Trevor Mann started out in Chaos Pro Wrestling in 2003 under the ring name Ricochet. He began competing on theindependent circuit until he made his first major outing on February 6, 2006, at Insanity Pro Wrestling's Sacrifice event, where he took part in afive-man elimination match involving future long-time rivalChuck Taylor, DieHard, Tony Galloway, and Ty Blade.[10] Ricochet was the final wrestler eliminated as Taylor pinned him to win the match. A few weeks later on February 18, Ricochet took part in his first majorchampionship match as he, Chuck Taylor, Jeff Jameson, Brian Sterling, and Cabana Man Dan took part in another five-man elimination match atIndependent Wrestling Association Mid-South's Xtreme Warfare event for the vacant Deep South Heavyweight Championship, which Cabana Man Dan won.[11]
A few months later at IWA Mid-South's event We're No Joke! on April 1, Ricochet took part in a nine-manTables, Ladders, and Chairs match to determine the one contender for theLight Heavyweight Championship, also involving his rival Chuck Taylor.[12] Although he lost the match to Darin Corbin, he was involved in an infamousspot in which he performed his finishing move, adouble rotation moonsault, off of a ladder to the outside of the ring and onto the other eight competitors. On that same day, Ricochet also competed at Insanity Pro Wrestling's event Mischief, Mayhem and Revenge, where he lost to Taylor for the promotion's Junior Heavyweight Championship.[12]
Chikara (2006–2010)
Young Lions Cup champion (2006–2008)
Ricochet in 2008
On June 24, Ricochet made hisChikara debut as he lost in the first round of thefourth Young Lions Cup tournament against Chuck Taylor.[13] The following day, he teamed withPlayer Uno in a losing effort to Taylor andCloudy.[14] A few months later on November 17 at the event Brick, Ricochet picked up his first win as a member of the Chikara roster after he, Cloudy, andMike Quackenbush defeatedCheech, Retail Dragon, andShane Storm.[15] The following day, Ricochet again lost to Taylor at the event Talent Borrows; Genius Steals.[16]
On February 16, 2007, at theKing of Trios event, Ricochet made his first challenge for the Young Lions Cup, yet he was unable to defeatMax Boyer for the title.[17] Two days later, he lost toClaudio Castagnoli.[18] On April 22, Ricochet took part in the semi-finals of the first-everRey de Voladores tournament, where he lost in a fatal four-way elimination match involving Retail Dragon,Pac, and long-time rival Chuck Taylor, the latter of whom would go on to win the tournament.[19] On June 23, Ricochet won his first round match of the fifth Young Lions Cup tournament after he defeated Chrisjen Hayme.[20] Later that day, Ricochet won a six-way elimination match in the semi-finals to advance to the final.[20] The next day, Ricochet lost to Chuck Taylor for the vacant Young Lions Cup.[21] On August 18 at the event Here Come The International Invaders, Ricochet faced and lost to Taylor in aYoung Lions Cup vs. Career match, resulting in Ricochet being forced toleave Chikara.[22]
On October 27 at New Star Navigation, Ricochet, sporting a new haircut, new attire and awrestling mask, returned to Chikara under the ring name Helios where he finally defeated Taylor for the Young Lions Cup.[23] However, Taylor disputed Helios' win by claiming that Helios was actually Ricochet in disguise.[24] Despite Taylor's claims, Helios' win was still ruled as valid and was thus still the official new champion. On November 16 at Battle Of Who Could Care Less, Helios retained his Young Lions Cup title after defeatingHydra.[25] The following day at The Sordid Perils Of Everyday Existence, Helios again retained his title, this time againstFire Ant.[26]
On January 1, 2009, The Future is Now (Helios and Dorado) lost their first match together against Team F.I.S.T. (Icarus,Gran Akuma).[35] At the2009 King of Trios tournament, The Future is Now defeated TeamDDT (Kota Ibushi,KUDO, andMichael Nakazawa)[36] andThe Osirian Portal (Amasis, Ophidian and Escorpion Egipcio)[37] in the first and quarterfinal rounds, respectively, before losing to Team F.I.S.T. (Icarus, Gran Akuma and Chuck Taylor)[38] in the semi-finals. Following the tournament, The Future is Now then began afeud with The Osirian Portal, resulting in Helios defeating Escorpion Egipcio in a singles match at Behind The 8 Ball on April 25[39] and The Future is Now defeating The Osirian Portal at The Bobliographon event the following day.[40]
On the first show of 2010, Lince Dorado turned on Equinox and left the Future is Now to join the newheel stableBruderschaft des Kreuzes (BDK).[41] In May 2010, during theAniversario weekend, Helios and Equinox first defeated Dorado and his BDK teammate Tim Donst in a tag team match and then won a four-team elimination match to earn the three points needed in order to challenge for theCampeonatos de Parejas.[42][43] Helios and Equinox received their title shot on June 27 atFaded Scars and Lines, yet they were defeated by the defending champions BDK (Ares and Claudio Castagnoli) in two straight falls after a pre–match assault.[44] The Future is Now came to its end on September 19, 2010, when Olsen left the stable to re–form his old tag team with Colin Delaney.[45] This event also marked Helios' final appearance for Chikara as he began working regularly for bothDragon Gate andDragon Gate USA.
Evolve and Dragon Gate USA (2010–2017)
On January 16, 2010, Ricochet would make his debut forEvolve at the company's debut showEvolve 1: Ibushi vs Richards in a winning effort againstArik Cannon.[46] However Ricochet would lose at the next event on March 13, 2010, atEvolve 2: Hero vs Hidaka to Chuck Taylor and again via countout on May 1, 2010, atEvolve 3: Rise Or Fall toJohnny Gargano.[47][48] After being defeated byDrake Younger in a four-way match on July 23, Ricochet ended his losing streak on September 11, by defeatingKyle O'Reilly.[49][50]
On July 24, 2010, Ricochet made his debut for Dragon Gate USA at Enter the Dragon 2010, being defeated by Chuck Taylor in a four-way match, which also included Arik Cannon andAdam Cole.[51] At the following event on September 25, Ricochet teamed withCima to defeat Speed Muscle (Masato Yoshino andNaruki Doi) in a tag team match. After the match Cima gave Ricochet a spot in his Warriors International stable.[52] The following day Ricochet defeated Gran Akuma in a singles match.[53] On October 29 at Dragon Gate USA's first live pay-per-view, Bushido: Code of the Warrior, Ricochet wrestled in a four-way match, which was won by Chuck Taylor and also included Arik Cannon and Johnny Gargano.[54] At the following day's tapings of Freedom Fight 2010, Ricochet teamed with his Warriors International stable mateGenki Horiguchi andAustin Aries in a six-man tag team match, where they were defeated by Ronin (Chuck Taylor, Johnny Gargano andRich Swann).[55]
When Dragon Gate USA returned on January 29, 2011, Ricochet now represented heel stable Blood Warriors and teamed with new stable mate Naruki Doi in the tournament to determine the first everOpen the United Gate Champions. In their first tournament match, Ricochet and Doi were defeated by Ronin representatives Chuck Taylor and Johnny Gargano.[56] The following day Ricochet and Doi were defeated in the main event of the evening by the World–1 team of Masato Yoshino and Pac.[57] On April 2 atMercury Rising 2011, Ricochet, Cima and Naruki Doi defeated Ronin (Chuck Taylor, Johnny Gargano and Rich Swann) in the main event six-man tag team match.[58] During the match Ricochet suffered an ankle injury, which forced him out of the following day's match for the Open the United Gate Championship.[59]
On September 11 at Way of the Ronin 2011, Ricochet and Cima defeated Masato Yoshino and Pac to win the Open the United Gate Championship in a match, where Ricochet's and Cima'sOpen the Twin Gate Championship was also on the line.[60] After the merger of Evolve and Dragon Gate USA, Ricochet took part in the final official professional wrestling match in theAsylum Arena, when he unsuccessfully challenged Johnny Gargano for theOpen the Freedom Gate Championship at an Evolve event on January 14, 2012.[61] On March 30, Ricochet and Cima were forced to vacate the Open the United Gate Championship, after Cima was sidelined with a neck injury. In the main event of the evening, Ricochet teamed with Masato Yoshino to defeat Chuck Taylor and Johnny Gargano and regain the Open the United Gate Championship.[62] On June 21, Ricochet and Yoshino were stripped of the title due to Yoshino being unable to appear at the following month's Dragon Gate USA events.[63] On July 29, Ricochet teamed with Rich Swann in a match to determine the new Open the United Gate Champions. They were, however, defeated in the match by Cima andAR Fox.[64] On November 2 at Fearless 2012, Ricochet was defeated by Fox in a Respect match and, as a result, was forced to tell his opponent that he respected him.[65] Two days later at Freedom Fight 2012, Ricochet unsuccessfully challenged Johnny Gargano for the Open the Freedom Gate Championship in a four-way elimination match, which also includedAkira Tozawa and A. R. Fox.[66] On April 4, 2014, Ricochet defeated Gargano to win the Open the Freedom Gate Championship.[67] On November 16, 2014, during Dragon Gate USA's parent companyWWNLive's tour ofChina, Ricochet lost the title back to Gargano.[68]
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (2010–2018)
Early years (2010–2012)
On September 5, 2010, Ricochet made his debut forSouthern California promotionPro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), losing to Claudio Castagnoli in the first round of the2010 Battle of Los Angeles, in what was called a "star making performance".[69] The following day, Ricochet participated in a six-man tag team match, where he, Johnny Goodtime andRocky Romero were defeated by Fightin' Taylor Boys (Brian Cage, Chuck Taylor andRyan Taylor), when Ricochet was pinned by his old rival, Chuck Taylor.[70] At the following eventThe Curse of Guerrilla Island, Ricochet picked up a major victory over theWorld Tag Team ChampionEl Generico, which would mark his first win in PWG.[71]
Ricochet in November 2014
AtCard Subject To Change III on April 9, 2011, Ricochet filled in forPaul London, who was unable to appear at the event, and teamed with El Generico in a match to defend the World Tag Team Championship against theDynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament winnersThe Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson). Ricochet and Generico lost the titles.[72] Even though Generico blamed Ricochet for the loss, the two teamed up once again on May 27, during the first night ofAll Star Weekend 8, when they were defeated by the Nightmare Violence Connection (Akira Tozawa andKevin Steen).[73] AtEight, Ricochet teamed again with Generico in a loss toAlex Shelley and Roderick Strong.[74]
On January 29, 2012, Ricochet resumed his Dragon Gate tag team with Cima dubbed "Spike Mohicans" in a match, where they were defeated by the RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime and Johnny Yuma).[75] AtDeath To All But Metal, Ricochet lost to El Generico in a grudge match main event.[76] On September 1, Ricochet entered the2012 Battle of Los Angeles, defeatingPWG World Champion Kevin Steen in his first round match, following a distraction from his rival Brian Cage.[77] The following day, Ricochet defeatedRoderick Strong in the quarter finals, before being eliminated byMichael Elgin in the semi-finals of the tournament.[78] As a result of his win over Steen, Ricochet unsuccessfully challenged him for the World Championship in a three-way match, which also included Elgin.[79]
On January 12, 2013, Ricochet teamed up with Rich Swann for the2013 Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament. The team, dubbed The Inner City Machine Guns, was eliminated in their first round match by The Young Bucks.[80] On August 9 at PWG's tenth anniversary event titledTen, the Inner City Machine Guns unsuccessfully challenged The Young Bucks for the PWG World Tag Team Championship in a three-way ladder match, which also included the DojoBros (Eddie Edwards and Roderick Strong).[81]
On January 31, 2014, the Inner City Machine Guns made it to the final of the2014 Dynamite Duumvirate Tag Team Title Tournament by defeating The African American Wolves (AR Fox and ACH) and Unbreakable F'N Machines (Brian Cage and Michael Elgin), before losing to the Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent?).[82] On the first night of theBattle of Los Angeles on August 29, the Guns unsuccessfully challengedWorld's Cutest Tag Team (Candice LeRae andJoey Ryan) for the World Tag Team Championship in a three-way match, also involvingThe Addiction (Christopher Daniels andFrankie Kazarian).[83] However, Ricochet rebounded from the loss, Ricochet entered thenamesake tournament by defeatingChris Sabin in the first round.[84] On August 31, Ricochet defeatedT. J. Perkins in the quarterfinals,Kenny Omega in the semifinals, and Johnny Gargano and Roderick Strong in the three-way final to win the 2014 Battle of Los Angeles.[85] As a result, Ricochet was granted a shot at the PWG World Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Kyle O'Reilly, atBlack Cole Sun on December 12.[86]
On September 3, 2017, Ricochet defeatedJeff Cobb andKeith Lee in the final to win the2017 Battle of Los Angeles, becoming the first two-time winner of the tournament. He would also turn heel later that night after winning he tournament telling Chuck Taylor he was coming for the PWG Championship.[91] On October 21, Ricochet defeated Chuck Taylor to win the PWG World Championship for the first time.[92] AtMystery Vortex V, in what would be Ricochet's final appearance for the promotion, he lost the PWG World Championship back to Taylor in a Guerrilla Warfare match.[93]
Ricochet turned heel on January 14, 2011, along with the rest of Warriors, attacking Masato Yoshino and World–1, and joining forces with Naruki Doi's group.[96] On January 18 the new group was named Blood Warriors.[96] On February 10 Cima, Naruki Doi and Gamma defeated World–1 representatives Masato Yoshino,BxB Hulk andSusumu Yokosuka in a six-man tag team match and as a result, Pac was forced to leave World–1 and join Blood Warriors. However, Ricochet blocked the move as he felt that he, not Pac, was the top high flyer in the world and instead challenged him to a match for hisOpen the Brave Gate Championship.[97] The title match between Pac and Ricochet took place on March 1 and ended with Pac retaining his title.[98] On May 15, the rest of Blood Warriors turned on Dragon Kid and kicked him out of the group, despite the fact that he still held the Open the Triangle Gate Championship with Ricochet and Cima. As a result, the title was declared vacant.[99] On July 17, Ricochet and Cima defeated Dragon Kid and Pac of rival group Junction Three to win the Open the Twin Gate Championship.[100] On November 19, Ricochet defeated Pac for the Open the Brave Gate Championship.[101] After their third successful defense of the Open the Twin Gate Championship on November 30, Ricochet and Cima vacated the title in order for Ricochet to concentrate on defending the Open the Brave Gate Championship and Cima to concentrate on chasing theOpen the Dream Gate Championship.[102]
On January 19, 2012, Akira Tozawa took over the leadership of Blood Warriors, kicking Cima out of the group. After Ricochet continued to team with Cima in Dragon Gate USA, it was announced on February 9, that he was also kicked out of Blood Warriors.[103] On March 4, Ricochet and Cima decided to mutually split up, with Ricochet joining Masato Yoshino's and Naruki Doi's new World-1 International stable and Cima reviving the Veteran-gun.[104] On May 6, Ricochet lost the Open the Brave Gate Championship to Dragon Kid in his fourth defense.[105] On May 25, 2013, Ricochet defeatedShingo Takagi in the final to win the2013 King of Gate tournament.[106] As a result, Ricochet earned a shot at the Open the Dream Gate Championship, but was defeated in the title match on June 16 by Cima.[107] On July 21, Ricochet and Naruki Doi defeated Akira Tozawa and BxB Hulk for the Open the Twin Gate Championship.[108] They lost the title to Dragon Kid andK-Ness on August 30.[109] On September 12, Doi turned on Masato Yoshino, signaling the end of World-1 International. Ricochet quickly found a new alliance, forming Monster Express with Yoshino, Akira Tozawa, Shachihoko Boy, Shingo Takagi andUhaa Nation.[110][111]
On March 2, 2014, Ricochet defeated Monster Express stablemate Masato Yoshino for the Open the Dream Gate Championship, becoming the firstgaijin to hold the title.[1][112] Ricochet made his first successful title defense just four days later against another stablemate, Uhaa Nation.[113] After a two-month reign, Ricochet lost the Open the Dream Gate Championship toYamato in his second defense on May 5.[114] Ricochet returned to Dragon Gate during the summer of 2015. On July 20, he andMatt Sydal unsuccessfully challenged Naruki Doi and Yamato for the Open the Twin Gate Championship.[115] Ricochet returned to Dragon Gate two years later on November 3, 2017, defeatingEita. He wrestled his Dragon Gate farewell match five days later.[116]
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2013–2017)
On May 3, 2013,New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) announced Ricochet as a participant in the2013 Best of the Super Juniors tournament.[117] He made his debut for the promotion on May 22, teaming with Kenny Omega in a tag team match, where they defeatedSuzuki-gun (Taichi andTaka Michinoku).[118] In the round-robin portion of the tournament, which ran from May 24 to June 6, Ricochet managed to win five out of his eight matches with a loss against Alex Shelley on June 6, costing him a spot in the semi-finals.[119]
Ricochet returned to take part in the2014 Best of the Super Juniors tournament on May 30,[120] this time advancing to the semi-finals, after finishing second in his block with a record of five wins and two losses.[121] On June 8, Ricochet first defeatedRyusuke Taguchi in the semi-finals and thenKushida in the final to win the 2014 Best of the Super Juniors and become the number one contender to theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[122] With his win, Ricochet became the youngest person to win the tournament and the second American to do so.[123][124] On June 21 atDominion 6.21, Ricochet unsuccessfully challenged Kota Ibushi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[125][126]
On July 3, 2015, Ricochet made a surprise return to NJPW, challenging the winner of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship match between Kenny Omega and Kushida, set to take place two days later, to a title match.[127] Ricochet received his title match on August 16, but was defeated by Kushida.[128] Ricochet returned to NJPW on October 24, when he and Matt Sydal entered the2015 Super Jr. Tag Tournament, defeatingTime Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida) in their first round match.[129] On November 1, Ricochet and Sydal defeated The Young Bucks to advance to the final of the tournament.[130] On November 7 atPower Struggle, Ricochet and Sydal defeatedRoppongi Vice (Beretta and Rocky Romero) in the final to win the 2015 Super Jr. Tag Tournament.[131]
On January 4, 2016, atWrestle Kingdom 10 in Tokyo Dome, Ricochet and Sydal took part in a four-way match for theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, but were defeated by The Young Bucks.[132] On February 11 atThe New Beginning in Osaka, Ricochet and Sydal defeated The Young Bucks andreDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) in a three-way match to become the new IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champions.[133] They lost the title to Roppongi Vice on April 10 atInvasion Attack 2016,[134] before regaining the title on May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2016.[135] Later in the month, Ricochet entered the2016 Best of the Super Juniors tournament. On May 27, Ricochet facedWill Ospreay in the tournament in a match, which received widespread attention in the professional wrestling world. While some likeWilliam Regal praised the two, others criticized the match with the most notable criticism coming fromVader, who compared the match to a "gymnastics routine".[136][137][138] Ricochet finished the tournament with a record of four wins and three losses, failing to advance to the final due to losing toChase Owens in his final round-robin match.[139] On June 19 atDominion 6.19 in Osaka-jo Hall, Ricochet and Sydal lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to The Young Bucks in a four-way elimination match, also involving reDRagon and Roppongi Vice.[140]
On July 3, Ricochet and Sydal teamed up withSatoshi Kojima to defeatThe Elite (Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks) for theNEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[141] They were stripped of the title on September 25 due to Sydal failing to make a scheduled title defense atDestruction in Kobe because of travel issues.[142] That same day, Ricochet and Kojima, now teaming withDavid Finlay, defeated Adam Cole and The Young Bucks to regain the vacant title.[143] This led to a match on October 10 atKing of Pro-Wrestling, where Ricochet and Finlay unsuccessfully challenged The Young Bucks for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[144] Ricochet, Finlay and Kojima lost the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship toLos Ingobernables de Japón (Bushi,Evil andSanada) in a four-teamgauntlet match atWrestle Kingdom 11 in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2017.[145] Afterwards, Ricochet joined theTaguchi Japan stable as part of which he, Ryusuke Taguchi andHiroshi Tanahashi defeatedLos Ingobernables de Japón on April 4 to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship.[146] On April 29, Ricochet unsuccessfully challengedHiromu Takahashi for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship.[147] On May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2017, Ricochet, Tanahashi and Taguchi lost the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship back to L.I.J.[148] Ricochet then entered the2017 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, where, despite a win over reigning IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi,[149] he failed to advance to the final with a record of four wins and three losses.[150]
Ricochet then formed a new tag team named "Funky Future" with Ryusuke Taguchi under the banner of Taguchi Japan.[151] On August 13, the two defeated The Young Bucks to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[152] They lost the title toRoppongi 3K (Sho andYoh) on October 9 atKing of Pro-Wrestling.[153] Following the match, Ricochet took responsibility for the loss and thanked both NJPW and Taguchi Japan.[154] His mannerisms were interpreted as meaning he had wrestled his final NJPW match.[155] On November 8, Ricochet confirmed he had wrestled his final match in Japan.[116]
In September 2014, it was reported that Mann had signed with theEl Rey Network's new television series,Lucha Underground.[156] He assumed a masked character by the ring name of Prince Puma.[3] He was given a fictional Latino background and managed byKonnan, with him doing most of the talking on his behalf. Puma wrestled in the main event of the debut episode ofLucha Underground on October 29, losing toJohnny Mundo.[157] On the January 7, 2015, episode (taped October 5, 2014),[158] Puma defeated 19 other wrestlers to win the Aztec Warfarebattle royal and become the inauguralLucha Underground Champion.[159] Puma made his first televised defense of the Lucha Underground Championship on the January 14, 2015, episode ofLucha Underground against Fénix.[160] Puma then entered a rivalry withCage, which led to a title match between the two on the March 25 episode, where Puma retained his title.[161] On April 19 atUltima Lucha, Lucha Underground's season one finale, Puma lost the Lucha Underground Championship toMil Muertes.[162] After failing to regain the title, he formed a team withEl Dragon Azteca Jr. andRey Mysterio Jr. and entered a tournament for the Trios championship. After defeating the team which consisted of Taya and two of Puma's old adversaries Cage, and Johnny Mundo, in a qualifying match, they captured the titles last eliminating Fenix,P. J. Black, andJack Evans in the final.
Mann had originally signed a contract with Lucha Underground, which gave him an out following the conclusion of the program's third season.[163] WithWWE reportedly looking to sign him, Lucha Underground offered Mann a new contract, which would have allowed him to continue working NJPW and the indies and would have made him "one of the highest paid non-WWE talents in the business".[164] Mann, however, decided to opt out of his contract.[165] On June 26, 2016, at the third season concludingUltima Lucha Tres, Prince Puma challenged Johnny Mundo for the Lucha Underground Championship in a match, where he put his Lucha Underground career on the line. Though Puma won the match and the title, he was immediately afterwards challenged byGift of the Gods ChampionPentagón Dark, withDario Cueto stating that the loser of the match would be forced to retire. Pentagón won the match and the Lucha Underground Championship with help fromVampiro, ending Prince Puma's Lucha Underground career.[166] Though Mann's Lucha Underground contract had expired, he could not appear on television for another promotion until season three had been aired in its entirety.[167] Mann later commented on his status, stating that an "underground fighting company holding [him] back" was the reason he had not yet been signed by a "major promotion".[168] The final episode of the third season aired on October 18, 2017, sixteen months after being taped.[169]
On January 16, 2018,WWE announced on their website that Ricochet had signed a contract with the company and would be wrestling in WWE'sdevelopmental territoryNXT.[4] On January 27, atNXT TakeOver: Philadelphia, Ricochet, billed as his real name, was shown sitting in the audience.[170] He made his debut in adark match prior to aNXT taping on February 2, defeatingFabian Aichner.[171]
Ricochet formed a tag team withCedric Alexander, feuding withThe Hurt Business (MVP, Lashley, andShelton Benjamin) after they injuredApollo Crews.[204] However, on the September 7 episode ofRaw, Alexander turned on Ricochet and Crews during a six-man tag team match against The Hurt Business, attacking them and joining The Hurt Business.[205] AtRoyal Rumble on January 31, 2021, Ricochet entered at number 12, but was eliminated byKane.[206] On February 21, atElimination Chamber, Ricochet lost a fatal four-way match to determine who would fill in the vacant spot at the event for the United States Championship later that night.[207] On the June 21 episode ofRaw, Ricochet defeated Styles to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match atMoney in the Bank on July 18,[208] which was won byBig E.[209]
Intercontinental Champion (2021–2022)
As part of the2021 Draft, Ricochet was drafted to the SmackDown brand.[210] In October, Ricochet entered theKing of the Ring tournament, where he lost toXavier Woods in the first round.[211] On the December 24 (taped December 17)[212] episode ofSmackDown, Ricochet competed in agauntlet match to determine the number one contender to theIntercontinental Championship, where he was the last person eliminated bySami Zayn.[213] At theDay 1 pre-show on January 1, 2022, Ricochet andCesaro lost to SheamusandRidge Holland.[214] On January 29, atRoyal Rumble, Ricochet entered at number 12, where he and other competitors eliminatedOmos before he was eliminated by Happy Corbin.[215]
On the March 4 episode ofSmackDown, Ricochet defeated Zayn with help fromJohnny Knoxville to win the Intercontinental Championship.[216] He retained the title against Zayn in a rematch the following week.[217] On the April 1 episode ofSmackDown, he retained the title againstAngel andHumberto in a triple threat match.[218] Over the following weeks, Ricochet made successful defenses againstJinder Mahal andShanky[219][220] before losing the title toGunther on the June 10 episode ofSmackDown, ending his reign at 98 days.[221] He failed to regain the title on the June 24 episode ofSmackDown.[222] On August 30, Ricochet returned toNXT and challengedCarmelo Hayes for theNXT North American Championship atWorlds Collide on September 4,[223][224] but he was defeated by Hayes.[225] Ricochet then participated in theSmackDown World Cup tournament,[226][227] defeatingSantos Escobar in the finals on the December 2 episode ofSmackDown, becoming the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship.[228] On the December 16 episode ofSmackDown, Ricochet failed to win the title from Gunther.[229]
Final storylines (2023–2024)
AtRoyal Rumble on January 28, 2023, Ricochet entered at number 28, but was eliminated byAustin Theory. During the match, Ricochet andLogan Paul performed simultaneous springboard clotheslines at each other from opposite sides of the ring and collided in midair.[230] He soon formed a tag team withBraun Strowman, winning a tournament to challengeUndisputed WWE Tag Team ChampionsThe Usos.[231][232] On the February 10 episode ofSmackDown, they failed to win the titles from The Usos.[233] On Night 1 ofWrestleMania 39 on April 1, Ricochet and Strowman participated in the men's WrestleMania Showcase fatal four-way tag team match, but lost.[234] As part of the2023 WWE Draft, Ricochet and Strowman were drafted to the Raw brand,[235] however, Strowman would undergo neck surgery that took him out of action until late-April 2024.[236]
On the May 29 episode ofRaw, Ricochet defeatedThe Miz to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match atMoney in the Bank on July 1,[237] which was won byDamian Priest.[238] In the coming weeks onRaw, Ricochet and Paul developed a feud which culminated in a match atSummerSlam on August 5,[239][240] where Paul defeated Ricochet by way of using brass knuckles he was given behind the referee's back.[241] On April 26, 2024, Ricochet won a tournament to become the inauguralSpeed Champion,[242] which aired ontape delay on May 3, the date WWE officially began his reign.[243] He held the title until the June 7 taping ofSpeed, which aired on June 14, where he lost it toAndrade, ending his reign at 42 days.[244][245]
On June 8, it was reported that Ricochet notified WWE he would be leaving the company when his contract expired later that summer.[246] He was written off television on the June 10 episode ofRaw, when he was attacked byBron Breakker,[247] leaving the company on June 30.[248]
On August 22, 2024, it was reported by Fightful Select that Ricochet had signed a multi-year deal withAll Elite Wrestling (AEW),[249][250] making his debut three days later atAll In as a surprise entrant in theCasino Gauntlet match, but was unsuccessful in winning the match.[251] His first feud in AEW was withKonosuke Takeshita, after Takeshita attacked him andAEW International ChampionWill Ospreay during their match for the title on thefifth anniversary episode ofAEW Dynamite on October 2.[252] On October 12 atWrestleDream, Ricochet was unsuccessful in capturing the International Championship in athree-way match, which was won by Takeshita.[253] On November 23 atFull Gear, Ricochet unsuccessfully challenged Takeshita for his title.[254] The next day, Ricochet was announced as a participant in the2024 Continental Classic, where he was placed in the Gold league.[255] During the tournament, Ricochet began developing a more cocky attitude and began cheating to win matches, teasing a potential heel turn.[256][257][258] Ricochet finished the tournament at the top of his league with 10 points and advanced to the playoff stage on December 28 atWorlds End, where he lost toKazuchika Okada in the semi-finals. After losing to Okada,Swerve Strickland–whom Ricochet had been taunting in the weeks leading up to Worlds End, made an appearance. Along with managerPrince Nana, Strickland handed out toilet paper to the audience and led them in throwing it onto Ricochet as he stood in the middle of the ring, fulfilling his promise of "embarrassing" Ricochet in response to his disrespect.[259][260]
On January 1, 2025, atFight for the Fallen, Ricochet viciously attacked and bloodied Strickland with a pair of scissors, cementing his heel turn.[261] On the February 5 episode ofDynamite, Ricochet defeated Strickland and proceeded to steal theEmbassy robe bestowed upon Strickland by Prince Nana in honor of charter Embassy memberJimmy Rave.[262][263] On March 9 atRevolution, Ricochet was defeated by Strickland, losing the robe and a shot at theAEW World Championship.[264] On the March 15 episode ofCollision, Ricochet defeatedKatsuyori Shibata in the semi-final of the International Championship eliminator tournament, advancing to thefour-way grand final.[265] On the March 19 episode ofDynamite, both Ricochet and"Speedball" Mike Bailey pinnedMark Davis to win the match, meaning that both wrestlers would challengeKenny Omega for the International Championship on April 6 atDynasty in athree-way match.[266] At the event, Omega retained the title against both Ricochet and Bailey.[267] On May 25 atDouble or Nothing, Ricochet defeatedMark Briscoe in aStretcher match.[268]
As of 2021, Mann has been in a relationship withSamantha Irvin.[281] The couple became engaged on January 10, 2023, and married on March 26, 2025.[282]
^"News/Rumors".Slam! Sports.Canadian Online Explorer. June 8, 2014. Archived from the original on August 9, 2009. RetrievedJune 9, 2014.now he's the youngest ever winner of the New Japan Best Of Super Juniors tournament.
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