Look, if you’ve spent any time watching professional wrestling over the last decade, you've seen him. You know the guy. He’s the one who seems to ignore the laws of gravity as if they were merely a suggestion rather than a fundamental rule of physics. When people ask what do I know Ricochet for, the answer usually starts with a clip of a double-rotation moonsault or a 630 senton that looks physically impossible for a human being to execute without breaking every bone in their body.
But there is a lot more to Trevor Mann—the man behind the Ricochet moniker—than just being a human highlight reel.
His career is a weird, winding road that goes from the high school gyms of Kentucky to the Tokyo Dome and eventually to the bright lights of WWE and AEW. It’s a story of a performer who redefined what "high flying" actually means in the modern era. People used to think Rey Mysterio or Rob Van Dam were the ceiling. Then Ricochet showed up and moved the ceiling to the moon.
The King of Flight Before the Big Leagues
Long before he was a household name, Ricochet was tearing it up on the independent circuit. If you’re digging into what do I know Ricochet from in his early days, you're likely thinking of his legendary run in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) or Dragon Gate. This was an era where he was known as the "King of Flight," and honestly, the name fit. He was doing things in 2010 that most wrestlers still can't do in 2026.
I remember watching his matches against guys like El Generico (who you now know as Sami Zayn) and being genuinely terrified for his safety. There was a specific flow to his matches—a mix of frantic athleticism and a weirdly calm poise. He wasn't just flipping; he was wrestling at a pace that made everyone else look like they were moving through molasses.
His time in Dragon Gate Japan is actually where he really polished the "Ricochet" style. He became the first "gaijin" (foreigner) to win the Open the Brave Gate Championship. That’s not just a footnote. It’s a huge deal in a culture that takes its junior heavyweight wrestling incredibly seriously. He wasn't just a circus act. He was a champion.
Prince Puma and the Lucha Underground Boom
If you recognize the movement but not the face, you might be thinking of Lucha Underground. This is a huge part of the what do I know Ricochet puzzle. For three seasons, he wrestled under a mask as Prince Puma. He was the focal point of the entire show, the inaugural Lucha Underground Champion, and arguably the greatest "silent" protagonist in wrestling history.
Working under the mask forced him to tell stories with his body. Since he didn't talk much as Puma, every tilt of the head or slump of the shoulders mattered. It was cinematic. It was gritty. It proved that he could carry a brand on his back, even if he wasn't the one holding the microphone. Many fans still argue that Prince Puma was the best version of Ricochet because it leaned into his strengths—pure, unadulterated physical storytelling—while masking his perceived weaknesses in promo delivery.
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The WWE Era: Highs, Lows, and Mid-Card Limbo
Then came the jump to WWE in 2018. It started hot. Like, scorching hot. His debut in NXT was exactly what everyone wanted. The match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn IV against Adam Cole is still a masterclass. You know the spot—the one where Adam Cole superkicked him out of mid-air while he was attempting a moonsault. It's a clip that has been looped millions of times on social media.
When he moved to the main roster, things got... complicated.
He won the United States Championship. He won the Intercontinental Championship. He even won the inaugural Speed Championship. On paper, that looks like a Hall of Fame career. But if you talk to any hardcore fan, there’s a sense of "what if?" They see a guy who could have been the next Rey Mysterio—a true main-event underdog—but often found himself stuck in three-minute matches or lost in the shuffle of the creative team's weekly whims.
The reality is that WWE's system is built on a specific type of charisma. While Ricochet is a physical genius, the "sports entertainment" side of the business requires a level of character work that often felt secondary to his in-ring prowess. This lead to a disconnect. You’d see him do something incredible, the crowd would go wild, and then he’d lose a match in five minutes to a powerhouse. It was frustrating to watch.
Why Ricochet's Style Changed the Industry
It's easy to dismiss him as a "flipper," but that’s a lazy take. What Ricochet did was integrate "tricking" and parkour into the traditional lucha libre framework. He made the moves look effortless.
When you ask what do I know Ricochet for in terms of technical skill, you have to look at his core strength. To do a 630 senton, you don't just jump high. You need insane abdominal strength to tuck and rotate at that speed. He brought a level of athleticism to the ring that forced everyone else to level up. Suddenly, being a "flyer" wasn't enough; you had to be an athlete.
The 2024 Shift to AEW
Everything changed in 2024. After months of speculation and a pretty brutal "write-off" on WWE TV—where Bron Breakker basically slammed him into a car—Ricochet made the jump to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). His debut at All In at Wembley Stadium was one of those moments that reminded everyone why they liked him in the first place.
In AEW, the shackles are mostly off. He's back to wrestling 20-minute bangers with guys like Will Ospreay. If you want to know what do I know Ricochet for now, it's the rivalry with Ospreay. Their matches in New Japan Pro Wrestling years ago literally broke the internet. Critics like Jim Cornette hated it, calling it "choreographed dance," while fans of the modern style called it the future of the business. Seeing them recreate that magic on a global stage in the mid-2020s has been a full-circle moment for the industry.
Common Misconceptions About His Career
Let's clear some stuff up because people get things wrong about him all the time.
- He can't talk: People say he’s bad on the mic. Honestly? He’s fine. He’s not The Rock, but he’s a believable, babyface athlete. In the right environment, he doesn't need to give a 15-minute monologue.
- He's too small: At 5'9", he’s definitely not a giant. But in today's wrestling, size matters way less than "pop." Ricochet gets a bigger reaction than guys twice his size because he does things those guys can't even dream of.
- He only does flips: If you watch his New Japan work, specifically his matches against KUSHIDA, you’ll see some incredible mat wrestling. He’s a complete package, but the flips are what sell the tickets, so that’s what he leads with.
The Legacy of the "One and Only"
What’s the actual impact here? It's the kids in training schools right now who are trying to mimic his rotation. It's the way wrestling is filmed—cameramen have had to learn how to track his movement because he moves faster than the standard zoom.
He proved that an independent darling could make it to the biggest stage in the world without changing who he was. He didn't become a comedy act (mostly). He didn't change his name to "Shorty G" or something equally ridiculous. He stayed Ricochet. He stayed the guy who could fly.
How to Follow Ricochet's Current Journey
If you’ve lost track of him and want to get back into the loop, here is the best way to catch up. Don't just watch the highlights; watch the full matches to see the pacing.
- Watch the Ospreay vs. Ricochet series: Start with their 2016 Best of the Super Juniors match and then find their AEW encounters. It’s the definitive look at his evolution.
- Go back to Lucha Underground: Find the Prince Puma vs. Mil Muertes matches. It’s a completely different vibe—dark, supernatural, and heavy.
- Check out his NXT North American Championship run: This was arguably his peak in the WWE system, where he was treated like a superstar every single week.
- Follow his AEW run: This is where he is currently rewriting his legacy and proving he’s more than just a mid-card champion.
When you think what do I know Ricochet for, don't just think about a guy who flips. Think about a guy who survived the grueling indie scene, conquered Japan, became a masked icon in a cult-classic TV show, and then successfully navigated the treacherous waters of the global wrestling giants. He’s a survivor as much as he is an acrobat.
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The next time you see him stand on the top rope, pay attention to his feet. The balance is unreal. Most of us trip over a flat rug, and this guy is preparing to launch himself 15 feet into the air, spin twice, and land perfectly on a moving target. That’s not just wrestling. That’s art.
Practical Steps for Fans
- Look for "hidden gems": Search for his match against Tyler Bate from NXT. It's often overlooked but shows his incredible technical range.
- Study his selling: Watch how he reacts after a big move. Part of why his offense works is because he makes his opponent's offense look absolutely devastating.
- Follow the transition: Keep an eye on his matches in AEW against technical wizards like Bryan Danielson or Konosuke Takeshita. These bouts are where the "real" Ricochet—the one who can do more than just fly—really shines through.