WWE Speed has crowned its first champion!
In December 2023, fans attending SmackDown tapings witnessed a new concept before the Friday night show went live on the air. Named “WWE Speed”, the show was built around short matches as all contests had a 5-minute time limit. During the WrestleMania press conference in February 2024, Michael Cole officially announced the first details for the new WWE show, confirming that it would air in the spring and would air exclusively on social media platform X.
The show featured performers wrestling with a three-minute time limit, and it was revealed in March that the winner of the tournament would be crowned the first-ever WWE Speed Champion.
The championship match came down to Johnny Gargano and Ricochet, who faced off in a special five-minute time limit match that aired on May 3rd. In the end, Ricochet emerged victorious and was crowned the WWE Speed Champion.
Ricochet Is Taking On All Comers As WWE Speed Champion
Speaking in a promo on WWE’s social media, the new champion addressed his title win and said the company had to create a new show so everyone could see more of him. He made it clear he’s willing to accept any challenge for his title, saying:
“You know it’s been a while since I’ve had some gold around my waist. What a pretty waist it is for a pretty title. Like I said out there, I told everybody the same way that The Rock was the most electrifying man, so much so that they had to give him his own show and they called it SmackDown, WWE thought the same about Ricochet.
They said Ricochet is one of the most polarizing characters, one of the most polarizing athletes in all of WWE, let’s give him his own show. We’ll call it Speed, because everyone needs to see a little more of the highlight of the night. Everybody needs to see a little more of the front runner, and what a front runner I am to be your new Speed Champion.
Whether it’s three minutes, whether it’s five minutes, whether it’s twenty minutes, people need to see Ricochet, and this shows that is nothing but the truth. So as long as I’m holding this title, I welcome anybody that wants to come challenge. Three minutes, you put everything you’ve got to the test. Three minutes, five minutes, you put everything that you have to the test. Let’s see if you can come take it from me.”
Congrats, @KingRicochet!!! @KingRicochet has made history as the first-ever #WWESpeed Champion! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/vfRPz9R35G
— WWE (@WWE) May 3, 2024
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