Ricochet's impending heel turn to pave the way for 35-year-old's AEW debut? Chances explored

After weeks of hints and teases, Ricochet finally turned to the dark side this week on AEW Dynamite. The One and Only displayed his capacity for violence by taking out one of the company’s top stars. While some fans suspect that this is leading to him possibly joining The Hurt Syndicate, the high-flyer could instead reunite with another former WWE personality whom he has a personal relationship with to try and further flesh out his character.

Since around December last year, tension began to build between Ricochet and Swerve Strickland after The Human Highlight Reel taunted The Realest by promising to do something the latter had failed to accomplish – win the 2024 Continental Classic. However, despite making it to the semifinals at Worlds End, Ricochet failed to advance to the finals after losing to Kazuchika Okada, after which Strickland kept his word and embarrassed the former Prince Puma by having audience members pelt him with toilet paper rolls.

In a stunning move to start off 2025, Ricochet attacked Swerve on AEW Dynamite: Fight for the Fallen during his three-way bout against Roderick Strong and Jay White. The 36-year-old struck Strickland on the head with a pair of scissors, later exacerbating the bleeding wound with punches and headbutts, and finally laid the former AEW World Champion out with a Spirit Gun. Seeing how Swerve was recently feuding with The Hurt Syndicate, many viewers feel that Ricochet is on his way to joining the group.

However, All Elite Wrestling could pull off a twist instead and bring in the former WWE superstar’s fiancée, Samantha Irvin, to pair her with The Highlight of The Night. According to a recent report, the 35-year-old former ring announcer was backstage at Dynamite this week. Furthermore, in an interview last month, Ricochet revealed that Irvin was interested in playing a character in a compelling wrestling storyline.

Thus, the Tony Khan-led company could introduce Irvin to its programming as Ricochet’s villainous companion, supporting her partner in wreaking havoc on his enemies.

AEW star Ricochet’s fiancee Samantha Irvin on why she left WWE

Despite receiving universal praise for her remarkable work in WWE as a ring announcer, Samantha Irvin announced her unexpected exit from the sports entertainment juggernaut in October last year. After fans on social media insinuated that her departure was caused by Ricochet’s AEW debut, the Massachusetts-born personality revealed that the Stamford-based company was interested in utilizing her only as an announcer, despite her eagerness to do more.

“I don’t like announcing, I’m serious! Announcing was only supposed to be my way in. I wanted to manage, maybe even become a general manager one day. But WWE saw no other future for me besides announcer. I love watching the action, but I don’t love being an announcer,” wrote Samantha Irvin.

It remains to be seen if Samantha Irvin will arrive at All Elite Wrestling and align with Ricochet in 2025.