Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Ricochet's CRAZY First Date With Samantha Irvin, Logan Paul SummerSlam Match, Double Moonsaults & More

Episode Date: July 31, 2023

Ricochet (@kingricochet) is professional wrestler signed to WWE and is also known for his time in Lucha Underground where he worked under the name Prince Puma. He joins Chris Van Vliet to talk about his SummerSlam match with Logan Paul, taking big risks in the ring, the mindset that has made him so successful, his crazy first date with his fiancée WWE ring announcer Samantha Irvin that started in Las Vegas, and ended at the Grand Canyon, why he doesn't do the double moonsault anymore, his favorite NXT matches and more! Sponsors:  To get 15% off MudWtr go to http://mudwtr.com/cvv to support the show and use the code CVV  Use the code CVV to get a 50% welcome bonus at http://mybookie.ag Quote I'm thinking about: "The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up." - Mark Twain For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.  Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All systems are going. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Bleas! Oh, man, come on in here. Good to see you. Welcome back to another one here on Insight. I'm CVV Chris Van Fleet. Episode number 4, 98. I never say the number of the episodes usually, but I mean, we are inching so close now to episode number 500.

And today we've got the one and only ricochet on the show. and it goes without saying, but this is a once-in-a-generation talent. The way that he does things in the ring, it's actually, it's not just what he does in the ring, it's how he makes it look so effortless. Like everything that he does,

we talk a bunch about that, and he talks about, like, I was like, what does it take to have, like the courage to get up there? He's like, no, no, stop right there. It's not about courage.

It's about knowing what you can do and then pulling it off. He's like, if you start thinking about it, I mean, you're heading in the wrong direction here. So it was great to have, a short interview with him during WrestleMania week a few months back here. You might have seen that on my YouTube channel.

Great conversation, but it was pretty short conversation. Although we did touch on a bunch of stuff there that we didn't touch on here, and vice versa. But we talked there about it like Lucha Underground. We talked there about the Royal Rumble spot with Logan Paul. So if you haven't checked that out yet,

go check it out on my YouTube channel. And speaking of Logan Paul, that's the big match at SummerSlam. And there's something. about the chemistry that these two guys have when you put them together in the ring. And I know that this is going to be one of those matches on Saturday at SummerSlam. By the way, I'll be in Detroit. So if you happen to be there, it'd be great to see you, just come by, say hi.

But what's going to happen? What these guys? Like, they're going to steal the show for sure. So I can't wait to see that. Please take a screenshot. Let us know you're listening to this episode and tweet us or tag us on Instagram so we can share. out. He is at King Rickashay. I'm at Chris Van Fleet and man, just so good to be able to chat with him. So let's dive into it. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Rickashay.

Dude, it is, it's so good to see you and I'm so glad to have you back on for like a longer conversation now. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, absolutely. What the one was that? WrestleMania was it? And that was such a nice surprise, like to just be able to spend some time with you there. And, now so much other stuff has happened since then. And I also feel like almost every Logan Paul highlight in WWE has you on the other side of that match, on the other side of that moment. Yeah, it seems to be connected somehow, yeah. Yeah, I'm actually really curious.

When Logan Paul first came into WWE, what were your initial thoughts ahead? I mean, I never had any preconceived notions. And I just think, you know, like we have people come in and all the time. So it's, it's, that was nothing new to me. But then I'm seeing like he was actually at the PC training with Sean and some of the people down there. And then he was like putting the work in for the match with like the tag match with the miss and the other match with the miss. Like he's putting the work yet.

So when he initially came in, I mean, I was curious to see what happened. But then to see actually what he has done since has been, it's been, I mean, actually pretty cool. you've done this thing now you've done this thing now twice in WWE where the promo ends with you jumping over the top rope to the outside, landing in front of the person,

how do you figure out like, oh yeah, that's something I'm completely capable of doing? You know what? It's funny, I was just asking my fiance, I was just, I'm not asking, but I was asking her, I wonder at what age, because the first time I did it, I think I was like 29,

and now I'm like 34. So I was like, I wonder at what age will I not be able to like do that anymore. Not necessarily like will I not want to do it. You know, there'll be age where like even guys, I don't want to do that. I can, but I don't want to. I wonder what age will it be where I'm like, guys, even if I wanted to, I can't do that anymore. I always like, but I try to push myself and that's something. I don't know.

I just like, I don't know, maybe the barrier. I just want to break through that, whatever that. He doesn't want to keep it going. I don't know what that is. I don't know why. Is there anything that you used to be able to do in the ring that now almost 20 years into this, that you're like,

either I can't do that anymore or I don't know if I should do that anymore? Honestly, probably only like the double moon salt maybe. And that's not even, honestly, I probably could still do it. If I wanted to do it, I could. You? That'd be amazing.

It'd be amazing. I just don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to. I did it off the cage. Just come on. It looks so smooth the way you do it. I would have to actually take some time to like practice, really practice because it's just

when I was just asked the other day, when was the last time I even did it? And I couldn't tell you the last time that I did the double moon saw. I don't know. Other than the one off the cage at NXT before that even like in the ring, man, I couldn't tell you. Dude, it's so fascinating about this as you're like, yeah, I would have to practice to do a double moon salt, which makes me think that all the other things that you do require no practice and they're just innate to you. I mean, technically, I guess you're kind of right, but at the same time, it's like I have been

doing it. It's like asking a gymnast to like do something that they've been doing their whole life. Obviously, I'm not a gymnast, but like I have been training myself on this type of stuff since I was six, you know, years old. So, and then I've been wrestling since I was, like, 14. So to literally, like, be doing it for so long, it is kind of second nature. Some of it is second nature when you're out there.

Like, it is just, like, instinct. Yeah. Do you remember? Some of this stuff still takes practice now that I'm getting older. Do you remember what the very first high-flying move? that you ever successfully did was. Yeah, it was, you remember Jeff Hardy's like whisper in the wind? Yes.

It was basically that, like the guy was laying on the ground and I would do the whisper in the wind on the guy. Like, I remember like that was like my first, I mean, very first match, like in the backyard, whispered wind to the guy lay it down. No big deal, just a whisper of the wind. But I mean, I was scared to like do, I wanted to do like a Phoenix splash, the one, like a full Phoenix splash, but I was too scared. I don't know why. On the tripling, I could do it, but in the ring, it's different.

Stuff's different when you get in there. But I feel like there's so many moves that you now do off the top rope where you do then so seamlessly, so effortlessly. How do you build the courage up to stand up there? Because it doesn't maybe look that tall. You already see you got to stop. You don't build the courage up. You just got to go. You can't stop and think about it.

Because if you stop and you think about it for a second, the courage is going to go down. You know what I mean? The courage comes from when you're not thinking. You know what I mean? You got to use, I never do anything that I don't think is beyond my abilities. I try to stay within my capabilities. But so when I'm in there, it's literally like a split second decision, do it on the spot. Because the more you sit there and think about it, the more the courage is going to go down, at least in my experience.

So what's something that you do that looks so seamless? and so effortless, but when you actually hit it, it kind of does hurt. I mean, the 6.30, every single time, the 6.30, whether it's my neck or my back or something, it's usually, it's not,

I mean, it's a painful move for both people in the ring, absolutely. I feel like that. Actually, anything where you landing on someone, anything where you're landing on someone, it, I mean, it doesn't feel good when you're coming down. Like, I'm sure you see. seen Montez do the sprawl splash from the rafters.

Like, that hurts both of us. Or when I'm doing my shooting star, that's going to hurt both people, a little bit at least. I feel like, you know, the more you talk about this, I feel like the 630 is going to go the way of the double moon's salt. Please, we can't have that happen. No, no, that's like my spirit bomb. You know, Goku only throws that out when he needs, he needs it. So you already know this Saturday is SummerSlam live from

Detroit, it's Rickashay versus Logan Paul. And on the same night, it's Logan Paul's brother, Jake Paul, taking on perhaps his most difficult opponent yet in Nate Diaz. And you can bet on all of it at My Bookie. My Bookie is the premier place to bet on all combat sports. So we're talking boxing, UFC, and yes, WWE, you can bet on WWE at My Bookie. And when you make your first deposit, using my promo code, which is CVV, you'll get an additional 50% then welcome bonus. So throw in, say, $100. Well, now when you use that code CVV, you've got an additional 50 bucks, so $150 to bet on SummerSlam, Jake Paul versus Nate Diaz. And by the way, Jake Paul is a heavy favorite here. So if you think Jake Paul's going to get knocked out, bet on Nate Diaz and you can make yourself a little bit of money. It's all happening at mybooky.orgie.org, use that promo code, CVV. This episode is brought to you by Bluechew. And if you've ever been thinking, of trying Blue Chew, how about your first month for free? Yeah, when you use the promo code

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You just have to pay $5 for shipping. That's bluechew.com. The promo code is CVV. Speaking of Logan Paul, that Spanish fly that you guys did at Money in the Bank, that one looked like it hurt a lot. I mean, it all hurts a lot. But that's kind of why we do it. But that one especially hurt giving the circumstances at hand, absolutely. And this one that just happened on Raw where he's holding the camera off, like holding the phone up, selfie style and you super kick him in the face.

I feel like that's like an all-time highlight for both of you guys. Yeah, I mean, I'm sitting there doing my thing and he wants to come and attack me from behind, you know what I mean? But he only like, he hits me once. It had me rattled. Absolutely. I'm not going to even take anything away. He had me rattled for sure.

But then he just wants to get straight on this camera, like, and start, I don't know, talking smack. Like, I'm still right there, bro. Like, I'm not going to just let you sit there and talk smack. But it just happens that he. had a perfectly good shot of my shiny shoe going across his chin. It was, it was hilarious, hilarious. Yeah, the actual shot from his iPhone is it's so, it's so perfect.

And it's cool because I look really cool when like I would walk into the screen. And then I like, just look at him. Like, I look, I'm glad he did it, but good for him because it makes me look great. And the absolute perfect extension of your leg on that super kick, I saw someone reference this. As the Ned Flanders kick, do you know what I'm talking about? I think I know what you're talking about, yes. I was thinking 97 Sean Michaels. As soon as he turned around, I was thinking, okay, sorry, 97 Sean.

I think there's a lot of WWE fans that may just be familiar with your work now on the main roster. If they were to go and look at some of your best NXT stuff, where do they need to begin? man that that was such a good time for me that was such a good because honestly i get i feel like you could start anywhere because like everybody was everyone was good you know what i mean everybody that i was in there with was so good so it really helped me out a lot but i mean i guess if i had to point you somewhere first yeah probably the uh war games is one of them war games is great but that's a little long so that's like a long match so i mean probably me and alistair the Viking readers.

That was one of my favorites. That was one of my favorites. Me and Dreen was one of my favorites. Obviously, I would have to go, me and Adam Cole point you there first because just of what that match was and what it became. But also, like, me and Johnny was good. Me and Pete had a title for title match on the NXT TV taping one time. I think me, Pete, and Adam Cole had like a triple threat thing going one time. I think there's a bunch

There was a bunch of cool Like multi-man matches It was like me Riddle Adam Cole Alistair Like there was a It was like one crazy match That one was cool

Half-time E Remember halftime E? It was just like That was just a cool like Because it was only really like Maybe nine or ten months It wasn't very long That little bit of time

I just you know It was great When you did get called up To the main roster And you made your debut there Is there? Is there a part of you that was like, I know I've done so much here in NXT, but maybe people here aren't going to be familiar with me or familiar with my work. Were you nervous at all about that?

I wasn't actually even, I wasn't worried about that at all, not even because, oh, I think everyone's going to know me. Like, that just was, like, if you don't know me, you're about to know me. If you don't know me, you're going to find out very soon. So, like, that hasn't, that has never been, because I've always kind of like starting fresh. like, you know, like even on the independent scene, you know, start fresh, build your, your name value up until like a new bigger company sees you. Then you literally start at the bottom of this big company and then you work and then this other company. Then you go overseas and then you're starting at the bottom again, you know, you go to Japan or whatever. Like you always starting at the bottom until you build that rapport.

You build that, you know. And so I guess maybe that's kind of how I saw that as well. Like, if you didn't know me, then I guess you're going to know me soon enough because just watch. What was the like Genesis behind the name ricochet? Because it's very fitting for what you do. So when we first started, it was like this chaos pro wrestling. That's what was CPW.

That was our thing. And it was, I was training. I was like 14. We were training. We trained for like six months maybe. And then it was the day of our big show, our first match. It was me and my two friends, and we had started at the same time. We were training the same time.

And they're asking our names, what are your names going to be? And I had like a list of names that I wanted. But I wanted like a two name, like a John Cena. You know what I mean? Something like that. But I just couldn't think of anything that I liked. I couldn't think of anything that I liked. I had a ricochet down.

I had a couple of other things. but also at the time, like, the show Mutu-Lucho was very popular, and so Rickin She was a character, so, like, I didn't want to just pick that either because I knew people were going to put the two together, and that's not where I got it from. Anyways, we get to the day, and he asked one of my friends, one guy was, like, Blue Cat, like, Kana Azul or something.

And then the next guy, they were like, what's your name? He was like, I haven't thought of one. And then, like, okay, you're going to be Kevin. And then they, like, looked around, and, like, they saw one of the cats walk by, And the cat's name was Hobbs from like, you know, Calvin and Hobbs is a little strip. So he's like, so you're going to be Kevin and they're like, Hobbs, you're Kevin Hobbs.

And he was like, oh, I don't want to be Kevin Hobbs. And he didn't pick a name. Sorry, that's what you're going to be? And then they got to me. They're like, what's your name? And I said, I don't want to be fucking Kevin Hobbs. I don't want to be Kevin Hobbs. So I said, I was the kind of thing.

I just said, Ricketts. Because Rickashay goes with, I said, I know I do flips. I know I do. like high-flying stuff. So I feel like R ricochet fits like the name.

So I just said Rickett because I didn't want to be Kevin Hobbs. So I didn't want them to pick some random name so I just settled with Rickett. And then since then, now I love that it's a one

vital name. I like that it's different. I like that it's, yeah, it's different. It's something that will stand out in a group of names. I feel like. And it also,

So like you said, it does fit what I do inside the ring. Yeah, like if someone's never seen one of your matches and you go, you need to watch this guy named Rickashire, they go, oh, I think I get it. I think I know what he's all about. Yeah, yeah. So I really, now that I've gone through all of it, I really enjoy the name now and I really like that it's something different. The United States Soccer Federation present the U.S. Soccer Podcast.

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Hosting the World Cup on the home soil comes with its pressures, but we're just really excited just as the people are. The U.S. Soccer Podcast, presented by Henko. Follow and listen on your favorite platform. Congratulations on your recent engagement. And I want to take it back. Talk us through the first time that you and Samantha Matt. Actually, I went to see her in Vegas because she used to perform out here.

She did like Circular Soleil, and she did like, she did a bunch of cool, like, production shows out here. But we actually started on Twitter. She added me on Twitter and we started talking. But I flew out to see her, and we were hanging, like, we flew out. And then when I landed, we didn't have anything planned. And so we were just driving around Vegas. I'm looking around Vegas because, you know, I've never even really been to Vegas before. it's so pretty.

And she's like, so we're trying to figure out what we want to do. What's what's going on? And she says, do you want to go to the Great Canyon? And I'm thinking from Vegas to the Great, I'm assuming it's not a very far trip. Yeah. You know, I'm assuming because also it was probably like eight o'clock at night because I had just landed and we went and got some food and we spent talk for a little bit, you know. So I said, sure, yeah, absolutely. Like, how far away is it?

She's like, I think it's like four hours. And I'm like, it's just in a different state, you know. I was like, sure, yeah, let's go. Like, absolutely. And so literally like eight, nine o'clock at night, we just take off for the Grand Canyon. I think we stop at Kingsman, Arizona. I think that's where we stop, like halfway, you know, that next morning. I don't think she said, I saw a Cracker Barrow.

I love Cracker Barrel. And I don't think she says she ever been to a Cracker Barrow before. And I said, oh, we got to go. It's so good. And if she asked, she says she hasn't been in a long, long time. I said, so we got to go. So that was kind of our real first date was like meeting at a cracker barrel where we really sat down and talked.

It was so funny because the waitress, I guess she thought we had been together for a long time. And then we were like, oh, no, this is actually our first date. And she was like, what? She goes, oh, you guys have just been sitting here. She goes, I thought you guys would have been together for a long time. And they were like, oh, no, thank you so much. So, like, from day one, it's just been like, from day one, it's been like,

I don't know. Perfect, I want to say. Nobody's perfect, but like we are perfect. That is a hell of a first date. Vegas to Cracker Barrel on the way to the Grand Canyon. And then our first photo together is like us standing together in front of the Grand Canyon. Jeez. Wow. You already throw it down from there now, you know?

I mean, seriously, that's insane. No, but since then it's just been great, man. Every day's just been like, great. before I let you go here there was something that happened during the Money in the Bank ladder match where I was like only ricochet could pull this off

and it's where you dive through the ladder and then over the top row and then to the outside is that something you just look at and go of course I can pull that off I think it's something that I look at and I go I think I can do that and then in the moment

you just got to go for it it's literally there's no like practice really there's no but i mean obviously you get the big i think it was like a 12 foot ladder so it was a huge ladder and um but but where the i guess the braces cross that little triangle is actually i mean it's pretty big i actually clipped my elbow though i still have like a cut on my elbow oh because like when i when i jump through i just clipped my elbow a little bit But it's just one of those things where you got to like, you see somebody out there, you think you can do it. And you just got to, again, don't think about it.

You just got to go for it. You're like a real life superhero. I'm actually really curious. Who is your favorite superhero? My favorite, it has like, my list is like changed over the years. But I think consistently, Peter Parker is my favorite superhero, Spider-Man, like, since I've been like a kid, I feel like, especially when I was younger and I used to read the comics and watch the old cartoon.

Like I could relate to a kid going to school, trying to be a super heat like type thing. So Peter Parker has always been one of my favorites. And then the Flash, I'm a big fan of the Flash. That's the Barry Allen. I like Jerry Allen. That seems fitting. And then recently over there's like characters like All Might and stuff. He's up there for me.

A couple of like those guys. Obviously Goku has been up there. I don't know if Goku counts. It's just like a superhero, but just our inspirations. I'll be in the gym working out. I was like, okay, go could we do another one. And I literally like do another sack because Goku would do one. That's how I kind of like push myself.

I do. Man. So I think I asked you this at WrestleMania, but I'm going to ask you it again. I end every interview talking about gratitude. What are three things in your life right now that you're grateful for? I am grateful for. I want to say Sam, but I think I may have said Sam last time. I think she should still make the list.

I mean, come on. I think she should still make the list because every day I like, I don't like say a prayer, but every day I do like think, I think her, I think her just for being her every day. I am grateful for my family, which I have now, as I've gotten older, when I was younger, we weren't really like a connected family like saying, I love you and hugging. We always hung out.

We always did stuff, but we never did that. But now we are more talkative and we more we get together and we, it's better now. And, man, I have some of the best, like, friends now and now brothers. Like, I could have ever asked for. So when I just talk about me and say I'm getting married and I'm trying to think of, like, my best man and my, like, my grooms been, like, thinking about. the guys in my life that's really helped me get to where I'm at now and be who I am now. Like, thinking about those guys, I'll text them.

I just text one of them the other day. I said, man, love you. I just think you're a big part of my life and you're a rig, recent I'm here. So I think those are probably three things that I. I love that. And now older, thankful for it. Yeah, I love that, man. It's so good to be able to catch up with you.

And look forward to seeing you and Logan Paul and what you guys can fall off. It's up. Can't wait, just mess with this dumb face. All right, man. Thank you so much. No problem. Thank you.

Okay, there we go, my friends. What a first date, right? Flying into Las Vegas, you end up at the Grand Canyon with a stop at Cracker Barrel on the way. The pancakes at Cracker Barrel. So good. They do this thing where they're like a little bit like

kind of crispy on the outside. Then you bite into them and it's all soft on the inside. And it's all soft on the inside. And, oh, come on. If you've had pancakes. pancakes at Cracker Barrow, you know what I'm talking about. And if you've never had pancakes at Cracker Barrel, my friend, you are missing out. If you happen to live in a place where they don't have Cracker Barrow, the next time you're in a city that has Cracker Barrow, do yourself a favor. And they have breakfast all day long.

So it's not like you have to go there early just to get the pancakes. They have breakfast all day long. But it's so good to be able to spend some time with Rickettsay. Man, he is so talented. And I love that he's getting the rub right now that he deserves, like seeing him cut a promo on Raw, like, you know, one dude in the ring with the microphone in hand addressing the crowd. That's a big spot to be in. And I don't know if enough people are talking about the fact that WWE is putting that much confidence in him to be able to have one of the biggest matches at one of the biggest paper views of the year here at SummerSlam against one of their fastest rising, one of their certainly most well-known stars outside of the wrestling world in Logan.

Paul. So that's a big thing. And I hope that this leads to a bunch more. We know they're going to show out at SummerSlam. We know this is going to be one of the best matches in the card, but I can't wait to see what happens after this for both of them, actually. Logan Paul on a high right now, Rickashay riding this high. So I can't wait. Please take a screenshot. Let us know that you're listening to this episode and tag us. He's at King Rickashay. I am at Chris Van Vleet. If you're not already following the show, please take a second right now to follow the show. Man, it's pretty crazy. Or one of the biggest wrestling podcasts in the world right now. And it's all thanks to you. I'll leave you with the words of Mark Twain. We got a lot of Mark Twain quotes on the show. That man is just so insightful. Yes, pun intended.

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer someone else up. And I know there's someone listening to this right now that needed to hear that. So there you go. Be great. Be great. and we will see you on the next one for some more insight. And I'll see you in Detroit if you happen to be there for SummerSlam. Jim Rome takes on sports.

Why? Because I have a job to do with rapid fire takes. So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs on this notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. the spitfire of sports smack.

Ticket manage you of it, get up in here. The Jim Rome show podcast. What's your beef? Follow and listen on your favorite platform. You've been warned.