Ricochet left WWE last June when his contract expired. He'd pushed to be treated as more than just another midcard talent, but it was clear that the company only saw him ever being able to reach a certain level.
The former Intercontinental Champion was last seen on RAW being put through a car windshield by Bron Breakker, a moment that ultimately summed up his time in WWE. Since then, Ricochet has signed with AEW and made his debut for the company at All In 2024.
Talking to Ariel Helwani, Ricochet shared his belief that WWE made no serious effort when the time on his contract began winding down.
"For me, they didn’t try. They made an offer, we just couldn’t agree, okay, I’m out," he recalled. "They didn’t, for me at least, they didn’t really let me know they wanted me to stay. Who knows if that would have changed my mind anyway? This is just my experience."
"They may feel different. I didn’t feel they really sat me down and were like, 'We want you to stay,'" Ricochet continued. "Everyone has different experiences. That’s just how I felt."
Ricochet has proven himself incredibly loyal to AEW since joining Tony Khan's company, and later weighed in with his take on WWE's attempts to counterprogram the rival promotion by placing its shows head-to-head.
"Not every fan is that way, but in history, it’s never been really acceptable to have multiple wrestling companies on television," he said. "Competition is great, but it gets to a point where you want this company to stop being a company just because it’s not the company you grew up with your whole life. I’ve never been that kind of person, so it’s hard for me to understand those feelings. Competition is welcome and great. I’m glad AEW is here to compete."
"Now more than ever, we’re figuring out ways to create new stories, drama, and suspense while keeping it sports-based and creating an alternative to what people have known for years," Ricochet continued. "How the world is today, having a place like AEW, all those families and people who may not be able to afford to go to WWE can afford to come to our show and have a good time, and experience some new action, characters, drama, and an alternative to what has been going on for a long time."
Ricochet's AEW run has drawn mixed reviews, though he's certainly proven himself an effective heel. Whether WWE was wrong to let him slip away remains up for debate, but he certainly doesn't sound too bothered about potentially returning there.
You can watch the full interview with Ricochet in the player below.