Professional wrestler Ricky Saints made his WWE SmackDown debut on May 1, 2026 [1], during a live event in Tulsa, Oklahoma [2].

This appearance marks the introduction of Saints to the SmackDown roster and serves as a primary narrative driver for the upcoming Backlash pay-per-view [3].

Saints entered the program by confronting the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes [4]. The interaction set the stage for a match between the two athletes. During the exchange, Rhodes called Saints a "crybaby" [5].

Despite the momentum of his debut, Saints lost his first match against Rhodes [6]. The encounter did not end with the pinfall, as Gunther intervened and took out Cody Rhodes after the match concluded [6].

WWE officials said they integrated this debut into the broader storyline buildup for the Backlash event [3]. The company utilized the Tulsa broadcast to establish Saints as a new presence on the brand, though he did not secure a victory in his first outing [4], [6].

The debut follows a pattern of WWE introducing new talent through high-profile confrontations with established champions to quickly build audience recognition [3]. Saints' interaction with Rhodes provides a foundation for potential future rematches as the road to Backlash continues.

“"Crybaby"”

The debut of Ricky Saints is a strategic move by WWE to inject new conflict into the Undisputed Championship scene. By pairing a newcomer with a top star like Cody Rhodes and involving a third party like Gunther, WWE is layering multiple rivalries simultaneously to maximize interest in the Backlash event.