Ricky Saints Addresses WWE Pressure After Signing From ‘Somewhere Else’

WWE

Reigning WWE NXT Champion Ricky Saints has addressed the added pressures of arriving in WWE from “somewhere else”.

Saints joined WWE earlier this year, having competed in AEW as Ricky Starks since his debut there back in June 2020.

A former AEW World Tag Team and FTW Champion, he has continued his success in WWE, being a former North American Champion and current NXT Champion.

In a recent appearance on Busted Open Radio, Starks opened up about the pressure of being a former AEW star in WWE, saying:

“One thing about me is that I’m never really seeking the validation of somebody else. If you like me, you like; if you don’t, you don’t. It doesn’t bother me either way.

“What I’m more focused on is now that I am champion, every day I’m literally trying to prove it to myself. I’m trying to prove it to myself that I’m every bit of what I say I am, and I’m every bit of what I believe that I am.

“So the pressure still stays the same, if not, there’s a little bit more to it because you have a lot of people who are not only going to try and think they can still get one over on you, so you’re having to fight that. On top of that, you’re having to be the flag bearer and any issues that may come up, you’re the one that’s taking the blame for it.

“So I’m navigating all that because there’s no book on how to be the guy, you just end up being the guy. You get thrown out there and you either sink or swim…

“…Every day I got pressure even before I had the championship. I am a guy that came from somewhere else, and there’s people that look at me differently because I am a champion… There can’t be any holes in my game at all.”

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

During the appearance, Saints would reflect on his relationship with Shawn Michaels, hinting at the freedom he has been granted as an NXT star.

He would also open up about having a ‘chip on his shoulder‘ despite being NXT Champion, suggesting he doesn’t want to be seen as ‘less than’ others.

If you use this transcription or any portion of it, please credit WrestleTalk.com and link to this page.

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