3 Directions for Ricochet at AEW All In
Ricochet has been the talk of wrestling town in recent weeks amidst speculations regarding his AEW arrival. The Human Highlight Reel reportedly made his WWE exit, bringing to an end his six-year tenure in the Stamford-based promotion after his contract with the company expired, making him a free agent.
Recent reports suggest that Ricochet is headed to All Elite Wrestling. In fact, according to a report from Fightful Select, the 35-year-old star's agent had been present backstage for AEW's TV tapings in the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois, which hosted the Beach Break edition of Dynamite on July 3, 2024. The report also suggests that the aforementioned agent had led negotiations between Ricochet and the Tony Khan-led company, which is gearing up to return to London on August 25 for the 2024 iteration of AEW All In.
Given that Ricochet's arrival in All Elite Wrestling could potentially be simply a matter of time, let us look at three possible directions for The One and Only heading to All In.
#1: Ricochet reunites with Will Ospreay at AEW All In after the latter's title loss to MJF
Will Ospreay suffered a heartbreaking loss at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024, as he failed to beat Swerve Strickland for the All Elite Wrestling World Championship. On the subsequent Beach Break edition of Dynamite, The Aerial Assassin returned to winning ways by retaining his International Title against Daniel Garcia. The latter would be viciously assaulted by MJF after the match in an unanticipated heel turn, prompting Ospreay to return to the ring to make the save for Garcia. Factoring in the tensions building between the English star and The Wolf of Wrestling over the past few weeks, it can be tentatively assumed that Ospreay will defend the International Championship against Friedman at All In 2024.
Winning the International Title from Ospreay at Wembley Stadium could legitimize MJF's current heel run. Such a victory could also lead to Ricochet making his AEW debut at All In 2024 to come to the aid of his old rival, Will Ospreay. Friedman has seemingly reverted to his former ruthless ways, and his attacking Ospreay after their bout could provide Ricochet a huge platform to make a heroic first appearance in the promotion to help the former Don Callis Family member.
Such an outcome would also lay the groundwork for a feud between Ricochet and MJF over the International Championship.
#2: Ricochet squares off against PAC at All In
Ricochet and PAC are no strangers to one another. The two men have competed against each other in numerous matches - in singles and tag team action - primarily in the independent promotion Dragon Gate. Both Ricochet and PAC are in-ring masters, capable of blending high-flying athleticism with strikes and mat-based techniques.
However, they have not wrestled in some time, since PAC has been signed with AEW since 2019. But now, with Ricochet seemingly headed to All Elite Wrestling, the two stars could mix it up again, potentially at All In 2024.
PAC's quest to win the 2024 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament and headlining Wembley Stadium were thwarted by Bryan Danielson during their semifinal bout on Dynamite: Beach Break. Since the former AEW All-Atlantic Champion does not yet have an opponent for the upcoming pay-per-view in London, Tony Khan could potentially bring in Ricochet to face PAC in a blockbuster battle at All In 2024.
A clash between the two former NXT Superstars could generate significant interest in the forthcoming event.
#3: Ricochet joins Team AEW for Blood and Guts to set up a match against Kazuchika Okada or Jack Perry
Some time ago, The Elite challenged the All Elite Wrestling roster to face them in the 2024 version of Blood and Guts. The brutal matchup is scheduled to take place later this month. So far, only one member has been announced for Team AEW, it being ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe. In the meantime, The Young Bucks are desperately looking for a fifth member for The Elite, with a returning Hangman Page refusing to rejoin his old stable.
Ricochet is familiar with the match style of Blood and Guts, having competed in a WarGames match on NXT TakeOver: WarGames in 2018. As such, the former Intercontinental Champion could potentially make a huge debut as a babyface at Blood and Guts in Nashville, Tennessee by representing Team AEW. A feud with The Elite could also set The Human Highlight Reel on a collision course against Jack Perry or Kazuchika Okada over their respective TNT and Continental Championships.
This, in turn, could lead to Ricochet facing either The Scapegoat or The Rainmaker at All In 2024. A victory over either of the two competitors would cement Ricochet as a top star as well as hand him his first championship in AEW on one of the promotion's grandest stages.
It remains to be seen whether and when Ricochet will make his debut in All Elite Wrestling, and how he is presented en route to All In.