Ricky Saints has made a major impact in WWE, capturing the NXT North American Championship in just his third match with the company. The former Ricky Starks defeated Shawn Spears on the April 1 episode of WWE NXT, securing his first title since joining the promotion.
Main Event Showdown: Saints vs. Spears
In an intense main event,
Saints battled through interference from The Culling's Brooks Jensen and Niko Vance, ultimately overcoming the odds. He sealed the victory by delivering a devastating Spear followed by Roshambo to put Spears away and claim the championship.
Ethan Page Attacks Post-Match
However, Saints’ celebration was cut short when Ethan Page blindsided him, attacking him from behind and holding the NXT North American Title high as the show went off the air. The crowd erupted into chants of "Tony fumbled", a reference to AEW President Tony Khan, who released Saints from All Elite Wrestling just weeks ago.
Ricky Saints’ Rise in WWE
Saints officially
signed with WWE in February, only days after departing AEW. His arrival has sparked fan reactions, with “Tony fumbled” chants becoming a regular feature of his NXT matches. Despite reports suggesting that AEW "doesn’t care" about the fan sentiment, the chants continue to grow louder.
Shawn Spears' Short-Lived Reign Ends
Saints’ victory brings an end to Shawn Spears’ 28-day reign as NXT North American Champion. Spears won the title from Tony D’Angelo on the March 4 episode of NXT, but his reign was cut short by the rising star Ricky Saints.
With Ethan Page now targeting him, the question remains: How long will Saints hold onto the gold?
