After this week’s Friday Night SmackDown concluded, WWE introduced a new titleholder as Andrade triumphed over Ricochet to secure the Speed Championship. The Speed Championship, initiated earlier this year, permits male superstars from all three WWE brands to vie for the title in matches with a strict five-minute time restriction, showcased on X/Twitter.
The inception of the Speed Championship traces back to the tapings in April 2024, where Ricochet emerged as the first-ever Speed Champion, overcoming Johnny Gargano in the final showdown. However, the conclusion of this week’s SmackDown saw the end of Ricochet’s reign as the inaugural Speed Champion, as Andrade, a 35-year-old wrestler, seized the title from him.
Andrade (Via WWE/Twitter)
In a surprising turn of events during the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble Match, Andrade made a comeback to the Stamford-based company as an unexpected participant. Subsequently, he found himself entangled in a narrative with Dominik Mysterio, initially forming an alliance with the former NXT North American Champion and the Legado Del Fantasma group. Nevertheless, Andrade’s allegiance shifted as he betrayed Dominik, transitioning into a fan-favorite role.
At WrestleMania XL, Andrade joined forces with Rey Mysterio to overcome the duo of Dominik and Santos Escobar, marking a significant victory. Presently, he is embroiled in an ongoing storyline with Legado Del Fantasma, as Angel endeavors to recruit the 34-year-old superstar into the faction. Meanwhile, Ricochet is engaged in a separate narrative on Monday Night RAW, entangled with Ilja Dragunov and Bron Breakker in a compelling storyline.
