Ricky Sosa has taken TNA by storm and emerged one of the most popular talents on the roster. For the charismatic 21-year-old, the momentum continues to build for the company coming off of Lockdown and entering Bound for Glory season. The Dutch-born Belgian couldn’t ask for a better experience so far.
Getting the fans behind me was great as well,” Sosa said, reflecting on his debut in March. “I didn’t expect to have that big of a pop when I came in.
Working Thursday nights on a big platform like AMC for the flagship iMPACT! came with a learning curve working shows and pay-per-views.
The first times when I did all these tapings and stuff, I was so nervous, but with the time, you get used to it,” he said. “Then you’re starting to have little advices, and once you get comfy with what you’re doing, you can apply the advice. Working TV was all new. I’ve never done that in my life…I feel the progress every time I go there, but yeah it was all new to me. All these cameras, the big venues and stuff, so it has been great.”
The newcomer feels grateful to sit under the learning tree of the veterans of the locker room. Among them Among them has been the likes of Moose, Eddie Edwards, Eric Young, and Dango. The latter gave him some of his best advice.
It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it,” Sosa said, sharing the pearls of wisdom given to him by the now retired star. “I like that because you can do whatever you want in the ring. If the way you do it is different, it’s going to make you different from everybody. So, I like that advice because you can use it for everything. If you do your entrance differently, you’re going to be different. If you do some moves differently, you’re going to be different. If you have different facial expressions, you’re going to be different from everybody. That’s the kind of advice that I really like the most.”
Sosa has also leaned on Leon Slater with the two sharing similar journeys. Barely able to drink in the States or even rent a car (Sosa says he uses Uber on his travels), the they’ve formed a bond built on mutual respect. Even though the dynamic duo have been teaming up in recent weeks, Sosa names Slater as one of the opponents he’d like to face on a big stage like Bound for Glory.
You see someone that is kind of in the same position as me. Someone that is labeled as the future of this business. He has been around for three or four years, so he is a guy that I can ask questions to. We’ve met before, so we kind of knew each other. So, it’s great to not be the only guy that has the same path.”
Another new addition in 2026 to TNA’s youth movement has been Avery Styles, who just signed with the promotion. The 19-year-old son of AJ Styles doesn’t have much experience, but Sosa could see a bright future for him.
I’ve had the chance to talk with him when he signed, and on the last tapings as well,” Sosa said. “It’s great for him. I’m happy for him…The fact of being in TNA with all these veterans and all these guys that worked with his dad, he’ll be able to learn and grow. I’m pretty sure he’s going to be big, very big, very soon. I’m glad to share the locker room with him. Also, it feels great to have a lot of young talents where we can all grow together. So it’s great.
Styles’ signing generated a polarizing reaction. However, Sosa remains confident he’ll find his way with more matches under his belt.
I feel like fans will love him,” Sosa said. “Of course, there’s always a feeling that you have to prove that you’re worthy of it. I’m pretty sure he is going to do well.”
As for Sosa, his star continues to shine. He has enjoyed all the first experiences while in TNA traveling across the United States. The wrestler was able to enjoy a New York slice of pizza, Chicago hot dog, and overall get a chance to explore where he might want to set up some roots with plans to make a big move. Sosa looks forward to trying some Texas barbeque and maybe picking up a cowboy hat and some boots when TNA heads to San Antonio, Texas for two nights of TV on September 24 and 25.Though one painful first came at Lockdown when he competed in his first cage match as part of Lethal Lockdown. He still summed it up as a good experience.
I was so proud of myself. So happy. And being a young Belgian wrestler, traveling all around the world to do that was such a great thing for me,” Sosa said of the big pay-per-view appearance. “I still feel like I don’t realize it, but I really had a great time.
Sosa plans to show up and show out when it comes to Bound for Glory on October 11. Then the sky is the limit as he wants to one day see TNA go on a full-fledged tour of Europe with him featured on the card performing in front of many fans who watched his rise. He is proud to represent the company and stand by it when others like Grayson Waller say disparaging things about it.
It’s like a family,” Sosa said of the atmosphere of the locker room. “Everybody loves everybody, Everybody talks to everybody…You feel security ,and it’s good.
Fans in the USA can watch Thursday Night iMPACT! in its home of AMC and AMC+. iMPACT also airs on Sportsnet 360 in Canada and TNA+ worldwide.
