UPDATE: Well, it appears the match taped at the last set of Atlanta tapings between Ricochet and Fabian Aichner was nixed from the final edit of tonight’s show. Or perhaps it was only ever intended as a Dark Match during tonight’s episode taping. Either way, the debut is still on hold, but it appears that during this week’s tapings, they have bigger plans for Ricochet’s debut. Stay tuned…
One of the most anticipated NXT debuts in ages happens tonight when one of the top international indie stars of the past decade, Ricochet, makes his WWE television debut tonight on NXT in a match against Fabian Aichner. The episode is also scheduled to start this year’s edition of the Dusty Rhodes Classic and Aleister Black vs. Killian Dain in a #1 Contender’s Match for Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas’ NXT Championship at NXT Takeover: New Orleans.
Trained by current PWG World Champion and ROH/NJPW star Chuck Taylor, Ricochet made his debut in 2005. He spent his early days with CHIKARA (he won the Young Lions Cup in 2007) and CZW, then branched out to EVOLVE, PWG and others in 2010. He made his Japan debut with Dragon Gate in 2011 and spent four years with the company, by which he became one of the biggest indie superstars around the world. He won the 2013 King of Gate Tournament.
In 2013, he debuted with NJPW, where he became a fixture in the Junior Heavyweight division, appearing in the Best of the Super Juniors in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017, winning it in 2014. In 2015, with partner Matt Sydal, he won the NJPW Super Junior Tag Tournament. He left NJPW late 2017 as a former 3x IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. A regular with PWG since 2010, he’s the only man to win two PWG Battle of Los Angeles tournaments (2014 and 2017) and he finally won the PWG World Heavyweight Championship last year, from his mentor Chuck Taylor.
In 2014, his cult status reached new mainstream levels when he donned a mask to portray the top face of Lucha Underground, the mysterious luchador known as Prince Puma. He left the company after the third season, a 2x Lucha Undeground Champion.
Although it had been long rumored, he officially signed with the WWE in mid-January, making his WWE television debut sitting at ringside during NXT Takeover: Philadelphia on Royal Rumble weekend.
