Ricky Saints Set for WWE SmackDown Debut as NXT Call-Ups Continue

WWE has confirmed that Ricky Saints will make his main roster debut on WWE SmackDown, marking his transition from NXT to the blue brand.

The announcement was made during the April 24 episode of WWE SmackDown, where it was revealed that Saints will appear on the upcoming SmackDown episode scheduled for May 1, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Before his main roster debut, Saints is set to compete in one final match on WWE NXT, where he will face Shiloh Hill. This bout is expected to conclude his tenure in NXT.

Saints enters SmackDown as a former NXT Champion, having previously held both the NXT North American Championship and the NXT Championship during his time in the developmental brand.

His call-up is part of a broader wave of NXT talent moving to the main roster following WrestleMania 42, with WWE actively reshaping its roster across both Raw and SmackDown.

Other recent call-ups include Ethan Page and Sol Ruca, who debuted on WWE Raw, while Joe Hendry is scheduled to join the roster next week with an in-ring concert segment.

The women’s division also saw new additions, as Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid debuted together on SmackDown, forming the faction Fatal Influence and attacking multiple stars across the women’s division.

Their debut led to a backlash involving Charlotte Flair, who confirmed she would face Jayne the following week, opting to handle the situation independently rather than align with Rhea Ripley.

a vignette aired on SmackDown confirming that Blake Monroe is also set to join the brand, further strengthening the incoming class of talent from NXT.

Notably, both Saints and Monroe previously competed in AEW under the names “Ricky Starks” and “Mariah May,” respectively, before joining WWE.

Saints made his first WWE appearance in February 2025, while Monroe joined the company in June 2025.

As of the announcement, no further NXT call-ups have been confirmed for either WWE Raw or SmackDown beyond those already revealed.