Why WWE’s Ricky Saints signing is different from other AEW defections

Ricky Starks is a first-of-his-kind acquisition by WWE.

You can make the case Starks — renamed Ricky Saints in NXT — is the first AEW talent WWE has brought in that AEW fans were wanting to see more of, someone who had not come close to hitting their ceiling.

It’s the opposite of how things were when AEW first started in 2019 and performers were leaving WWE to see if they would be better utilized and maximized by Tony Khan’s company. 

Maybe you can convince me Jade Cargill not becoming AEW Women’s champion is on par with the 34-year-old Saints’ unfulfilled AEW promise, but she was treated like one of the company’s biggest stars regardless throughout her run.