Ricochet details patient AEW debut after leaving WWE

Ricochet said on The Ariel Helwani Show that his first year with All Elite Wrestling has "been awesome," revealing he signed with the company in July and made his AEW debut at All In in late August 2024 after his WWE contract expired in June. The high-flying performer said the move and subsequent creative path unfolded largely as he and AEW planned: deliver strong in-ring matches first, then shift his character and turn heel.

"I signed in July, but I didn't debut until late August," Ricochet said, describing a deliberate approach to his arrival. "The goal isn't to come in, be champion immediately, and dominate. It was come in, have some good matches, show people that Ricochet can still have good matches, then shift characterwise." He added that a heel turn was always part of his trajectory, though earlier plans had involved joining another group. "We had other plans before I even debuted," he said. "Then, what happened was so good with the way it was going that we stuck with Ricochet being a solo thing."

Ricochet also addressed his departure from WWE, saying his experience was that the company did not mount a serious effort to keep him once his deal neared expiration. "They made...