Ricky Saints

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Ricky Saints" Episode of What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes

Podcast Information:

• Title: What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes
• Host/Author: WWE x Fanatics Podcasts
• Episode: Ricky Saints
• Release Date: July 9, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes, host Cody Rhodes welcomes Ricky Saints, marking the first time an NXT talent joins the conversation. The atmosphere is relaxed and candid as Cody and Ricky embark on an unfiltered discussion about Ricky's journey in professional wrestling, personal struggles, and the intricacies of navigating relationships within the WWE universe.

Early Friendship and Background

Cody introduces Ricky as a classic WPA (Workplace Proximity Associate) and emphasizes their long-standing friendship. Ricky humbly acknowledges Cody's support and expresses pride in his own achievements and aspirations.

Notable Quote:

Cody Rhodes [02:07]: "Wow. So we got you on the pod. You're familiar with the bus. You're familiar with drinking on the bus."

Journey Through NWA and Signing with WWE

Ricky recounts his path to being signed with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). He shares how creating vignettes and promoting his character on social media caught the attention of Nick Aldis, leading to his first contract offer. However, Ricky declined, sensing a ceiling in his growth, a decision that proved fortuitous as the pandemic hit shortly after.

Notable Quote:

Ricky Saints [08:06]: "It was a long time coming."

Cody humorously reflects on the advice given by his Uncle Arn about spending money, highlighting the ups and downs of Ricky's early career decisions.

Personal Struggles and Growth

Delving into personal matters, Ricky opens up about his experiences growing up with a lighter skin tone in an all-black school in New Orleans. This unique racial identity often placed him in conflicts and feelings of not fitting in, leading to frequent altercations and emotional turmoil.

Notable Quote:

Ricky Saints [39:00]: "I was always in fights, always in some type of issue because people just thought I was white."

Ricky discusses his journey towards self-acceptance and learning to manage his temper, emphasizing the importance of understanding oneself and not letting others' perceptions define him.

Training, Mentorship, and Relationships in WWE

Ricky shares insights about his training regimen and the significance of mentorship in the wrestling industry. He credits his trainer, George Dilly Isla, for foundational skills and emphasizes the value of learning through observation and experience.

Notable Quote:

Ricky Saints [22:05]: "There's a guy in Austin. His name is George Dilly Isla. He used to be called Mr. Mexico."

Cody reflects on his own mentorship experiences with legends like Triple H and Shawn Michaels, drawing parallels with Ricky's journey and the importance of guidance in shaping a wrestler's career.

Navigating Relationships and Loyalty

A deep dive into the dynamics of friendships within the high-pressure environment of WWE, Ricky underscores his commitment to loyalty and the challenges of maintaining genuine connections. He recounts instances where his support for Cody and others solidified his reputation as a dependable friend, despite potential professional risks.

Notable Quote:

Ricky Saints [48:25]: "I will never let somebody weaponize a friendship against me."

Cody echoes this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of showing up for friends and the profound impact of being seen, heard, and understood.

Advice and Reflections

Cody and Ricky offer valuable advice to aspiring wrestlers, stressing the significance of perseverance, self-promotion, and emotional intelligence. They discuss the evolving nature of the wrestling industry, the necessity of adaptability, and the importance of building a supportive network.

Notable Quote:

Cody Rhodes [25:54]: "Wrestling is not always wrestling. ... The idea of selling hope is something that you're not going to learn when you're going over hip tosses."

Cultural and Personal Interests

Beyond wrestling, Ricky shares his love for food, particularly New Orleans' authentic po' boys and beignets, reflecting his deep connection to his roots. Cody complements the conversation by discussing his own personal interests and interactions outside the ring, including a memorable encounter with Matthew McConaughey.

Notable Quote:

Ricky Saints [32:04]: "I do like beignets. ... The best time to get beignets is at, like, 2am."

Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Cody and Ricky reflect on their shared experiences and the enduring strength of their friendship. They emphasize the importance of community, mutual support, and the relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth. The conversation leaves listeners with a profound understanding of Ricky Saints' journey, his resilience, and his unwavering loyalty.

Final Notable Quote:

Cody Rhodes [62:34]: "My rule for friendship is simple. You have to show up."

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Key Insights:

• Resilience and Adaptability: Ricky's ability to navigate career challenges and personal struggles showcases the importance of resilience in the wrestling industry.
• Mentorship Matters: Both Cody and Ricky highlight the pivotal role of mentors in shaping their careers and personal development.
• Emotional Intelligence: Managing emotions and understanding oneself are crucial for personal growth and professional success.
• Loyalty and Relationships: Building and maintaining genuine friendships can significantly impact one's career trajectory and personal well-being.

This episode offers a heartfelt and comprehensive look into Ricky Saints' life, providing listeners with inspiration and valuable lessons from the world of professional wrestling.

Transcript

[Ricky Saints]

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[Unknown Advertiser]

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[Cody Rhodes]

Hi, I'm the American nightmare, Cody Rhodes. We are on my Home Away From Home, my tour bus. And this is what do youo Want to Talk About? Brought to you by the great folks at Wheatley American Vodka, which, by the way, this is the classic Wheatley American Mule right here. I'm enjoying my guest today. It's the first time ever, first time we've had anybody from NXT on. What do you want to talk about? He is a classic WPA workplace proximity associate. Some would say we're even friends. I have known him quite some time and we have had a mini adventure and I am so proud of him. Insanely proud of him. Almost emotional in sense of his accomplishments, what he's done and what he is yet to do. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to what do youo Want To Talk About? Ricky Saints.

[Ricky Saints]

Oh, you know, you've never done the pose, but I'm gonna get you to do it one day.

[Cody Rhodes]

I don't. It's not my pose to do.

[Ricky Saints]

No, it's just your pose.

[Cody Rhodes]

Do it one time.

[Ricky Saints]

Right here. Jesus.

[Cody Rhodes]

Can you feel that?

[Ricky Saints]

Is that a bit too much attitude? You know what I'm saying? Final boss. I can feel that.

[Cody Rhodes]

Wow. So we got you on the pod. You're familiar with the bus. You're familiar with drinking on the bus.

[Ricky Saints]

You're not kidding either.

[Cody Rhodes]

Hey, speaking of your drink here, brought to us by Wheatley American Vodka. What do you have? What's it called? What's in it?

[Ricky Saints]

I just want you to admire the gradient of that. Look at that. This is the Saints Redemption.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yes.

[Ricky Saints]

There's a drink named after me.

[Cody Rhodes]

Saints Redemption.

[Ricky Saints]

Woo, doggy, you love that. What we have in here is obviously Wheatley Vodka, the best vodka. We got lemon juice, we got two dashes of bitter, two very Dashing.

[Cody Rhodes]

Two. Two.

[Ricky Saints]

We got honey syrup. We got lemon juice. And you see that right there at the bottom? That's grapefruit juice. Oh, wow. Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

What do we call this. What do we call this color that's going on? I feel like I'm gonna miss.

[Ricky Saints]

I call it sunset.

[Cody Rhodes]

Sunset. I was gonna say something that's incorrect. I think ombre.

[Ricky Saints]

No, you're actually right.

[Cody Rhodes]

Am I?

[Ricky Saints]

Yes, it is.

[Cody Rhodes]

There is one female on the bus. I'd prefer we ask them just for color confirmation. Kristen the head.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. Hey, dude. Job to that. Hell yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Cheers, man.

[Ricky Saints]

That's a good one.

[Cody Rhodes]

Well, that's it. That's the pod. There we go. Well done. Glad to have you on here.

[Ricky Saints]

So about right.

[Cody Rhodes]

How you doing? How you feeling?

[Ricky Saints]

I feel great now. I feel I'm in such a better place. It's like a night and day feeling. Obviously, there's a lot of stuff I want to continue to get and work towards. Yeah. I don't really know what it feels like to be content, but right now, I actually am. Pretty.

[Cody Rhodes]

You're feeling good?

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, I feel really good.

[Cody Rhodes]

Well, not. You're not complacent. You're not content. But there is a goodness.

[Ricky Saints]

There's a. There's like, you know, it's a good stopping point, so to speak.

[Cody Rhodes]

I think we've brought it up before. Andy from the Office. The quote. Hey, you know, I wish somebody would tell you, when you're in the good times. When you're in the good. We. We're very much here in the good times.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. Agreed.

[Cody Rhodes]

For sure.

[Ricky Saints]

It's a long time coming.

[Cody Rhodes]

One thing I want to bring up right out of the gate, this is a WWE production. This is Wheatley American Body. This is a real production. There are three cameras here. This is a. You got elite players on this bus. Elite. And when asked for a hotel, you decided you were just gonna stay at my house? Cause I saw you brought your bag.

[Ricky Saints]

Yes, I did.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay.

[Ricky Saints]

I'm trying to save money. I'm showing my. My place. You know, that won't. That won't be a thing for too much longer. Definitely gonna have to pay. Like you.

[Cody Rhodes]

Wait, you know, what did Uncle Arn say? What did Uncle Arne say? He actually told me. Well, the full story is a little different, and I think it's appropriate now to give the full story. The quote everyone knows from Arne Anderson is spend it now. Make more. The actual situation came from. I was dating a young lady. I had purchased her a car. It's very important, you know, Dating, car purchase. That's something you do when you're married. And Arn said to me, he said, you know, kid, you've had more divorces and you've never been married than most guys I know. And then he could tell I was not in the mood as I watched my car drive away. Because she kept the car, of course. And that's where he said, hey, spend it now, make more later. And he was 100% right.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

So it's terrible advice. Gosh dang, bad advice. But what are we doing?

[Ricky Saints]

You gave me that advice, and I take it to heart every time I spend.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah, I gave you that advice. And then you showed up in the custom suit that cost more. This is a custom suit, Right? See the deals here? There it is. Nightmare. This is the skull. My name somewhere. Yeah, there it is. Cody Rhodes. All this is a custom suit. It wasn't. It was a third. A third of the cost of what you wore on my bus the other day. Absolutely. And then you were mad that we had a lack of response when you came on and did, like a spin. A, it's the day of WrestleMania. Yes, it's a stressful day. B, everyone dresses like a astronaut. Lady Gaga. Ridiculous. It's pro wrestling. It's show business. Everyone's in. So when you need people to do the, hey, my daughter's walking down the steps for prom. Big put over. You need to let us know in advance, cuz I didn't even look twice at you. And you kept going, hey, you seen my outfit? Hey, did you see this? It was great.

[Ricky Saints]

That's overblown. That's not what happened. I walked on the bus and said, oh, there you are. How's big day for you? I was very supportive. I looked very good. I had a nice suit on. Yeah. I didn't have a dress shirt on. Who cares? I don't know how to. I don't care about it.

[Cody Rhodes]

I'm figuring it out.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. I don't know how to tie a tie.

[Cody Rhodes]

I could teach you how to tie a tie.

[Ricky Saints]

That'd be nice. That'd be a nice moment. But I'm not a tie guy.

[Cody Rhodes]

I'm about to bring it full circle. You want a little wrestling story?

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

I have been tying ties my whole life. But you know who actually taught me how to tie a tie? When they realized that my version of a knot wasn't really acceptable.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

You know who taught me?

[Ricky Saints]

Who?

[Cody Rhodes]

Smackdown General manager Nick Aldis.

[Ricky Saints]

Oh, not Teddy Long. I've told you. Your go. You went to Teddy Long. Yeah, that's where I went.

[Cody Rhodes]

No, I was tying a tie, like a single knot. Just throwing it in there. Kind of haphazard, you know, young businessman, like, wind swept, dashing, all that stuff. But he was the one who actually said, hey, you're gonna be in some big rooms here. Let me. Let me show you.

[Ricky Saints]

Because he's British.

[Cody Rhodes]

Because he's British and formal and handsome and big shouldered.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, he's a. He's a like a real, like, man.

[Cody Rhodes]

That's a man right there.

[Ricky Saints]

That's a real man.

[Cody Rhodes]

That's a man.

[Ricky Saints]

I've known him since NWA days, and he's always been a man.

[Cody Rhodes]

Tell me about the NWA days.

[Ricky Saints]

A wild time, actually. Yeah, a wild time. Only because. Do you know the story of how I got signed at nwa?

[Cody Rhodes]

No.

[Ricky Saints]

I used to make these vignettes when I used to pay for these out of pocket. Yeah. And I wasn't over on the Indies, obviously. And just to be real with you.

[Cody Rhodes]

I was on an indie with you.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. And I was curtain jerking. Yeah. And so I would make these vignettes, and it was just basically like a lookbook of my character. No real direction, no nothing. But it was so interesting aesthetically. And so Aldous had saw this on Twitter because I posted on there and he saw it, invited me to the NWA 70 show. I saw you drop the title. Yes.

[Cody Rhodes]

I had the 10 pounds of gold.

[Ricky Saints]

You were in and out. I said, all right, see you. Bye. And. And that's how. So I did that stint for them. And then after that, that's when they offered me, like, this deal that they're going to start doing power for YouTube. And I was like, oh, sick. My first contract. This is gonna be great. Sign me to this thing. And then halfway through, I said, nice. Okay, thank you, guys.

[Cody Rhodes]

Peace out. Why is that?

[Ricky Saints]

I just. There was a. There was a ceiling. I felt like there was a ceiling for me. And I was. I'm so. I was so right, because right before I. I declined resigning with them, the pandemic hit. And so during the pandemic, I was making my way just due to. I was selling shirts online. I was designing my own merch and selling it. And then from that money, I made another vignette that you put over. You had replied to it.

[Cody Rhodes]

And I was like, old social media.

[Ricky Saints]

Yes. When you're, you know, when you're actually replying to people. Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Now it's just a machine.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. It's just. It's just an AI robot, probably.

[Cody Rhodes]

No, I mean, he's an Is. It's a man.

[Ricky Saints]

No, I'm not. I'm not saying he's. Okay, listen. Now you're putting me in a situation where I'm putting down someone's.

[Cody Rhodes]

I feel like I've noticed a pattern here, and I didn't. I'd never noticed it before, but maybe a little bit afraid of commitment.

[Ricky Saints]

Who? I don't know. Rick, you think? Give me a break.

[Cody Rhodes]

What's going on?

[Ricky Saints]

No, it's not a commitment issue. I can see it. I predict it.

[Cody Rhodes]

What about the. You're single.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. Single. Always.

[Cody Rhodes]

We'll take it. Hey, look right there, camera one. Tell them. Tell them what they're missing.

[Ricky Saints]

If y' all are familiar with an episode of Shot of Brandy on YouTube where I also said that I was single, I would like to reinforce the fact three years later, I'm still single.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay.

[Ricky Saints]

But way more particular. You know, it's.

[Cody Rhodes]

So you got more.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, I'm way more. There's a lot of boxes you gotta check.

[Cody Rhodes]

What's the number one box? I gotta check.

[Ricky Saints]

Wow. Damn.

[Cody Rhodes]

Number one.

[Ricky Saints]

Number one. That's a hard one. Actually, it's not. It's. You just have to be understanding. Be an understanding, individual.

[Cody Rhodes]

Understanding.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. If my girlfriend isn't understanding, then she has to leave. Cheers. Hell, yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

To understanding. My. My only box to check is. And it's the same box to check when it comes to the word I don't like. And you know this because we've known each other on a personal level. You know, I do not like the word friend.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, I know.

[Cody Rhodes]

Because you don't make many in the business, and the moment you think you.

[Ricky Saints]

Have one, they stab you in the back.

[Cody Rhodes]

Right?

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

So my thought is, the one box to check in any relationship is the car is going to run out of gas at some point. Are you gonna get out of this car and push it with me? Right. In this case, it's a bus.

[Ricky Saints]

Well, yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Are you gonna get out and push this thing with me? That's my one box to check.

[Ricky Saints]

You think I would?

[Cody Rhodes]

I mean, you're. You've bordered on wpa, workplace proximity, associate and friend for how long?

[Ricky Saints]

Since in 2012 when I saw you in the bathroom in Laredo and smackdown.

[Cody Rhodes]

You should probably elaborate on that. Cause it's.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. You know. Well, I'll just say it.

[Cody Rhodes]

What did I say to you?

[Ricky Saints]

You know, when I was an extra, they used to put me in the bathroom where the writers were.

[Cody Rhodes]

There's not always a place to dress the extra talent. Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

Hey, I'm not Mad at it. Yeah, you know, now I can be. But I had a match against gender and I before I went out, I was like, oh, you like, oh, you're a little nervous on, you're like brushing your teeth, jacket on. This is before the mustache and everything and you're brushing your teeth. And I said, yeah, I'm just a little nervous. Me sitting on this pissy ass bathroom floor changing and you just, you know, getting ready. And you said, who cares? It's a tape show. If you mess up, just do it again. I said, thanks, that's not good advice. It was perfect advice. Cuz I went out there, I said, yeah, what can go wrong, dude, just retape it.

[Cody Rhodes]

I, I feel like you've told me the story before, but I've never asked how that match was.

[Ricky Saints]

My God. Well, I remember coming back and this whole side of my face was bruised up. Oh gosh, I love Ginger, he's awesome. But he was young too.

[Cody Rhodes]

Heavy handed.

[Ricky Saints]

Yes, very.

[Cody Rhodes]

Also too. That was a, you know, I'm a big believer. And you know this. We butted heads. Literally, I mean, we butted heads. I'm a big believer in you like the old school Steve Austin, how they hit the ropes.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

I like somebody swinging in there.

[Ricky Saints]

I wasn't right at it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah, I don't, I don't want some. We're not dancing. This ain't a dance.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

You know what I'm saying? Let's, let's get down to it.

[Ricky Saints]

The headbutt was memorable too.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah, well, that was. Honestly, we're more than able to talk about it here. But the open challenge is so funny because when we started it, there was a whole, whole preface conversation before we even called you or the others where, hey, it's not about hiring anybody because right now upstart company. I don't know what this budget is.

[Ricky Saints]

Covid just happened too.

[Cody Rhodes]

Covid just. It's not about hiring anybody. It's just about the opportunity and the freshness. And here's something you never see elsewhere, right? Bringing people in for doing, you know, promos in their backyard or in your case, a high res vignette that you had paid for. I don't know the. I know the legend of the story, but you at the time said that it was an opportunity. And again, I didn't buzz you for the purposes of this. I thought you would be great for the open challenge.

[Ricky Saints]

And were.

[Cody Rhodes]

But, but what was going on in your life at that time?

[Ricky Saints]

Oh my God. I had just quit NWA Covid had just happened no one knows this, but I did a stupid thing for Sammy's vlog where I went through a flaming table and I wore pleather pants. And it was a mop and broom tag match versus me and Sammy, because prior to that, I did a match with just a broom. Anyways, so Sammy went to piggyback off that. Went through a flaming table with pleather pants on, caught on fire. Literally saw my whole flash before my eyes. I thought I was about to die. Had second degree burns on my leg. Maybe three weeks later, I get a call saying, hey, we want to bring you in for this open challenge thing. I said, oh, man, thank God. By the time I went out there, it was already healed up or, you know, getting there. And I remember when I was flying there, I said, I'm not going to get signed, but I will use this when I. When the Indies open back up to raise my rate and be like, hey, I was on tv. You gotta pay more than that. And then I think that night, I remember getting to the. After our match, I get to the back and you were yelling. I was out there. I was back there. First you yell. He said, that was. That was good piece of business. That was a good piece of business. I said, all right. Okay. You walk past me and then we go in the office and you say, good job, blah, blah. I don't know if you remember, but before we went out, you. You laugh too. But I said, yeah, this is going to be Match of the Year. I do remember. Anyway, okay. And you're looking in the mirror. He said, really? I said, yeah, obviously Match of the Year is easy. Go out there, collide heads. I go, maybe not. Maybe not, Ricky. Maybe. Maybe it's a good match of the month. Yeah. And that was it. The match aired. And then all of a sudden, I get a text message with a contract offer. And I said, wow, sick. By myself in my apartment.

[Cody Rhodes]

Good moment.

[Ricky Saints]

It was a great moment. My Twitter blew up. And I just sat there crying. My Twitter blew up.

[Cody Rhodes]

I don't. I don't like men who cry.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

You know, crying all.

[Ricky Saints]

Even your wife, they. You guys hates it. She hates it.

[Cody Rhodes]

She turns the channel.

[Ricky Saints]

Type of emotion from a man. I don't get it. Yeah. I don't understand it. Of all people, you're definitely emotional.

[Cody Rhodes]

Well, you know, it's tricky. It's complicated. I was the least emotional person ever. And then there's the floodgates open at a certain point in my life where everything. I watched the trailer for Lilo and Stitch. Wet face destroyed Based on a trailer about an alien who acts as a dog for a young sister. Crazy situation. But anyways.

[Ricky Saints]

Wild.

[Cody Rhodes]

I'm glad you were crying. I'm glad it was. Yeah, I'm glad it was a good moment. I imagine an even better moment. And I. I mean, no disrespect to anywhere else, but any better moment. Who called you when it came to nxt?

[Ricky Saints]

Hunter.

[Cody Rhodes]

Triple H. Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

King of King. Triple H called me.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

And I had just got off.

[Cody Rhodes]

My gosh, a lot of nicknames.

[Ricky Saints]

Just got off a flight to Seattle, actually, and he called me, and I was just like. I didn't know the number, and it didn't say Stanford or anything. So I was like, who is this? And I always answer it. Even if it's the unknown, I always answer. Because that's bold.

[Cody Rhodes]

I know that's bold. I never answer my.

[Ricky Saints]

I like an adventure. If it's Spam, let's get into it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay. Okay.

[Ricky Saints]

Cool with it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Like to play a fire a little bit?

[Ricky Saints]

Yes. All right.

[Cody Rhodes]

Saints Redemption dog.

[Ricky Saints]

Exactly. That's why I'm here. What if I chug that?

[Cody Rhodes]

I need to chug it, But I will give you a little top off. Yeah, go ahead, tell me the call.

[Ricky Saints]

Hunter calls me. I'm in. I'm getting off this flight in Seattle, and I can barely hear him because the airport. So loud. Yeah. And he. He asked me, like, hey, would you, like, want to come in? And we're interested, blah, blah. We would love to have you talented X, Y, and Z. And I was like, oh, yeah, sure. Hell, yeah. And right as I'm getting on the, like, the. The tram, he says something about, like, it was, like, raw or Smackdown? And I was like, wait, what? What did you say? And I was so scared to say, hey, can you repeat yourself? Because I know how it feels that I said, yeah. Yeah, for sure. Basically, what he was saying was, hey, we're not gonna put you on Raw Smackdown just yet, but could have been anything. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I didn't know. I was like, okay, sweet. Yeah. But he wanted me to meet Sean, and so that was, like, a big thing. I was like, of course I will. Like, yes, I would love that. That's all I really wanted is just resources. I feel like I'm a rough diamond that just needs a little polishing.

[Cody Rhodes]

Well, who better to polish a rough diamond than the heartbreak kid Sean.

[Ricky Saints]

Than Sean. Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Right. And did you guys connect on a Texas level?

[Ricky Saints]

No, not at all.

[Cody Rhodes]

So I've noticed there's people who live in Texas the Imports. There's tr. There's people who are like, all these people who are now moving to Austin and all this. But then there are people who are Texan.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, he's straight Texan.

[Cody Rhodes]

He's a Texan. My dad was a Texan. There's a whole nother. It's not even a language. It's just the way they look at each other and talk about things and the heat and every. It's a. There's a whole nother sophistication that goes on amongst Texans. And I actually admire. I think it's cool. But you told them you're from Austin and not New Orleans because you like to play 65 hometown.

[Ricky Saints]

You do this a lot. You say three hometowns. Yeah, I.

[Cody Rhodes]

Brother. Get ready comp tickets. Oh, my family's here. Where are we at? Portland?

[Ricky Saints]

Here's the deal. Cody doesn't like the fact that I say I have three hometowns because I'm over in three places.

[Cody Rhodes]

Wow.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. I know. It sucks.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

You have more to me, but it's okay. Obviously. Love New Orleans, born and raised. Then I moved to Vegas because of Katrina. And then I moved to Austin. Cause my mom, you know, it was a better opportunity for nursing jobs. Yeah. Three places.

[Cody Rhodes]

Your mom's your number one.

[Ricky Saints]

My mom's my number one. I realized you met her, you thought it was funny.

[Cody Rhodes]

Thought she was great. Thought I was the boss of the whole place.

[Ricky Saints]

I don't.

[Cody Rhodes]

And it was a really awkward, funny moment.

[Ricky Saints]

It was awesome. Because you really did meet the boss. Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

How's she feel about what you're doing now?

[Ricky Saints]

She loves it. Before I went, I had a phone call with her where she says, yeah, you're gonna be gone more. Do you know that? And she was telling me everything that was gonna happen. Yeah. About this job. Then I was like, oh, okay. The truth of it all is that. And I told her this, too. I've been so close to the fire for a good portion of my life. Yeah. That I'm kind of just, you know, my skin is a little bit more thickened than someone who is just jumping into it. And so when I explained that to her, she was like, okay. I said, just, I kind of have an idea. I'm not saying I know how it works, but I'm a little bit more familiar with it than someone who is, you know, just jumping into this from nothing.

[Cody Rhodes]

Well, when. When you're right there, you're right there. And you're at the edge, and you're at the edge, and you're at the edge.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

I think everything you learn enough that when it's time to fly, you fly differently.

[Ricky Saints]

Right? That's a good point.

[Cody Rhodes]

I had a interaction in the ring with. With Cena, and I thought, had this been five years ago, had this been 10 years ago, for sure I would have handled this very differently. But it was one of the few moments where it's. It's like the meme where you see all the numbers, all the calculus, and I thought, I know exactly. I'm good, right? Good with this, and I'm gonna play this play. And then it was effective. And I thought that's. You only learn that, unfortunately, by not being the one picked or failing when you are the one picked, whatever it may be.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, that's a big feeling.

[Cody Rhodes]

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[Ricky Saints]

There's a guy in Austin. His name is George Dilly Isla. He used to be called Mr. Mexico. Number two.

[Cody Rhodes]

Not number one?

[Ricky Saints]

No, no.

[Cody Rhodes]

Why didn't you want to get number one?

[Ricky Saints]

I haven't. Well, I couldn't find him. He went into hiding.

[Cody Rhodes]

But his.

[Ricky Saints]

His claim to fame because he used to wrestle in the California area in Portland, was that he worked with Radia, like. So he was always an under guide to Roddy.

[Cody Rhodes]

Roddy Piper.

[Ricky Saints]

Yes.

[Cody Rhodes]

Shout out.

[Ricky Saints]

So that was his. Yeah, that was his thing. He was like, yeah, I used to work with Roddy Piper all the time. A great guy. Learned the basics of wrestling through him. Yeah. Funny thing is that I debuted in October 2011. WB calls me in January of 2012. At the time, I worked at Microsoft because they were doing these stores.

[Cody Rhodes]

I Didn't know this.

[Ricky Saints]

Yes.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay.

[Ricky Saints]

I worked at Microsoft and I remember telling. Because I had an employee that hated me and I did not like her in return.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay.

[Ricky Saints]

My thing. But side note, if you don't like me, I don't like you either. So we're always going to have, as you know, we're always going to have seen it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yes, I've seen it.

[Ricky Saints]

Anyways, they call me cone calls me and brings me in and I literally tell this girl, hey, I'm about to get signed to wwe.

[Cody Rhodes]

See you. Bye.

[Ricky Saints]

I don't need this anymore. See you. And I left. I left. I didn't come back after my break, unfortunately. I went and did. I went and did the extra work with gender. That's when I met you. And I had to go back to work and I had to. I had to really tell them, like, I was having a rough day.

[Cody Rhodes]

Did you go back to Microsoft? Yes, I did.

[Ricky Saints]

I showed up. I showed up on time. I said, hey, guys, that wasn't me.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

Just was a lot going on for me. My dog died. Didn't have a dog at the time.

[Cody Rhodes]

So you lied.

[Ricky Saints]

I definitely lied to save my own ass for. Absolutely. I will. I will always lie to save my fib there, Rick. That's fine if it's a good live. Who cares?

[Cody Rhodes]

Well, got you back in. It got you back.

[Ricky Saints]

It got me back in because immediately they put me on the floor and had to sell these Xboxes. But I've been in the system since 2012. So I always say that I learned the basics from my trainer, but I didn't really learn wrestling until I would come backstage and constantly be in the stands watching how people, you know, went over stuff. Or I would just eavesdrop on conversations, just being there by osmosis type thing.

[Cody Rhodes]

Well, wrestling is not. I always tell my students at the Nightmare Factory, wrestling is not always wrestling.

[Ricky Saints]

Right.

[Cody Rhodes]

And right now we're in an era where athleticism is everywhere. Everyone can do so many things. Then you also find a talent for self promotion, for editing, for putting their own, for social media. You find a lot of this. And I feel like until you're around a Michael Hayes, a Paul Heyman, a triple H, a Shawn Michaels, until you're around people like the Undertaker, for example, you're around them and you understand that those are all great components and there's this sales element to what we do in pro wrestling, sports entertainment. I recently just kind of uncovered this myself. I've never liked the idea of being a salesman. I've never liked the idea of selling a ticket or selling a product. But I do realize that often what wrestling sells is hope. Hope that your guy or girl gets up off the mat and does something cool. Hope that their day, which has maybe been terrible, can be forgotten about for two to three to four hours while they do this. And the idea of selling hope is something that you're not going to learn when you're going over hip tosses and that. And today I'm even less when you do it at the. Again, I'm by no means a good trainer, but I'll tell you this, if you do a hip toss and it's not an F, I don't need you to do it again.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

I don't need you. I don't. I need you to get on a microphone and tell me who you are and what you're going to do for us and what you can do for yourself. I need. That's a whole. That's a whole other thing. But again, that first trainer is always.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Do you find that years later, here you are, you're talking to a guy like Shawn Michaels. You're at NXT amongst an unbelievable group that's down there. Unbelievable group. And you won't be there forever. And I feel like part of you and I'm. This is speculation.

[Ricky Saints]

I think you know me by now.

[Cody Rhodes]

No, I feel like you have a bit of an edge, a bit of a chip that. Hey, even when we said an NXT Superstar and NXT wrestler to you, you're thinking, hey, I'm roster.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

I'll tell you what, this is advice from one workplace proximity associate to another. Enjoy your time. Enjoy it. Because it changes dramatically when it's a traveling show, and I don't want to say main roster, but changes dramatically. And a lot of the fun that you're having, and I can see the fun you're having, it's a different type of fun.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Also your crew down there, whether you like him or not, Trick Williams, for example, even though he's super odd in interviews and never puts me over, but I'll put him over. Trick Williams, Oba.

[Ricky Saints]

Oba's a good dude. Oba's a good dude.

[Cody Rhodes]

Oba's phenomenal. Trick's phenomenal. Ethan Page, who I love, that might be one of my few friends in the business, Ethan Page. And then you look at the women's division in nxt, Murderer's row of talent. So enjoy this time where it's a little less pressure. Just a little. Just a little. Because at a certain Point. I mean, Rhea Ripley's experienced this now. Becky lynch has experienced this. Seth Rollins experienced this. The biggest thing we do. The pressure's on you. That becomes your show. You're the one who's supposed to deliver. And again, at this point, you're so close to the fire. You're so close to the fire. You're so close to the fire. When you're in there, you're expected to dance. The last thing you can do at this point is be kicked out of the fire. You won't get back in. Right. Which is not gonna happen to you.

[Ricky Saints]

You're gonna.

[Cody Rhodes]

I've seen you dance.

[Ricky Saints]

I love that Garth Brooks reference.

[Cody Rhodes]

That is a Garth reference.

[Ricky Saints]

But, yeah, from one of my favorite albums.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah, that is. But, you know, where, you know, enjoy it is all.

[Ricky Saints]

And that's the other thing I've been trying to do, is also check myself, because while I have this part of me that is constantly. Nope, I'm not settling for this. This is when I. It's not a knock to anyone at nxt, by the way, but when someone says nxt. No, I'm. Call me a. Call me a WWE Superstar. That's. Yeah, that is what I am. I don't care for this other stuff, but I am also enjoying it, too. And it's so fascinating to see people who aren't from the realm of wrestling, from the Indies, and seeing how they operate and asking them questions and. And there's people who come up to me now for questions, and I'm just like.

[Cody Rhodes]

So one of the biggest shocks ever was when I asked. I wanted to. I wanted to send a nice message.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, be honest with this.

[Cody Rhodes]

To the NXT roster out Las Vegas. I wanted to send a nice message. The Weeknd. We're on the line here, guys. Don't do anything stupid. Don't get any trouble if you party, please party after the show or away from the street. I said, you represent wwe. And I tried to say it as nice as possible.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Asked, who are the locker room leaders? The answer I got from more than one person. One of them was you. And I was, okay. Yes. I wasn't, like, shocked in a funny way.

[Ricky Saints]

I thought, like.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay, yeah, that works. Okay, I'll tell him to not go to the. You know. But, yeah, that was. That was.

[Ricky Saints]

And then someone also reinforced. I was proud.

[Cody Rhodes]

It was. It was double reinforced for me. I was very proud. Ethan Page, obviously, was on my list.

[Ricky Saints]

But, hey, I learned.

[Cody Rhodes]

Tell me something you don't like about Ethan Page. We're putting him over Way too much. What do you not like about him?

[Ricky Saints]

I don't like them weird Jeffrey Dahmer glasses.

[Cody Rhodes]

He wears the. Just the glasses. Glasses.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, they're too. I don't like that. That's. Who has those?

[Cody Rhodes]

Nobody. Nobody. You don't like the glasses? Not too much. Okay, so you don't like his glasses?

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, I don't like his glasses. I understand people have stigmatisms. I'm a person who does.

[Cody Rhodes]

What's my rule? In the group chat, when we say.

[Ricky Saints]

Something, you have to say something nice. We could bury one for days, but you have to say one nice thing. At least one nice thing.

[Cody Rhodes]

It's fun to, like, go in on the boys and that's cool. But also give me a nice thing. Say something good about that.

[Ricky Saints]

I'd like to make an amendment to that type of rule, though, because I never hear you say something nice first. So I. I don't.

[Cody Rhodes]

I don't like gang warfare. I don't like when it's all. We all go in on one person who tweeted something dumb or something. I don't. I think you should always start.

[Ricky Saints]

You want a sandwich, then you want a nice little. We start positive, then we eat them alive. Then we end on a good note.

[Cody Rhodes]

You should always end on a good note. Right.

[Ricky Saints]

I learn so much from you every day.

[Cody Rhodes]

You know, feel like that that might be a real thing.

[Ricky Saints]

I think it is, actually. And I've gotten better with it. Yeah. Because I would just. I'll roast a person till they are just crisp. It's just my. In my nature.

[Cody Rhodes]

What. So this is a question because this bus travels all over the place. Matt does a great job keeping the bus.

[Ricky Saints]

Keeps you safe.

[Cody Rhodes]

Keeps it safe. Very fast asleep.

[Ricky Saints]

Very.

[Cody Rhodes]

I love that. But he's always kept me safe. He's the top driver when you go to, like, all the places you're from the Austin, the New Orleans, your. Your towns, your hometowns.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Are you a. A foodie?

[Ricky Saints]

Absolutely.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay.

[Ricky Saints]

Except in Vegas, I don't care to eat.

[Cody Rhodes]

Well, it's. It's. It's too much of a melting pot in terms of, like, New. New Orleans. What's a real authentic. You know, what people are going to get if they're coming in and they're from out of town. Right. What's something that you would recommend to somebody coming into New Orleans? You're their tour guide.

[Ricky Saints]

So weird. But it is. It's never close. And it is a po boy shop.

[Cody Rhodes]

Po boy.

[Ricky Saints]

Po boy. Shops that are in New Orleans are so good because they will overfill your po boy. With shrimp, a lot of places will skimp on you, but these places, like, hey, go ahead, baby, go ahead. Put all the shrimp on there. The thing is, we never close. Is always attached to a gas station, so it's kind of off putting at first when you show up. But if you go in there, it's clean, it's nice, you know what to.

[Cody Rhodes]

Order, Walk the wild side a little bit.

[Ricky Saints]

Always. Yeah, it's in. It's in the real neighborhoods away from the. The tourist spots. And I always get a. I call it naked po boy. That is shrimply. That's shrimply. You like that shrimp? Damn, that's good. Yeah, it's shrimply.

[Cody Rhodes]

Shrimply.

[Ricky Saints]

Just shrimp? Yeah. And ketchup for me. And pickles.

[Cody Rhodes]

Oh, my God, that sounds terrible.

[Ricky Saints]

Rick.

[Cody Rhodes]

It was going good. Shrimp and ketchup.

[Ricky Saints]

That's my order.

[Cody Rhodes]

No, it is. It is. That's yours. I thought. I mean, I. Traditionally, we thought we were gonna hit, like, a beignet thing. Do you have a beignet you like, or do you believe in the beignet?

[Ricky Saints]

I do like beignets. The. You can go to Cafe Dumont and get beignets. Yeah, the best time to get beignets is at, like, 2am okay. The French Quarter.

[Cody Rhodes]

Because when a dog's out there hunting.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, I got lit in the pencil. Just nobody.

[Cody Rhodes]

Oh, my God.

[Ricky Saints]

Okay, 2:00am 2:00am you probably had a few libations, you know, libations.

[Cody Rhodes]

It works.

[Ricky Saints]

However you said it, though, it's with a B, huh?

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah, libations.

[Ricky Saints]

Cool. You go there, get a beignet, get some coffee at the same time.

[Cody Rhodes]

All right.

[Ricky Saints]

And then just go back to your hotel drunkenly.

[Cody Rhodes]

I can tell a great deal about a person based on their coffee order.

[Ricky Saints]

Oh, you about to hate me, then.

[Cody Rhodes]

Hit it. Give us your coffee order.

[Ricky Saints]

It's just cold brew.

[Cody Rhodes]

That's not. Why would I hate cold brew? I mean, did you like.

[Ricky Saints]

It's a little basic.

[Cody Rhodes]

It's a relatively modern thing. It's a little contemporary. It's not so much basic. What were you getting before cold brews were a thing?

[Ricky Saints]

I mean, I was getting. I was pouring just coffee into a cup and drinking it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Coffee.

[Ricky Saints]

Like, what's wrong with coffee?

[Cody Rhodes]

Black man?

[Ricky Saints]

I don't know how to put stuff in it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Some of the smartest people I know.

[Ricky Saints]

No one's ever taught me how to. Here's the thing, and I don't know if you picked up on this. A lot of things I do. No one's Ever taught me the right way.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

So I kind of lean on you of all people to like, hey, I don't know what I'm doing. I didn't have that in my life. Yeah. My. My story in my personal life and in wrestling is so interesting to me because I am just winging it. I'm literally just doing stuff. And then I hear a story about like, this guy, took him under this wing and blah, blah, blah, and he's off on, you know, better terms. Our mutual friend that we kind of like, but we don't like. And he's kind of psychotic, you know, player A or whatever you called him. Sure. That's a guy where I was like, wow, I could have benefited if I was in his position way early on.

[Cody Rhodes]

Are you talking about Max?

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

No, that's a work. I had a really great mentor in multiple. Randy Orton, shockingly, John Cena.

[Ricky Saints]

Right.

[Cody Rhodes]

All these guys, once I came up in 2007, 2008, took me under their wing. In the way you're talking about, I am shy to do so I could get that. And the reason is because, and you already know this, when I was off in the wilderness and started my own deal with the team that I had, and they were wonderful teammates and helped me create it. I made everybody my BFF. I made everybody my number one. And when I came up on the stage, WrestleMania 38, I was warmly received by, you know, 80 something thousand people. And that was a wonderful feeling. But I can tell you, none of those people. I want to just flat out say none. But you could probably count on one hand messaged me. And I thought, that's a lesson. There's a lesson. And it's not that I wanted anything from it, but that's why I'm trepidatious to jump in the water and say, hey, hey, kid, you're with me. Also, you're older than me.

[Ricky Saints]

I think this isn't a sinner's thing. I'm not aged like a vampire.

[Cody Rhodes]

No. I feel like, aren't you older because I met you?

[Ricky Saints]

You met me when I was 38.

[Cody Rhodes]

How old.

[Ricky Saints]

You met me?

[Cody Rhodes]

Maybe I am older than you. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp. Let's talk numbers. Traditional in person therapy can cost anywhere from 100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast. With BetterHelp online therapy, you can save on average up to 50% per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and on time. Therapy should feel accessible, not like a luxury. With online therapy, you get quality care at a price that makes sense and can help you with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it, and now it's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million globally. It's convenient too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. Plus switch therapists at any time. Your well being is worth it. Visit betterhelp.comcody to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelp. H E L p.comcody with a five.

[Ricky Saints]

Dollar meal deal with new McValue, you pick a McDouble or a McChicken, then get a small fry, a small drink and a four piece McNuggets. That's a lot of McDonald's for not a lot of money. Prices of participation may vary. Double meal, $6 in some markets for a limited time only.

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[Cody Rhodes]

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[Cody Rhodes]

Again, growing up in in your various hometowns and things of that nature, but something that we have talked about before and I thought was a good place to talk about it here. More.

[Ricky Saints]

Perfect. Perfect.

[Cody Rhodes]

Thank you. Wheatley.

[Ricky Saints]

That's smooth.

[Cody Rhodes]

That's Wheatley. American vodka.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. No, you're saying it's smooth.

[Cody Rhodes]

God bless the usa. You know what I'm saying? Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

I really love the usa.

[Cody Rhodes]

So there you are, sir. Saints Redemption. Anyways, something we've talked about before, it would be great to talk about it here on the podcast because I love your insight, I love your outlook on it. Growing up, was your racial identity, was this a source of issues for you in school? Were you, were you bullied and what did you do if you were? And ultimately what was the road that you would travel and how would you navigate those situations with racial identity?

[Ricky Saints]

Well, in New Orleans there's a lot of fair skinned people that look like this that are black and it's just based off of like the Creole, you know, history. So I went to a predominantly all black school in New Orleans east. And so even then I was a lot lighter than I am now. And so I was constantly, always, I'm not gonna say picked on because I did my fair share of causing that stuff by the way. I would just talk my shit. But I had a lot of issues because I was always in fights, always in some type of issue because of people just thought I was white. This was an all black school. So even if I did something that they didn't like, it was just a, it was always a race thing. So I was always into a fight, like every week. It was something that my mom had to take off of work and come handle. And it was, it really was me defending myself. And then there's times that I instigated it where I would talk some, some mess and have them chase me and then they end up in this big blown fight. So I, I went through that for a good, I don't know, like from kindergarten up till, I want to say like ninth grade really. And it was an issue because when I was younger I had a very bad temper. And I think you've seen it before where I go 0 to 100 really quick and that's the emotional side of it. And I had to figure out how to use that for good. But in school I had to really hone in and be like, okay, is this a worth the situation to fight over? Is my pride hurt or is it on principle? And those are two questions I would always ask myself. And I really got over that by having to accept not only myself as like who I am and how I look, and this is. You know, at the end of the day, I know who I am, and I can't change that perception of somebody else. Right. But I also will not let someone just walk all over me if I feel that there's a lot of disrespect coming. So when it came to schooling, I was always in the counselor's office, and I had to work through that. I had to work through how to figure out letting just stuff slide, like, just letting it really roll off your back. And I wasn't the best at it, for sure. Like, I was lashing out at everybody. But I did come to a point where I was confident enough to let certain situations just keep it moving. Yeah. And I think that's why, too. Like, with Lib, I. I've told Brandi this, where I'm like, I. Whatever situation she's gonna have to experience, I've already lived it, and I already know how it's gonna be. Yeah. From my experience, it sucks to grow up to feel like you're not on one side or the other. Yeah. I don't think people realize that, because the other people in my family are a little bit more darker than me. And you see, my mom, she's. She's light. But it sucks because I go through life where I don't feel like I really fit in anywhere.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

And so when I don't fit on the black side, that sucks. And then when I don't fit on the white side, that sucks too. So then you're kind of, like, in an island by yourself. And then when you get older, you're supposed to be, like, very confident and blah, blah, blah. And you don't feel like anyone understands you. That right there does feel like, oh, yeah. The anger has to go somewhere, you know? So it was. It was a lot to try to deal with, especially growing up there, when they should be, you know, more accepting.

[Cody Rhodes]

But do you still feel like you don't fit?

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, I do. I. And. And I'm gonna explain why. There's a lot of times where someone tells me that I'm too emotional or.

[Cody Rhodes]

That is that me.

[Ricky Saints]

Or. It's not that. It's like, when I'm. When I'm around certain people, I see how they react. Certain people aren't as in tune with their emotion. And so, in turn, it makes me feel like, well, damn, like, I always thought this was, like, this superpower that I had and blah, blah. And then I feel weird when I express and communicate to somebody, hey, this doesn't make Me feel good. This is why I'm pissed off. Like, you know what I'm saying? It puts me in a weird place. Yeah. But as I. Yes, as an adult, I do feel like I am not very well understood. I think sometimes people miss. They misinterpret my passion. They misinterpret the way that I say things, or even sometimes I react. Right. And they misinterpret in such a way where it wasn't even close to what I was intending. Sure. So that does leave me feeling by myself. And I think that I am so loyal to people when I do feel understood, when I do feel like, hey, this isn't what he's saying. And so when I feel that I stick to those people. Yeah. Not everybody has access to me, but the people that I do allow that I feel more of a kindred. I am seen, I'm heard, and I'm understood. And those, honestly, are the only three.

[Cody Rhodes]

Things that I ever really wanted seen, heard, understood.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, that's it.

[Cody Rhodes]

I got you, Doug.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, you do. I got you.

[Cody Rhodes]

You've found the right place. Obviously. I mean, pro wrestling is often tons of broken toys, tons of people thinking maybe they've been misheard. But nxt, particularly since the days of Dusty being there, that's really where people have gone to thrive and polish during that period of when they're able to look out and say, I'm not alone. It's a different sense of not fitting in, but I'm not alone in this. And then you're swimming with all of them. And that's why, again, I say, have fun. It's not really the best way, but I think you're gonna remember the class of people you're in with right now. For a long time, I think about my developmental experience and all those guys. I still. I'm not gonna lie, this is probably an overshare, but I think Miz figured it out. I still will every now and then get drunk and just text them and tell them how good of wrestlers they are. Stupid stuff. That's like, how have you not realized? I'm just sitting here, you know, waxing. Like, I remember one night I texted Kofi out of nowhere just because I was so proud and so happy and so just I got to be in the company with Kofi again and all this. And.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, that stuff means a lot, though. I mean, for me, too. Like, just to have it randomly when you text me, like, hey, I'm proud of you. You don't understand.

[Cody Rhodes]

That's a bot.

[Ricky Saints]

Oh, yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

That's a you, That's a text.

[Ricky Saints]

That's that, that's that monthly subscription.

[Cody Rhodes]

That's the.

[Ricky Saints]

Stop, stop, stop.

[Cody Rhodes]

God bless. God bless.

[Ricky Saints]

I love it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Oh, man. I did one of those before, too, so. No, yeah, I remember.

[Ricky Saints]

I definitely remember that.

[Cody Rhodes]

And I was on the other line sometimes, every now and then texting.

[Ricky Saints]

I'm not knocking. I love it.

[Cody Rhodes]

We'll stop, we'll move away from that.

[Ricky Saints]

I wondered, too. This is so weird. Yeah. But they always talk about Dusty at nxt, and I always wonder. I don't blame you. Yeah, I always wonder, like, man, had Dusty met me, if I would.

[Cody Rhodes]

Oh, you'd be. You'd be better off, right?

[Ricky Saints]

Right?

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah, you got, you got the deal, dude. You met me. You met me. So he might. Dusty had stroke. He had magic. He had an ability that I don't have. I often have to. I did it this morning. I did an appearance for one of our partners.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

And I'm meek and I'm mild and I'm quiet and I'm saying thank you and hello. And everyone's going, that's the wrestler we're bringing. That's the. Who is this? And then when I go out on stage, I have to deliver something that makes them go, ah, nevermind. Okay, that's different. But yeah, okay, again, One of the reasons for the suits was this whole, Let me try and provide people a different set of expectations for a wrestler. But he had that skill, and when he had that skill, he'd bring his people into it. And that was something I felt like he was the biggest champion of certain people, like Becky and Bailey. You'll hear them go on about it. He was their champion when it came to meeting time. When it came to, let's write these reports. So sorry you got stuck with me.

[Ricky Saints]

And, I mean, that's good.

[Cody Rhodes]

And let me ask you, that's a really great question here. You are not. This is when we were hiding you, and we weren't even hiding you. You asked for permission, but you're sitting in the box at WrestleMania 40 and finishing the story happens. And you've got a famous clip of you freaking out online, which I've made into.

[Ricky Saints]

Hey, Kev.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah. High fiving and freaking out. I always worry there are people on this bus right now that I worry about it. When you attach your trailer to this wagon, when you get on this train with me, whether I'm leading the train or you're leading the train, sometimes it's not beneficial. Sometimes it causes people a little bit of just Old school heat. Have you felt any heat being someone that was connected to me prior to.

[Ricky Saints]

Going to nxt, I think Rico.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah, that's your name.

[Ricky Saints]

Loves Cody. Enough to not worry about that. I will never let somebody weaponize a friendship against me. Jeez. And that comes back to my loyalty that I have. This is the thing. Like, I don't. I don't have a lot of. I don't have a big family. I don't have a lot of friends, so to speak. The people that have shown me being seen, being heard, being understood. I don't think you really understand the grasp of that. That is in my reality, where a random text message, it means the world to me. And it's not only an emotional thing, it is a pure. I have such an endearing and deep love for you as a person because of what you have shown and reciprocated back. So when I did that, I didn't give a. I'll be real with you. And I don't really believe in something being a detriment to my career. If you take that whole situation out of its element and you show someone, hey, this guy got in trouble, so to speak, for being at his friend's biggest moment of his career. What do you think of that? That's a beautiful. That's a beautiful thing. Why should I ever get in trouble? Even to this day, I will ride for somebody because that's just in my nature. And I will never, ever, ever let a situation like that ever be something that hinders me or whatever the case. I already knew being so public about an affection for a friend, especially in your position, was always going to be. That's just Cody's friend. That is. That's cool. If that's what you think of me, perfect. But when I get in the ring, when I get on the microphone, you don't. No one will ever say that shit to me. Yeah. I don't regret anything. I don't regret the Rumble thing. The Rumble thing was hilarious because at the gym, I said, hey, security footage. Yeah. I said in the Rumble, I was just like, hey, I'm an hour away. Like, that was also my fault.

[Cody Rhodes]

I walked you through the backstage area.

[Ricky Saints]

We were going to the bus.

[Cody Rhodes]

We were headed to the bus.

[Ricky Saints]

Yes, we were going to the bus. And you were like, yeah, no one's here. I saw B. I saw the other guy, Pano. Like, I went to the bus. That was it. Yeah. The reason is, is because I thought Rumble was a very special moment to me, and I wanted to be there. And be like, yo, I'm here. This is great.

[Cody Rhodes]

This segment is brought to you by Fanatics. What is your Mount Rushmore of sports jerseys, including WWE gear that means the most to you? So you can do jerseys, you can put some gear in there. You can do all gear, all jerseys. What do you got? Mount Rushmore.

[Ricky Saints]

Can it be my gear as well?

[Cody Rhodes]

It's. You get four picks here. Let's go.

[Ricky Saints]

My first one would be my gear that I wore against Sting in his second to last retirement match.

[Cody Rhodes]

Great one. Okay.

[Ricky Saints]

Yes, sir. My second one actually would be my debut gear that I wrestled you against, that I've never worn since I ripped.

[Cody Rhodes]

The chains off it. I remember looking at you and the chains were ripped off the shorts.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, he did. I thought it was hilarious.

[Cody Rhodes]

So me and that boy got rough.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. My second one, it can be any sports jersey.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints.

[Cody Rhodes]

Solid.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. 2009. Yeah. And my fourth one, my fourth one is one that I actually don't own in possession because this person never given it to me. But if I had it, it would actually be the American Nightmare jacket.

[Cody Rhodes]

Which one?

[Ricky Saints]

The OG One. It's upstairs.

[Cody Rhodes]

The one with my family picture inside?

[Ricky Saints]

Yes, yes. That one.

[Cody Rhodes]

That's a tough one to get.

[Ricky Saints]

You never given it giving me one, but it's fine.

[Cody Rhodes]

We'll keep drinking, see where the night takes us.

[Ricky Saints]

All right. Sure.

[Cody Rhodes]

You know what I'm saying. See where the night takes us. Great picks there. For our viewers and listeners, whoever is on your Mount Rushmore, you can get all your favorite jerseys and fan clothing from fanatics. Go to fanatics.com or download the app.

[Ricky Saints]

Today.

[Cody Rhodes]

You'Ve been Saints Redemption. You have enjoyed several libations on the Saints Redemption. Thanks for telling us the strength. Thanks to Wheatley Vodka. Speaking of Wheatley vodka, I want you to watch this right here and then I'm going to ask you a question about it.

[Ricky Saints]

Watching Moscow, always get the mule. That's my favorite drink. Good as an American jewel. She's cute.

[Cody Rhodes]

So Wheatley, Wheatley baby so good I drink it neatly. That's what Wheatley says. What is Ricky Saints day? What is Wheatley so good I drink it.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Wheatley, Wheatley so good I drink it.

[Ricky Saints]

Wheatley. I drink it so sweetly. I am a very. I like sweet drinks. We're going.

[Cody Rhodes]

Wheatley so good I drink it sweetly.

[Ricky Saints]

I know it's not beating the rumors.

[Cody Rhodes]

Here, but that's a fair. That's a very fair.

[Ricky Saints]

I like it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Ricky Sane says, Wheatley so good I drink it Sweetly, sweetly. I love that sweet guy.

[Ricky Saints]

Just a little sweet. Well, you know, I'm talking about my. My palate, guys.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay?

[Ricky Saints]

Just want to make sure that I'll throw.

[Cody Rhodes]

I'll throw you a different direction here. All right? So I. I like to say myself.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Wheatley, American vodka. We make the American dream team. Now, this is my time to ask you, and we've had some unique answers to what makes up your dream team. Who's on your dream team? And before you start, we always get the question of how many people. What is it, buddy? We've had a basketball team. We've had multiple animals. We've had a whole soccer squad. We've had five people, four people. We've had multiple teams. Who is it to you, right? Who is your dream team?

[Ricky Saints]

Are these people that you have to know, are they famous?

[Cody Rhodes]

I like to say the best way to look at it is like you're going into a war games match. I've also heard you're going into the zombie apocalypse. It's another way. Who are you taking?

[Ricky Saints]

I'm taking. I'm taking Wheatley with me.

[Cody Rhodes]

Wheatley's in now. You're the first person. All right, so, Wheatley, let me tell you why.

[Ricky Saints]

If I get injured, I need these wounds cleaned. All right?

[Cody Rhodes]

So for sanitary purposes, for medical purposes. All right, so Wheatley's on the table. Wheatley's on your team.

[Ricky Saints]

We're going to put the dead man on there. The Undertaker. Undertaker.

[Cody Rhodes]

Tell us why.

[Ricky Saints]

Undertaker's my favorite wrestler, and I see this dude randomly. Him and Michelle at the PC, we cut up, we talk about WCCW days, world class days, how we've known each other since then. I tell him, these kids don't really get it. They don't understand, you know, the new kids don't get it.

[Cody Rhodes]

Just don't get it.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, they don't get it. Back in my day, we wouldn't have done this stuff. Taping up, fist stuff.

[Cody Rhodes]

All right, if you keep putting him over, you gotta go do his podcast.

[Ricky Saints]

Okay? I'm waiting for him to ask me anyways.

[Cody Rhodes]

So, Wheatley, Wheatley.

[Ricky Saints]

This one is an asterisk. Wheatley Undertaker, Cody Rhodes. That's. This. That's not any glazing. Because you want your show.

[Cody Rhodes]

I put you on my team.

[Ricky Saints]

You never, you know. You know, I don't remember. You never publicly said, hey, congrats.

[Cody Rhodes]

I did not tweet. Congrats, Ricky. I didn't.

[Ricky Saints]

You did text me so that I.

[Cody Rhodes]

I messaged you directly, but congrats, Ricky.

[Ricky Saints]

Sorry. All right, so Wheelie, Undertaker, Cody Rhodes.

[Cody Rhodes]

Hell yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

Mick Foley.

[Cody Rhodes]

Why? He's awesome.

[Ricky Saints]

I used to love Mick. My top three favorite wrestlers when I was younger, Undershaker, Mick Foley, the Rock. I know.

[Cody Rhodes]

Rounding it out, you've got taker, you've got Mick, you've got me, you got Wheatley Vodka.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

Who else?

[Ricky Saints]

Matthew McConaughey.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay. I've been in the ring with Matthew McConaughey. He came to a show in Austin. We send the crowd home happy recently at the Moody Theater, gave me one of the. The greatest compliments ever while standing in the ring, sending the crowd home happy at the end of the night ever, in terms of my promos and interview skills. He just said, I can tell you really work on that. And he said it to me, in a way, this is a. One of the world's greatest artisans. This is true, Detective. This is Matthew McConaughey telling me, professor at UT. This is telling me that he can tell. He can tell that I work on it. Special moment.

[Ricky Saints]

Wow.

[Cody Rhodes]

I don't want to share the rest.

[Ricky Saints]

Of it, but that's good. No, let's leave it there. Matthew McConaughey for sure.

[Cody Rhodes]

Great.

[Ricky Saints]

And honestly, you don't need anyone else. Wild card. No, it's a wild card out there. He's a stand in Harry Connick Jr.

[Cody Rhodes]

That is the okay to what, sing songs to you or what, is he a lawyer, too? First off, yeah, you need a good.

[Ricky Saints]

Lawyer, but trust me, he also. It does things.

[Cody Rhodes]

Food left and right, so.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, thanks. You know why, besides the lawyer stuff, he's also from. He's a New Orleans. Prolific family from New Orleans.

[Cody Rhodes]

Okay. Do you get mad at the how Deadpool portrayed gambit in the. Or did you love it?

[Ricky Saints]

I didn't like it.

[Cody Rhodes]

I think I must have told you a bazillion times.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, you just made the jokes. You actually did talk about it online.

[Cody Rhodes]

I loved it.

[Ricky Saints]

But you made the giveaway.

[Cody Rhodes]

My daughter still says it. Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. Well, here's just.

[Cody Rhodes]

Because you think you could have done a better job.

[Ricky Saints]

Absolutely. Channing Tatum is a great actor.

[Cody Rhodes]

Adi, too, but.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, he's a very attractive guy. Huh?

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

But you think you're a better.

[Ricky Saints]

I'm attractive and I can do it better because it's authentic.

[Cody Rhodes]

I don't get the opportunity on the bus to ever really give advice that often because as I get older, I feel like I'm getting dumber. I feel like I'm learning. Like, as I'm learning more, I feel like I know less. It's a wild situation. Even as a. I always tell people, I'm like, you know, if I could. If I could start to get over at WWE a little, and then people will be like, what? What'd you say? I'm like, yeah, I just. To me, it's a different thing.

[Ricky Saints]

It's different.

[Cody Rhodes]

I have a different expectation on what that is.

[Ricky Saints]

Your perspective, Just my perspective.

[Cody Rhodes]

It continuously changes. But maybe some advice for Rico is you said that something as simple as a text message and what it means to you and that. Do you have people in your life that you look in on and look after? Is there someone at NXT who looks up to Rico? Who wants to be in there with Rico? Is there someone? Is there someone like that?

[Ricky Saints]

No.

[Cody Rhodes]

It's not a bad idea to find them. To find them. On my worst days, I reach out to my peoples on my worst days because I like to make sure I know inside, hey, the world doesn't revolve around you. Like me, you know, the world doesn't revolve around me. Check in on somebody else. And I hate that it needs to be a bad day to remind me of that. But I also like that it's the same. I tell people all the time when they're so mad about the booking or the politics or this. I'm like, are you doing anything third party? Are you doing anything outreach? Are you doing anything out in the community? Because that's the good stuff, and that will put it right in your heart and perspective will change to where you'll realize, ah, there's a bigger way, bigger world here. Again, every wrestler thinks the damn world revolves around them, of course. And it's such a small. We get such a short amount of time to do this. And one of the reasons this podcast, this right here, is not easy to pull off schedule is crazy. The ask that I get from WWE is champion level ask. Even though I'm not the champion anymore, All. All of us is difficult. However, I know I don't get to do this forever, so I want to keep doing it. You know, I want to do it as long I really. I am a ride until the wheels fall off. Or as I said earlier, the gas is just now. And at that point, I don't even know where we're pushing this thing.

[Ricky Saints]

You know, I feel that way when I do. Like, you know, I train, I go to this. I go to.

[Cody Rhodes]

You go to my school.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

I want to ask you about that.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah.

[Cody Rhodes]

You're at my school a lot. You're training with somebody yes. Can we talk about who you're training with?

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, I don't.

[Cody Rhodes]

Because you said that you should never weaponize a friendship. So in that moment, you taught me a lesson, because I have tried to weaponize this friendship on multiple times. And then, like, what. What is this friendship? You train and your best friend in the business, Jade.

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah, we train.

[Cody Rhodes]

Tell me about that. You guys train hard.

[Ricky Saints]

We do. We go in there and we're, like, taking bumps into. Yeah. I'm like, okay, maybe I shouldn't be taking these bumps, but no, we train all the time. And it's because I like training with people who have the same type of gumption. I like to. I like that energy, that passion of it. I. This person needs something to try, something new. Hey, I need something to try as well. Yeah. And I also like lending the. The stuff that I've learned, especially, like, let's say, for selling or whatnot. I like lending that to somebody and.

[Cody Rhodes]

Be like, pass it on.

[Ricky Saints]

Did this. Yeah, I don't pass it on. This is how I do it. Yeah. My wrestling and. And knowledge of it is a little bit more unorthodox than most people. Pretty well. There we go. You know, we liked it like that one point. But I love training. I love training with her. I even trained in Austin, too. So proud of her. She's. Yes. Extremely proud of her. When Mania was such a great moment because I got to witness her first match and then the. The epic win the. The title.

[Cody Rhodes]

All at 40, huh?

[Ricky Saints]

Yeah. Yeah. So it was so great to me. And, you know, there's a lot of times where people. A lot of times people don't really experience the happiness through somebody else.

[Cody Rhodes]

Yeah.

[Ricky Saints]

I feel that a thousand percent. No, I'm not where I want to be at my career, but I have friends that are doing it, and I love that. This last Mania, bro, seeing Jay wrestle, and actually, she did really good. Yeah, like, really good. And then watching you on the bus and then watching the match, that's what I talk about. It's so close to the fire that I can only feel the energy that y' all have for it, that I go, I'm already there with him.

[Cody Rhodes]

I want you to know that. You know already my rule for. I've already blown it. My rule for friendship is simple. You have to show up.

[Ricky Saints]

You have to show up.

[Cody Rhodes]

It's one of the reasons I get mad at Matt. God bless him, I'm shouting him out, but it's one of the reasons I get mad at people. The rule is you have to show up. You showed up. And it was a detriment in a way. You didn't consider it a detriment, but it could have hurt you financially. It could have hurt your wallet, could.

[Ricky Saints]

Have hurt your career.

[Cody Rhodes]

You showed up.

[Ricky Saints]

I take the gamble every time.

[Cody Rhodes]

I can't wait. And I won't be old and bitter, too bitter at that point. But I cannot wait to be able to sit and watch you have your moment. Nothing in there.

[Ricky Saints]

There's a lot of you here. With new McValue at McDonald's, you get more than you expect for breakfast. Like buy a sausage burrito and add a sausage McMuffin for a dollar. Get more than you expect with new MCvalue at McDonald's.

[Cody Rhodes]

Prices and participation may vary.

[Ricky Saints]

Valid for item of equal or lesser value.