Ricky Saints May Not Have a Great Future in WWE

Former WWE writer Vince Russo has shared his assessment of the company’s perspective on its newest high-profile acquisition. According to Russo, WWE doesn’t view 34-year-old Ricky Saints (formerly known as Ricky Starks) as a major player despite his recent blockbuster debut on NXT.

During the latest episode of Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Writing with Russo, host Dr. Chris Featherstone asked Russo about his thoughts on The Absolute, who made his highly anticipated WWE debut last week on the developmental brand.

Well, I think that’s the first question you have to ask yourself—do you think he’ll make an impact in WWE? Why is he starting in NXT, bro? I think that tells you everything you need to know right there. If they thought this was an impact guy, he’s not starting in NXT. And I just got to tell you, because this is my measuring stick—the guy looks great, the guy can talk, the guy can work, the guy can do all of things. But he’s not going to draw one fan. It’s the same old thing, that bubble, they’re going to go crazy, Ricky [Saints] is here. He ain’t going to draw one new fan, bro.

Russo’s analysis centers on WWE’s decision to debut Saints on NXT rather than immediately placing him on RAW or SmackDown. In his view, this placement signals the company’s internal evaluation of Saints’ drawing power despite acknowledging his impressive in-ring abilities and presentation.

The former writer’s comments highlight the distinction between performer quality and mainstream appeal, suggesting that while Saints possesses the fundamental skills necessary for success, WWE management may not perceive him as someone capable of expanding their audience beyond existing wrestling fans.

This perspective from Russo, who served as a head writer during WWE’s highly successful Attitude Era, offers an insider’s view on how the company potentially evaluates talent acquisitions. Despite Saints’ accomplishments prior to joining WWE, Russo believes the decision to start him in NXT rather than on the main roster reflects the company’s assessment of his current star power.

Saints’ journey in WWE is just beginning, and while Russo’s assessment reflects his current perception, the wrestler’s trajectory could certainly evolve depending on fan response and his performance in the coming months on the NXT brand.