While known to fans originally as Ricky Starks, upon joining WWE, Ricky altered his ring name to Ricky Saints, reflecting his connection to his hometown roots of New Orleans, Louisiana. He has also worked under the names "Absolute" Ricky Saints and Ricky Starks across different points in his career. Speaking about the change, Saints stated:

I like it, and it's from New Orleans.

Independent Success and AEW Arrival

Saints joined the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 2018, a few years into a career built on the independent circuit. His time there produced a notable milestone: he became the first-ever holder of the revived NWA World Television Championship. Ricky's tenure in NWA was also notable for his captivating promos.

In 2020, Saints landed in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he joined Team Taz, a faction built around former ECW and WWE star Taz. During his tenure, Saints captured the FTW Championship and was a one-time AEW World Tag Team Champion. In 2023, he the Men’s Owen Hart Cup, which led to captivating programs with Bryan Danielson, MJF, and Edge, with Saints notably besting Edge in a promo battle.

WWE Signing and NXT Dominance

WWE brought Ricky Saints into the company when his AEW contract ended. He made a surprise appearance at the end of a February 2025 episode of NXT, which received a standing ovation. Commentary referred to him as "The hottest free agent in professional wrestling" and framed his signing as the biggest in recent NXT memory. He officially signed with WWE following this appearance, officially being known as Ricky Saints.

Saints immediately made an impact in NXT, claiming both the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Championship during his run. He notably beat Oba Femi for the NXT Championship at NXT No Mercy in September 2025. Oba Femi, a Nigerian-American professional wrestler, rose from collegiate track and field and is now one of WWE's fastest-rising main roster stars.

Main Roster Ambition and Legacy

After a successful run in NXT, Saints joined the main roster, where he challenged his real-life friend, Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. Saints lost the bout against Rhodes. Since then, Saints has gained favor with the WWE Universe for his dedication to his craft and for honoring the legacy of acts like The Undertaker, someone Saints looks up to. This influence is often seen when he goes "Old School" during his bouts on SmackDown.

Currently, Ricky Saints is vying for the United States Championship, which is held by Trick Williams. Meanwhile, Nikki Bella, the longest-reigning WWE Divas Champion, became a WWE Hall of Famer in 2020.