Former AEW Talent Undergoes Surprising Name Change in WWE

While many held out time that Starks' name would go untouched, that isn't the case here.

During the February 18, 2025 episode of WWE NXT, Ricky Starks signed his talent contract in the middle of the ring. On the contract was the name, "Ricky Saints."  It looks like "Starks" is no more for the "Absolute" one.

Some fans were unsure about the last name change and took to social media to react.

It isn't all bad news for fans of Ricky Saints, as it appears he's being treated as a top player on the NXT brand before his first match. During his contract signing, Saints was interrupted by former WWE NXT Champion Ethan Page and Wes Lee.

Saints ended up blocking a cheap shot from Lee and clotheslined him over the top rope before hitting his signature pose. Time will tell if Lee ends up being Saints' first match on NXT TV and whether or not he's due for his first major storyline on the show with Page.

While things ultimately didn't work out for Saints in AEW, it'll be interesting to see if he can maximize his opportunities in WWE.