In a move that shocked absolutely no one paying attention, Ricky Saints has officially relinquished the DEFY World Championship after his surprise WWE debut. Saints, known for his time in AEW (and his ability to make an entrance that causes Twitter meltdowns), first popped up in WWE’s NXT crowd on February 11 to a reception so loud it probably set off car alarms in Orlando.
Here’s where it gets spicy: at the time of his WWE debut, Saints was still clutching the DEFY World Championship, a title he won after defying (get it?) KENTA at DEFY’s eight-year anniversary show. Given WWE’s recent friendly neighborhood collaborations with TNA, NOAH, and Marigold, some fans dared to dream that Saints might continue his reign. But, as wrestling history often teaches us, dreams are made to be shattered.
Saints Hands Over the Gold, DEFY Moves On
Taking to X (formerly Twitter, still a hellscape), Saints announced he was stepping away from the DEFY title faster than a wrestler dodging a worked shoot. But fear not, DEFY fans—your next champion will be crowned at the upcoming Aftermath event on March 15, where the winner of the Super 8XGP tournament will claim the vacated championship. DEFY is keeping the suspense high, announcing only that the tournament will feature two matches, with the winners advancing to the finals later that night. Who’s in it? Who knows! But DEFY promises to trickle out names soon, so stay glued to your social media feeds like it’s the forbidden door of roster reveals.
Saints Already Making Moves in WWE
While DEFY prepares for a new champion, Saints isn’t wasting any time in WWE. He made his in-ring debut on the February 25 episode of NXT, teaming up with Je’Von Evans to defeat Wes Lee and Ethan Page. No small feat considering the talent involved. While Saints isn’t scheduled for NXT’s March 4 episode (probably letting the hype cool down), with Roadblock coming up on March 11 and Stand & Deliver set for April 19, expect him to be a major player in the months ahead.
So, to recap: Ricky Saints is out of DEFY, WWE is cashing in on the buzz, and the DEFY World Championship is up for grabs. Somewhere, a group of indie wrestlers is sharpening their superkicks in anticipation. Stay tuned.