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Ricky Saints, the reigning WWE NXT North American Champion, is ready to make the most of Wrestlemania Weekend—and then some.
Set to defend his title against Ethan Page at NXT Stand & Deliver, Saints is not only prepared for the spotlight but embracing the pressure that comes with it.
“It’s a great time, actually. It is a perfect time to be real with you,” Saints told PWInsider earlier today at a media event. “There’s a lot that I have to prove tomorrow at Deliver against Ethan, and also to it being my first Wrestlemania weekend and being on this side now. It’s a good pressure.”
Saints and Page have a long history roots that stretches far beyond the walls of the WWE Performance Center. Saints isn’t shying away from the challenge that comes with Wrestlemania weekend.
“If you thought I was good before,” he said with confidence, “just wait till tomorrow.”
Despite being one of the newer faces in NXT, Saints has adjusted quickly to the change of scenery, even if the transition felt a bit like the “first day of school.” Still, familiarity helped ease the transition. “I’ve known everyone here before, so it wasn’t that odd to me. I think just getting used to a new school system is always the hardest part, so to speak.”
With one foot planted firmly in the present, Saints is already visualizing the future—specifically next year’s Wrestlemania at the Superdome in New Orleans. The Louisiana native made his intentions clear: “I’m taking over Bourbon Street. I’m taking over the Superdome. I’m going to be on Wrestlemania next year.”
“Wrestlemanias in New Orleans have always garnered a great energy that I think benefits everybody. And I think next year’s just gonna be bigger than the previous years.”
Saints also opened up about overcoming personal struggles over the past year and shared a piece of advice for anyone facing obstacles outside their control. “You gotta keep going,” he said. “It’s not the end of the world. Things do suck, but only for a small brief period. I’m no stranger to setbacks… the true fight is just getting up every day and focusing on things you can control.”
As for the early morning call time for Stand & Deliver’s 9:30 AM kickoff locally in Vegas? Saints couldn’t care less.
“Who cares? When the fight is on, when the red light turns on? We’re all alive at that point.”
Ricky Starks vs. Ethan Page takes place tomorrow at Stand and Deliver.
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