Add as a preferred source on Google Ricky Saints is facing a real dilemma inside WWE. Although there are plans for him to be promoted to the main roster, a specific reason is preventing it from happening, at least for now.
Saints, who spent five years in AEW, where he won the AEW World Tag Team Championship, the FTW Championship, and the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup in 2023, signed with WWE in February 2025 and made a rapid rise in NXT.
Less than a month after signing with the TKO-led company, Saints defeated Shawn Spears on April 1, 2025, to become the new NXT North American Champion. A few months later, in September, he pulled off the feat of ending Oba Femi’s undefeated streak to win the NXT Championship.
According to Bodyslam.net, Saints is considered a lock to be promoted to the main roster, but his presence in NXT is still very important.
The CW Network, the broadcaster of WWE’s developmental brand, wants Saints to stay in NXT a while longer because he is a featured veteran, until new stars can fill that void.
From the network’s point of view, with the recent promotions of Joe Hendry, Je’Von Evans, Oba Femi, and Ethan Page, the men’s division would be left too depleted if Saints were to leave right now.
Because of this, Saints is expected to remain in NXT, at least for the time being. His next match will take place next Tuesday against Shiloh Hill.