Ricochet looks set to leave WWE at the end of his current contract with the company in the coming weeks.
The former United States Champion has been a major star for the grappling giant in recent years, rising to prominence there since first signing in 2018.
He was also the first ever WWE Speed Champion, winning the brand-new, X exclusive title just last month.
That reign has, however, been cut abruptly short after just a few weeks, with Andrade snaring the gold from the high-flyer in a match set to air on the social media platform later this week.
The sudden swerve in direction – which could continue on Monday’s Raw – comes as reports have emerged that Ricochet will walk out on WWE once his contract expires this summer.
Fightful in the US had previously reported that he was among a raft of stars – including Natalya and Becky Lynch – whose deals were running down.
Now the outlet claims WWE are having to quickly put plans in place for his ‘very likely’ departure, beginning with the rushed call to take the Speed title from around his waist.
The report noted: “…We’re told within WWE that there is a “high likelihood” that Ricochet leaves the company, and they expect him to land in AEW.”
It went on to say that “…Creative measures have already been taken to write off Ricochet in the event that he does leave. Part of that was him dropping the WWE Speed Championship to Andrade at this past week’s Smackdown tapings.
“AEW staff and talent backstage this past week were talking about the possibility of Ricochet joining the company. We haven’t heard that there had been official talks of the sort.
“Ricochet is still under contract with WWE, and we’re told that nothing is an impossibility, but as of Friday, all indications were that he’d decided to leave the company.”
Far from a star made entirely in the WWE mould, Ricochet was an established, global star on the independent scene before first linking up with their NXT division.
First succeeding there, he was drafted to the ‘main’ roster, where further championships followed – and a high-profile rivalry with Logan Paul.
After a sharing a viral moment at the 2023 Royal Rumble, the pair continued to battle throughout the months that followed with some eye-catching outings.
If time is called on his WWE career this summer, Fightful has speculated the world may very well be his oyster, with former employers New Japan also likely to be keen on his signature.
Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling will almost certainly be the front-runner should the master of the moonsault reach free agency, with one of their top stars already appearing to issue a come-join-us plea of sorts.
Brit Will Osprey slammed WWE’s use of the star as ‘appalling’, telling ComicBook: “The fact that they only value his time for under five minutes is appalling to me.
“I just want people to remember who he is. If you go and look at 2012-2013 Dragon Gate Ricochet, he was untouchable at the time.
“I don’t know how much longer he has got in his contract, but I think it might be up soon, man, I don’t know, maybe.
“I want him to know that there are people here that genuinely appreciate his work and I want to wrestle him again. I want him back here.
“I want him to know that there isn’t a bar. You are the f****** bar.”
Ricochet’s other WWE accolades include time as Intercontinental Champion, NXT North American Champion and a SmackDown World Cup winner.
News Summary:
- WWE Champ and Logan Paul rival hurriedly ‘written off’ TV amid talk he’s set to quit company
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.