As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of professional wrestling, I can’t help but feel a pang of empathy for Ricochet, the AEW star who recently bid adieu to WWE. His journey mirrors that of a rollercoaster ride, filled with exhilarating highs and disheartening lows.
Previously contracted with WWE, AEW’s Ricochet had previously entertained thoughts of leaving the company earlier. Ricochet joined WWE in 2018 and made his debut at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, where he participated in the very first NXT North American title bout, eventually claiming victory for that championship at the event itself.
Initially, he made a powerful debut in WWE NXT, but his path on the main roster was filled with ups and downs. He joined the main roster in 2019. Shortly afterwards, he claimed his first singles title by overpowering Samoa Joe to win the United States Championship at WWE Stomping Grounds. However, this victory was short-lived as he lost the title to AJ Styles not long after.
As a devoted fan, I had the thrill of witnessing Ricochet’s shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Brock Lesnar at Super ShowDown. Unfortunately, my hero was vanquished in less than two minutes. Following his defeat to Lesnar in 2020, it seems his career has taken a turn for the worse.
Even though he delivered outstanding shows, he frequently fell short of achieving his goals. In 2022, Ricochet triumphantly retook the Intercontinental Championship on WWE SmackDown by defeating Sami Zayn with Johnny Knoxville’s help. Yet, prior to winning the Intercontinental title, Ricochet had been contemplating parting ways with WWE.
AEW star Ricochet reveals why he stayed in WWE
On the “Talk is Jericho” podcast, AEW star Ricochet talked about his decision to potentially leave WWE in 2022. He shared that he had spoken with John Laurinaitis, a former WWE Talent Relations head, expressing his wish to quit and explore opportunities on the independent circuit for lower pay. However, Laurinaitis mentioned plans for Ricochet to compete in an Intercontinental Championship bout, causing him to rethink his decision.
According to Ricochet, in 2022, he had visited Laurinaitis and expressed his intention to quit. He mentioned that he would have preferred to wrestle for smaller pay on the independent circuit. When asked about a potential Intercontinental Championship match, Ricochet said he did win it. However, he reluctantly agreed to fulfill the remainder of his contract with WWE. If he doesn’t feel valued when contract renewal time comes, he is prepared to leave willingly.
In a notable victory, Ricochet claimed the Intercontinental Championship and kept it for approximately three and a half months before passing it on to Gunther, who later established an unprecedented 666-day tenure with the title. After a commendable stint in WWE, Ricochet eventually chose to depart from the promotion in June.
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2024-09-27 21:40