Ricky Saints lost his final NXT match on April 28, falling to Shiloh Hill before delivering a farewell message to the brand’s fans in a post-show promo. He said he hoped viewers would follow him to Friday Night SmackDown.
The 36-year-old, also known as Ricky Starks, thanked the crowd for sticking with him through a run that began with his WWE debut on the Feb. 11, 2025, episode of NXT. Saints said he did not know what he was getting into when he arrived, but that the fans and the people behind the scenes welcomed him, backed him and helped him through what he called an uneasy transition.
That support mattered because Saints did more than just show up. A few months after his debut, he won the NXT North American Championship, adding to a resume that already included an NXT championship run. His farewell underscored how quickly he became one of NXT’s central names after spending years in AEW before coming to WWE.
Saints told the crowd he should be thanking them, along with the production truck and the people in the back, saying they remembered him when he stood up and spoke on Feb. 7 and chanted his old ring name two days later. He said the move was not easy, but that he busted his a** and did what was needed for business, adding that the shirts sold and the support he received helped carry him farther than he expected.
The ending leaves little doubt about where WWE sees him now. Saints is heading to Friday Night SmackDown, and his NXT exit closes a successful chapter that was brief in time but significant in impact. What happens next is whether he can turn that momentum into the same kind of run on the main roster.