Ricochet explains how AEW reignited his wrestling passion and decision to leave WWE
Ricochet made his unexpected exit from WWE earlier this year, following which he signed with AEW. The One and Only recently offered another glimpse into his motivation behind this transition.
Ever since his debut at All In 2024, Ricochet has been on an unstoppable roll, stacking up wins in the Tony Khan-led promotion as he pursues the AEW International Championship. Furthermore, he made his NJPW comeback at Power Struggle 2024 earlier this month, attacking IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Zack Sabre Jr. and calling the latter out for a title match at Wrestle Dynasty next year.
During a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, The Human Highlight Reel spoke about why he signed with All Elite Wrestling after his WWE departure. He revealed that he felt the Jacksonville-based promotion would enable him to rejuvenate his career and asserted that, in his view, the decision to go All Elite had been the correct one.
"Again, at the end of the day, I wasn’t going to go to the highest bidder, I was just going to go to whoever was going to make me feel good and ignite that spark again, because I felt like that fire that was burning inside of me was still there, but it was just like little embers that needed that gasoline on it to really make it ignite. At the time, I felt like AEW could be the gasoline for my fire. Since being there, I feel like I made the right choice," said Ricochet. [7:48 onward]
Ricochet discussed his recent competition in AEW
During the same interview, Ricochet also reflected on competing against stars like AR Fox, Lio Rush, and Sammy Guevara - whom he had faced prior to his AEW signing - and others like Nick Wayne and The Beast Mortos, whom he had never wrestled before, on All Elite programming.
"Just even getting to be in there with the guys that I’ve been in there with Lio and AR Fox and even Nick Wayne, someone I’ve never been in there with, Sammy Guevara, Beast Mortos, people I’ve never worked with that I’ve been excited with, but also people like AR Fox and Lio, who I’ve worked with before years ago, now we’re both different performers. So I really think that had a lot to do with it. But there was no specific moment where something happened and I just flipped the switch and that’s where I’m going. I just think it’s what felt right. Even when I find myself walking around and looking, I know I made the right decision." [8:18 onward]
The Highlight of the Night will be in action this week on Dynamite, as he will square off against International Champion Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher in tag team action with a partner of his choosing.