Ricochet explains decision to leave WWE for AEW

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Ricochet explained his decision to leave WWE for AEW.

Ricochet made his AEW debut at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, appearing as an entrant in the Casino gauntlet match at All In. He then picked up his first AEW victory by defeating Kyle Fletcher on Dynamite. Before these two matches, Ricochet had not wrestled since giving his notice to WWE in June.

AEW is a place that already feels like home to Ricochet, he tells Sports Illustrated. Ricochet already knows so much of the AEW roster. Though he has enjoyed everywhere he’s wrestled, traveling the world with some of the people who are now in AEW earlier in his career is the most fun Ricochet has ever had in pro wrestling.

“Honestly, the biggest reason [he signed with AEW] is that I’ve been doing this for a long time, 21 years this year. And for me, the time when I was like, having the most fun in my career was when I was, like, traveling the world with those crazy lunatics in the back there,” Ricochet said.

“It’s literally the time when I was having the most fun. Despite what people may think, it’s not always been bad for Ricochet. I’ve had fun my entire career, no matter where I went. I’ve always had fun. That’s not going to change. But when I was having the most fun was when I was hanging out with these guys and traveling the world with these guys and having matches with these guys and creating the art that I really like to make for I feel like the Ricochet fans out there who’s been, you know, I guess just missing the opportunity to shine. But for me, it’s to have fun again and to create that art again.”

Ricochet said it felt like he had maybe plateaued in WWE over the last couple of years. Joining AEW was a big decision, but he knew it was the right one for him.

“It was definitely a big decision, but honestly, yes and no [whether it was a hard decision]. Obviously, yes it was hard because it’s a place I’ve been for the last six years,” Ricochet said. “I got some really good connections, some friends, and some good memories there. So it was definitely hard. But at the same time, no, it wasn’t, because I am a person who has always changed. I’ve always done stuff, so that’s something that I was looking forward to.

“And I just saw what AEW was doing. I saw the guys and girls over there and what they were doing, and it just seemed so fun. You want to be a part of it. Now that I’m able to be a part of it and hopefully help move it forward into the next, generation is going to be awesome. So, as hard of a decision as it was, I knew it was the right decision.”

Signing with AEW gives Ricochet the chance to renew his in-ring rivalry with Will Ospreay. Ricochet told Sports Illustrated that he also has unfinished business with PAC. On Dynamite this week, PAC blindsided Ospreay with a poison rana and then warned Ricochet to get to the back of the line like everyone else.

PAC is challenging Ospreay for the International Championship at AEW’s All Out pay-per-view on Saturday, September 7.