AEW's Ricochet Cites Action Star Among His Inspirations

AEW/Ricky Mavlik

Professional wrestlers aren’t just inspired to step into the ring by other wrestlers, influences can come from a variety of places. Whether it’s their favorite comic books, their favorite movies, or even their favorite musicians, a wrestler’s DNA is much more closely tied than some people realize.

AEW star Ricochet, who recently appeared on “The Masked Man Show,” was asked about the inspirations that led him to become one of the best wrestlers of his generation. The former WWE star cited several influences, but one of his biggest influences, both in life and in wrestling, is not a wrestler, but one of the greatest action stars in cinema history.

“One of my biggest inspirations in life is Jackie Chan,” Ricochet said. “The whole thing is, if I can get in a wrestling ring, that’s obviously where I’m going to focus, and I’m not the biggest guy in the world. So it’s not like I can be like (Powerhouse) Hobbs, or like Bobby Lashley, who’s going to come and destroy people. So I have to do somersaults and tricks and be a little bit Jackie Chan with my offense. But it’s just something that I’ve always been able to do, so if you can add that to it and make it a spectacle, then yeah, you have to do it.”

Ricochet also named those who inspired him in the wrestling world, including Rey Mysterio and the cruiserweights of WCW, Jushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask of New Japan Pro Wrestling, as well as early independent wrestlers like AJ Styles, Matt Sydal, Jack Evans and The Amazing Red.

Please credit “The Masked Man Show” when using quotes from this article, and send a H/T to Wrestling Inc. for transcription.