4-time WWE champion must not become The Hurt Syndicate's newest member in AEW, according to wrestling legend
The AEW takeover by The Hurt Syndicate is underway. MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin are less than one month into their All Elite run together. While things started slow, the faction is advancing with domination and active recruiting. However, wrestling legend Dutch Mantell believes that the faction shouldn't recruit Ricochet.
The One and Only is almost four months into his run with All Elite Wrestling. The veteran is now focused on winning the Continental Classic with the finals taking place at World's End later this month. In a storyline that should be familiar to the WWE Universe, MVP is trying to recruit the inaugural Speed Champion into The Hurt Syndicate, but Ricochet has made it clear he is not interested, as he did once again on this week's AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash.
The Highlight of the Night needs to rebound from his current spot in the program with The Hurt Syndicate, according to Dutch Mantell. Speaking on his Story Time podcast, the former Zeb Colter of WWE had praise and criticism for Ricochet and AEW. Following this week's Dynamite, Dutch has a suggestion on how Tony Khan can book a strong finish for the two-time Lucha Underground Champion.
"Ricochet is at the point now to where he's trying to get over, trying to gain the acceptance of the crowd, but what I've seen so far is confusion. He don't know what he's doing, but there is a point with that, where you don't give a c*ap what he's doing because it just doesn't interest you. Ricochet is probably one of the best ring technicians out there, but personality-wise he could take a few lessons on that, and that's not a knock on him, that's just... He's better performing moves than he is talking about it," Dutch Mantell said.
Dutch Mantell continued:
"So, anyway, he went into the ring with The Hurt [Syndicate], and they snatched him up, and he [tore up MVP's card] and they just told him to leave, and he just tucked his tail between his legs and he left... So, it made him look like they were bullying him, and the only way this can work, if they just... Since they started it this way, they go to tell the story that he finally gets back to one of those guys, and tries to get even with them," Dutch Mantell said. [From 13:18 to 14:38]
Check out the video below:
Ricochet moves forward in AEW Continental Classic
Ricochet continues to advance in his first-ever AEW Continental Classic tournament ahead of the finals at World's End. He defeated Brody King in a Gold League match on last week's Dynsmite: Winter Is Coming.
The One and Only will now face Will Ospreay on Saturday at AEW Christmas Collision. The special episode will also feature Darby Allin vs. Claudio Castagnoli, plus Blue League action with Mark Briscoe vs. The Beast Mortos, and Daniel Garcia vs. Shelton Benjamin.
Gold League competition is tight right now with a five-way tie for the top spot with Ricochet, Allin, Ospreay, Castagnoli, and King, who all have six points. Komander is mathematically eliminated with zero points.
Kyle Fletcher currently leads the Blue League with nine points, while Kazuchika Okada has seven, Briscoe and Benjamin are tied with six, Garcia has four, and Mortos is mathematically eliminated with zero.
While using any quotes from this article, please credit the Story Time With Dutch Mantell podcast and give a H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.