Ricochet has undergone a stunning transformation since joining AEW—and according to Busted Open host Dave LaGreca, it’s one of the best character pivots in recent memory. “He is someone you want to pay to see get his ass kicked,” LaGreca said after Ricochet’s brutal match with Zach Gowen on Dynamite.
The match told a powerful story: Gowen, wrestling on national television for the first time in 20 years, battled against Ricochet while wrestling on one leg. The emotional impact was immediate. “It reminded me of Tommy Dreamer taking cane shots and refusing to go down,” said co-host Nic Nemeth. “They told a real story.”
Rather than leaning on flashy moves, Ricochet played the role of sadistic heel to perfection. At one point, he held up Gowen’s prosthetic leg in mockery as Gowen’s family watched from ringside. LaGreca noted that even non-wrestling fans were drawn into the drama. “My wife Violetta walked in and immediately got into it,” he said. “That’s when you know it’s working.”
Both hosts agreed that this version of Ricochet feels complete—something he never fully achieved in WWE. “It’s night and day,” Nemeth said. “Now he has layers, intent, and actual heat. He’s not just a guy who flips anymore. He’s a character you feel something about—and that makes all the difference.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Busted Open Radio with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
