Ricochet Seeking Star-Making Moment at SummerSlam

Ricochet wrestles Logan Paul later tonight at SummerSlam, and he plans on making the most of the moment.

This will mark only the fourth singles match of Paul’s career. He has not won a match since last year’s SummerSlam, where he defeated The Miz. Though the celebrity influencer is one of the most well-known members of the roster, he is a part-time talent in WWE.

Even tomorrow, Paul is hoping to open the show so he can jet out of SummerSlam in Detroit and fly to Dallas to watch his brother Jake box Nate Diaz. Pro wrestling is a wonderful side passion for Paul. Yet for Ricochet, it is his livelihood.

“I’m not here to wrestle first and fly out,” says Trevor Mann, who is best known as Ricochet. “He can be first and go to his brother’s fight, that’s fine with me. I’m in no hurry to leave.

“I’ll wrestle first, middle, last–I’ll deliver. And I love going first. Being first is a great spot at SummerSlam. The fans are going to be hot and ready to see something special.”

The contrast between Paul and Ricochet could not be more stark. Ricochet celebrates his twentieth year in wrestling this October. Unlike Paul, Ricochet has wrestled in significantly more than a handful of matches.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 15 years old,” says Mann. “When you add it all up, including the time in Japan and England, plus the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday shows we were doing at one night, the number of matches I’ve wrestled is somewhere in the tens of thousands.”

Watch @LoganPaul and @KingRicochet collide ... literally!

Get ready for their showdown this Saturday at #SummerSlam. pic.twitter.com/VGOeOTHIb4
— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2023

Incredibly risky, gravity-defying moves are part of Ricochet’s arsenal. When he is in the ring, no fear courses through his veins–and he never second guesses himself. This is his domain, which was evident during the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match during a complicated spot between himself and Paul.

The most awe-inspiring moment of the match began when LA Knight pushed Ricochet and Paul off a ladder. There was trouble landing perfectly on the ropes, and balance became an issue for Paul.

“I hit first,” says Mann. “That’s what happened. We were supposed to hit together. That moved the rope, causing him to move the rope.”

Ricochet took control of the moment and executed a Spanish fly into a pair of tables outside the ring. The landing was not smooth, especially for Paul, who was fortunate to walk away with only a few minor injuries.

“In that moment, I was thinking about him,” says Mann. “I was thinking, ‘What can I do to calm him down? What can I do to ease his mind?’ I wasn’t even thinking about myself or the spot. I just wanted to calm him down. When I saw him trying to get back to where he wanted to be, that’s when I took advantage of knowing my way around the ring.

“Seeing the opportunity, once I made it over, it was time to send it. In that situation, I don’t know what else Ricochet would have done. I was always level-footed. So I didn’t think about it. I don’t think. I go as soon as possible. When I think, my courage dwindles. In that spot, you just go.”

🚨Scary Moment at #WWEMITB when Ricochet hit the Spanish fly on Logan Paul through a table🚨 #WWEMITB https://t.co/dH8u7ADDoO
— NoSmokeSport (@NoSmokeSport) July 1, 2023

Ricochet and Paul also created a magical cross-ring collision this past January during the Royal Rumble match. Working together six months later at SummerSlam is quite an old-school feat from back in an era where feuds would span half a year.

“I didn’t think any future plans would come from that,” says Mann. “I didn’t think this feud would come from that. I was in the moment, and that’s all I thought it was.

“I knew how far he could jump, and I knew how far I could jump. I didn’t have any second guesses. That was one I was really excited about.”

Tonight’s match at SummerSlam is destined to be Paul’s moment. He is the attraction, while Ricochet is merely the opponent. But a lot can happen in a match. There is the potential for a breakthrough moment for Ricochet, and he is ready to seize that moment.

“That’s been my whole career,” says Mann. “Whether it was the indies or overseas or NXT, that’s the thing–but by the end, I was their favorite.”

The focus and spotlight will shine bright on Paul tonight. But Ricochet has some plans in store to ensure his work will be unforgettable.

“I’m going to show I belong,” says Mann. “I’ll do that for the new audience, and I’ll do that for the hardcore fans.

“I plan on people remembering me. That’s what I’m going to do at SummerSlam.”

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.