Ricochet Addresses Speculation He Toned Down Moveset in WWE

Ricochet, who had been with WWE since 2018 before departing earlier this year, officially signed with AEW and has already competed in several matches. That being said, Ricochet has now addressed speculation that he toned down his moveset in WWE.

Ricochet made his AEW debut in the Casino Gauntlet match at All In, bringing back his high-flying moves and impressing fans after months away from the ring. Many fans noticed he seemed faster than ever and felt he always had to tone down his moveset in WWE.

While speaking during a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, Ricochet shared that he’s always done his full range of moves, but he adapts depending on who he’s facing and whether he’s supposed to win or lose. People online often say he’s “unleashed” in AEW, but he pointed out that he was also doing big moves in WWE—like springboard 450s onto tables, 630 splashes, and even a Spanish fly through a table with Logan Paul. His moves haven’t changed; instead, it’s about how often he gets those chances.

Ricochet explained that his style changes based on his opponent. Facing smaller, agile wrestlers like Lio Rush or Will Ospreay is different from facing bigger stars like Drew McIntyre or Samoa Joe. Against larger wrestlers, he adjusts his moves to match the pace and physical style of the match.

“That’s funny, even I see it online, people try to say that, Oh, I’m so glad he got to AEW so he could be unleashed but he’s doing all the same stuff. I’ve said from the beginning, I probably said it on your interview last time, however many years ago that was. I’ve said this on social, I’ve said this before, but I have not changed anything from jump.

Even in WWE, I was doing Springboard 450s to the outside onto the announce tables. I was doing 630s I was doing double jump, shooting stars to the outside. I was doing double Moonsaults off the cages. I was doing double Springboard corkscrew splashes. I gave Logan a Spanish fly off the top through the table because I wanted to.

I just think it’s the opportunities in how often I get to be in there. And also I just didn’t win a lot. So I’m personally not going to do the 630 in a match where I’m not going to win. So I think that kind of had a lot to do with it, too. But as far as my move set goes, I have not toned down anything.

I think it’s time and place and obviously the opponents that I’m in there with. If I’m in there with a Lio or an Ospreay or Nick Wayne, it’s going to be a lot different match than if I’m in there with a Randy or Drew McIntyre or Sheamus or Bobby Lashley or Samoa Joe or Baron Corbin, because that’s usually who I was in there with. I was in there with Bronson Reed. I’m not going to be able to have the same match with Bronson as I am with Lio. So my move set is going to be different with Bronson Reed than it is with Lio or whomever.”

Now at 36, Ricochet is mindful of high-risk moves, looking to extend his career much like AJ Styles and Rey Mysterio have. He aims to evolve his style over time to keep performing at a high level. Although he still does most of his high-flying moves, he’s more selective now, skipping certain rare moves like the double moonsault to maintain his health and longevity in the ring.

“So as far as that goes, I really don’t think that I’ve toned down anything, and I didn’t personally come to AEW to be unleashed move-set-wise either, because I don’t feel like I’ve toned down or really done anything differently. I feel like I have tried to evolve. Especially now I’m 36, I’m not 26 and I think my appearance has a lot to do with it as well. So I think that has a lot to it. So when all that comes into play, people don’t know what to think, because it’s like so much stuff. So I think just that has a lot to do with it, too, people think I’m 26.

So I do feel like I have tried to evolve my style just again for longevity, I’m trying to be my LeBron. I’m trying to be like AJ Styles, look at him, he’s still going. Rey Mysterio, still going, killing it. So I see those guys as the bar, and they’ve changed their style. Rey’s not doing the same stuff, he’s doing some crazy stuff, he’s not doing the same stuff. AJ, he’s not doing the same stuff. He’s still doing crazy stuff. He’s not doing the same stuff.

So I feel like I have tried to evolve my style. But as far as toning it down and stuff, I try to do everything that I can still do, other than, like, the double Moonsault, which I just haven’t done.”

As for Ricochet right now, he recently challenged Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Dynasty in January 2025. Nonetheless, Ricochet is clearly having a great time following his WWE exit, and that’s all that matters to him in the end.

Do you believe Ricochet has been thriving since leaving WWE earlier this year? Sound off in the comments section below!

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