In a storyline twist faster than a politician backtracking on promises, Ricochet, the inaugural WWE Speed Champion, is set to defend his title against Tyler Bate. As reported by Wrestling Headlines, Bate clinched this opportunity by defeating Apollo Crews, who stepped in for the injured Ivar, in the finals of the latest Speed Tournament during last week’s “WWE SmackDown” taping. Now, Bate and Ricochet are ready to clash on the next episode of “WWE Speed.”
For those not in the loop, “Speed” is a high-octane collaboration between WWE and X (the artist formerly known as Twitter). This innovative partnership, announced in February 2024, brings fans short-form matches every Wednesday exclusively on the social media platform. Although officially launched this year, WWE had been test-driving this rapid-fire concept since last year.
If Bate snags the Speed Championship, it’ll be his first title since moving up to WWE’s main roster. But don’t let that fool you; he’s no stranger to gold. Bate was a Triple Crown Champion on “NXT UK” and held the NXT Tag Team Championship with Trent Seven. Nowadays, he’s been tearing it up on the main roster with Pete Dunne as the New Catch Republic, a name that’s almost as catchy as their moves.
While neither Ricochet nor Bate have publicly commented on their upcoming showdown, insiders are buzzing that their electrifying styles promise a match more thrilling than a caffeine-fueled rollercoaster ride. Stay tuned for what promises to be an edge-of-your-seat title bout on the next episode of “WWE Speed.”