Ricky Saints, a rising star on WWE SmackDown, has openly declared his intention to surpass longtime friends Cody Rhodes and CM Punk as the company's top attraction. In an exclusive interview with Metro, the 36-year-old made it clear that he is targeting the main event spotlight that Rhodes and Punk will occupy at WWE SummerSlam, streaming live on Netflix on August 1 and 2.
A Bold Declaration of Intent
“All of the top spots, I’m gunning for,” Saints stated. “And you know, you’ll have people who can give their opinions on like, ‘Well, that’s kind of a lofty goal.’ Doesn’t matter. A lofty goal was making it to WWE. Look at me now. So, to me, that’s just something that will happen. It’s inevitable.”
Saints, who signed with WWE in February 2025 and quickly moved from NXT to SmackDown just three months ago, made an immediate impact on his debut by interrupting Rhodes and vowing to “change who this show is about.” He acknowledged the truth behind that statement, saying, “There’s truth to everything. We are friends; that does not mean that I don’t want the same things that he has.”
Proving He Can Back It Up
Saints is aware that words must be backed by actions. “I would be remiss if I didn’t tell him straight up, ‘Look, it’s okay’. You’ve done a lot. Now it’s my turn to take over and do what I need to do,” he said. His confidence is shared by NXT and Main Event commentator Vic Joseph, who has hailed Saints as a future face of Raw or SmackDown.
What sets Saints apart? “It’s those intangible things, it’s those attributes that I have,” he explained. “Sure, you can beat me on the track, but you’ll never outrun me.” His relentless drive stems from a dream he has chased since age 12, enduring numerous setbacks. “There will be a point where I climb all the way up and I put the flag up there, and now I’m good,” he said. “Until that happens, I’m a very stubborn person, so nothing will be able to stop me.”
Support from Legends
Saints credits CM Punk for early belief in him during their time in AEW. “Punk actually was one of the guys in the previous company that really saw something in me when other people kind of glossed over me, and I’ll always be forever indebted to him,” he said. “I love my matches with him, I think we have some type of unique chemistry.” Saints also values Punk’s guidance, noting he is “always willing to help” and represents a rare bridge between wrestling eras.
Beyond the main eventers, Saints leans on Paul Heyman and Michael Cole “for some worldly advice,” as well as behind-the-scenes crew members. “Everyone on the production team, from the truck to the camera people to the lighting rig people, everyone is so cool,” he said. “I’m always curious and eager to pick their brain about like the things they’ve seen and the life that they have lived.”
Learning from Controversy
Saints has also faced learning experiences, including a tense unscripted exchange with Adam ‘Edge’ Copeland in AEW after an off-the-cuff comment. Edge recently downplayed any “heat,” comparing it to Attitude Era promos. Saints reflected, “The whole situation was kind of hilarious in the fact that this is pro wrestling, and so you can make up these arbitrary rules if you want to about how certain things are and whatnot. But at the end of the day, it’s beyond a promo. It’s beyond things that we say to each other. It’s more than that. It’s when things are physical. If it don’t bother him, it don’t bother me! Truthfully, I still to this day find the whole thing funny because of just how it happened.”
SummerSlam Preview: A Match to Study
Looking ahead to the Rhodes-Punk main event, Saints expects a classic. “I know that it’s already going to be great, and that one is going to be a match that people should really be studying very, very closely for. Just because it’s like two jazz musicians just getting up there, and you just let it rip. That’s all that’s gonna happen. You’re just letting it rip.” He emphasized the “gritty” side as essential to magic, adding, “This is pro wrestling, baby! Where’s the drama? Where’s the excitement? Let’s give it to them. Why are we so PR-heavy with being polite?”
Future Ambitions
After a recent United States Championship challenge that fell short, Saints remains undeterred. “That was a good feather in the cap. Obviously, I didn’t get the job done. But doesn’t mean it won’t,” he said. “I’m enjoying it for what it is. I’m no stranger to hard work, let me tell you that.” With SummerSlam on the horizon, Saints is poised to watch closely, ready to take his own shot at glory.
