dude's a star.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Oh man, Uh that's hard. That's hard because I felt
it twice. Obviously, the Brian Danilson match that I had,
the strap match, was really great, but there's also a
sleeper match that I don't think people really remember.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
It was a big tag match. It was me Punk
FTR against the gun Club.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
And it was it was in Toronto into it was amazing.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
That was such a great feeling that I had where
I go, Wow, I get it. I get it now.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
So I think those two like stand out in my
mind of that type of scenario. And you know, it
still happens. It's still happening for some people. So uh yeah,
it just it's kind of crazy to think about.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Yeah, And I mean you're you're born for this.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I mean not to uh you know too your own
horn and we'll give you the flowers. I mean, you
are a star and we're gonna see it one day,
Ricky Saints versus your friend and I'm gonna put this
out in the universe Cody Roads at WrestleMania. I think
that that's a match that I think a lot of
people kind of want to see. And you know, Cody
obviously a big parts of your wrestling journey.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
How has that friendship with him evolved?
Speaker 3 (10:33):
And what is something that he's kind of helped you
with backstage that you could talk about?
Speaker 2 (10:39):
Uh, well, the friendship in itself is great because you know,
I don't know if he sees a younger kid in me,
you know, when he was first starting out.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
I don't know. I would think so, but I really
don't know.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
But he's great in the fact that there are there
things that you know, I'm figuring out on my own,
and there are there are little pockets that I kind
of miss right, and he is great at identifying those
pockets and giving me words of wisdom that allow me
to ultimately guide myself to what it is that I
(11:18):
should be learning or figuring out. He's really really good
at that. He's really good at giving you a perspective
and you ultimately being like, oh, okay, I get it now,
that's I can't. It's so undervalued in that sense because
you're usually used to people like physically showing you this
(11:40):
or doing that right, And since we don't live very
close to each other, it's hard. So when we do
have these moments where we do see each other and
we talk, the conversations are in debt. They have such
a deep magnitude to him of like life and ship
outside of wrestling, you know what I'm sayings all of it.
(12:01):
So he's been very impactful in my career.
Speaker 1 (12:04):
I end in my life too.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Personally and professionally, so I can't really think him too
much on that.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
Yeah, definitely a good friend to have in your corner
for sure, of course.
Speaker 4 (12:16):
Yeah, definitely.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Ricky Saints is our guest on the show right now.
Got a big match NXT Vengeance Day, big, big, big
match for him and Joe Hendry. Now, speaking of some
other big names outside of Ricky Saints, there's been guys
like seeing Punk somebody you know. Trick Williams as well,
had small roles previously in WW is kind of like,
(12:38):
I guess, enhancement or extras in a way. What was
that moment that you knew you would be back at
a much larger and more important role like you're in now,
other than being like a security guard and a cop.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Oh my gosh, I think I really think it was
I got put through the ORI back I'm telling you
I how to do that stuff three times. I think
that wasn't like the for sure moment because I was
back there you know, thereafter, But that was a moment
where I go, Wow, this will be the funniest story
(13:14):
when I come back here and take it over. I
had another thought about that when I didn't get called
for the tryout and then I think when I didn't
get called for the tryout, I may have had one
match after that, and it was a tag match with
Aaron Solo on a raw and I do remember that
being a situation where I drove home and I was like,
(13:35):
the next time I come that's it. The next time
I come back here will be I'll be signed here.
And that may have been the last time I ever
did anything extra wise. You know, there are people who
can look that up. But yeah, that was like the
two moments, the right back one for sure though, when
I'm getting tune, I slept in my face. Yeah, when
(13:57):
I come back, it's gonna be over for y'all.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
And it's definitely gonna be over for that NXT roster
once Ricky Saints becomes the new NXT World Heavyweight Champion
after beating Joe Hendry.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Good, doesn't it like just say, it just rolls all
the tongue?
Speaker 3 (14:12):
It does? I mean, it needs to be on your
waist when w W two K twenty six comes out
because we've already seen that entrance, by the way.
Speaker 2 (14:22):
And great model, right, what a great game model. They
couldn't have gotten it in better and even did you
see the entrance.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Oh, I saw the entrance. I was watching it before
we started this interview.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Interest was crazy great, the movements, the swag to it.
Oh my god, like they got in my body and
recorded it.
Speaker 4 (14:40):
Insane. I cannot wait for the game for sure.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
Now as we come to the end of our interview,
we always like to have fun with our guests. Who
do you think is the most famous person in your.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
Phone right now? Like if we were to scroll through
your contacts, be like.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
Ah, I got a few Okay, I got a few
famous friends. You know, Gordon Ramsey's one of them. Uh,
we could call Gordon Ramsey you know.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
You know what.
Speaker 3 (15:11):
Let's see if you were to FaceTime him or call
him right now, do you think he would answer?
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Can we can we try this and see?
Speaker 2 (15:17):
I have another friend? Well, I don't know, because you're
you guys gonna get me in trouble. I have another friend.
Her name is Ali Cat. Yeah, she's one of my
famous friends. Okay, we can try her. Yeah, let's see
if she'll answer. Do you think do you think she's
gonna answer?
Speaker 1 (15:33):
I don't know, but we can try.
Speaker 4 (15:38):
Let's try. Let's see. You know, crazier things have happened.
Let's see, she's gonna come on this this time. That guy.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Let's see, let's see, I don't know you.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Know, m hm, she's probably gonna ignore on us.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Well, oh, there she is. That's my most famous friend.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
We uh we we asked Ricky to call a famous
friend in his phone and see if they would answer,
and uh, luckily you picked up. So thank you for
joining the show.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Guys, please follow, subscribe, like, comment, share, what okay, that's her?
I guess you that guy? She didn't even say where,
but whatever. I okay. I didn't expect my friend to be,
you know, trying to share all her social medias though.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
Well, sorry, you know.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
You call me my mill prop because some of us
want it.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
What are you doing being late?
Speaker 2 (16:41):
That's what I thought?
Speaker 4 (16:43):
Okay, all right, well there you have it.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Ricky has famous friends and and she put herself over
on your interview, So now put yourself over on this interview.
Where can people follow you out on social media?
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Good at it?
Speaker 1 (17:00):
You know?
Speaker 2 (17:00):
Well, obviously you can find me on Instagram starky Baby,
and my Twitter is starkman Jones. But most importantly you
can find me every Tuesday on NXT on the CW
Network being the greatest guy that I am. Now I
can put on my resume. I'm an actor. I ain't
(17:21):
going to be a two time NFC champion. I'm a
former North American champion. You know, I might as well
go over the tag the NFC tag titles while we're
at it.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
I might as well do a full sweep, a full
sweep of it.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
Get the Speed title too as well.
Speaker 1 (17:39):
Maybe yes, wow, I didn't even think of that.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I mean, you could go take the North American title
from Trey Miguel and TNA if you want that as well.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
Yeah, well we have a North American so I'm okay.
Speaker 4 (17:53):
You don't want there's either you don't want to have
both of them.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
And then just like you know, that's a lot of work.
That's a lot of work. I don't know if I
want to do that.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
Yeah, I understand.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Ricky Saints, our guest on the show today, Man, always
a pleasure to get some time to talk to you.
Good luck, I mean you don't need luck for your
big matchup against Joe Hendry this week n X Steve
Vengeance Day and Ricky, anything you want to say to
the people listening or watching right now. Okay, Ricky is
(18:25):
just hitting his post, so I guess that means the
interview is over now
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