Ricky Saints isn’t rolling his eyes at wrestling tribalism — in fact, he thinks parts of it are actually kind of cool.
During an appearance on the Battleground Podcast on March 3, 2026, the conversation turned to the fan tribalism between wrestling promotions. The host admitted he’s fed up with how intense things can get online, especially when fans turn brand loyalty into personal drama.
“The thing that drives me crazy as a wrestling fan is this — why can’t wrestling fans just be fans of wrestling? Why does it have to be, ‘Oh, if you like this, I can’t be your friend,’ or ‘If you like that, I can’t support you’? Tribalism sucks.”
Saints didn’t deny it gets heated — but instead of condemning it, he compared it to something everyone understands: football rivalries. Saints laughed and used it to make his point.
“Well, I mean, you’re a Titans fan, right? See, I’m a Saints fan, so it’s like I can’t be your friend. You’re going to have that in every aspect of life.”
But Saints also acknowledged why it feels worse today. He pointed the finger squarely at social media, saying everything is amplified now compared to past eras. The former NXT Champion explained:
“I think it feels more sensitive and touchy now because we’re all on social media, so everything is more saturated.”
Then he flipped the script. According to Saints, once you step outside the Twitter bubble and walk into a live arena, the supposed “war” between fanbases doesn’t look nearly as dramatic. In fact, Saints actually appreciates the passion behind it all and thinks tribalism can be cool. Instead of seeing tribalism as purely toxic, he views it as proof that fans are emotionally invested.
“But when you actually go out to live events, like in Nashville, no one cared. There were people who were fans of me from AEW, people who were fans of me from NWA, and people who are fans of me now. They all mesh. They all share a common ground. I do think it’s kind of cool, to a certain degree, that people feel such ownership and stake in a specific company or wrestler. I like that passion. If you don’t have passion for your team, then what are you doing, you know?”
For Saints, that fire is part of what makes wrestling fun. Rivalries, loyalty, and a little bit of competitive edge? That’s energy. As long as it doesn’t cross the line, he sees tribalism less as a problem — and more as a sign that fans actually care.
So what do you think — is wrestling tribalism a toxic problem, or is Ricky Saints right that it’s part of what makes fandom exciting? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s hear where you stand.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.