WWE stars donate thousands to colleague ‘terminated’ after furious social media posts hit out at ‘brutal’ move
Axed WWE Brit Ridge Holland has reportedly had his contract terminated after controversial social media posts aimed at the company.
The former NXT UK star, real name Luke Menzies, announced last month that his deal would not be renewed, while he recovered from a serious neck injury.
In a statement on X, he wrote: “I’ve been informed that WWE will not be renewing my contract when it ends on November 14th. WWE are still going to cover my rehab from injury but my guaranteed pay will end, quite frustrating to say the least as I cannot work for another 6 months due to the aforementioned injury, with a family of 5 to support.”
He continued: “My career with WWE has been blighted by misfortune but I’m still thankful and grateful for the opportunity and experience. The shining light that has always kept me going is the HUGE support from a handful of special human beings. Thank you.”
At the time, Holland’s tone appeared calm and reflective, as he said he planned to heal up and launch “my own online coaching business…..so stay tuned.”
That changed this week. In a new series of posts, Holland wrote: “I never thought I’d not be able to pay my mortgage.” He added: “I feel like I’ve just been hung out to dry after getting injured working for another company on behalf of WWE. Add to that my contract not being renewed knowing that I wouldn’t be able to wrestle for 7 months. This is brutal.”
He went on to say WWE were “taking care of the surgery and physical therapy but let’s be honest, that’s the bare minimum after what we sacrifice for the company,” before mentioning the “possibility of having to get my neck fused too.” Holland closed the post by saying, “Talk about getting totally f*****.”
Ridge Holland’s contract scrapped after furious online outburst
According to Fightful Select, WWE sources confirmed that Menzies’ deal has now been terminated early. The report stated that “the word within WWE was that they considered some of his recent posts a breach and the call was made to release him from his deal early.”
It added that the deal had been due to run until mid-November and strongly suggested that he would not be paid for the remaining period. His rehab, however, will still reportedly be covered, as required for injuries sustained while under contract.
It marks a difficult end to a stop-start WWE run. A former professional rugby league forward, Menzies joined the company in 2018 and became part of the Brawling Brutes alongside Butch and Sheamus on SmackDown.
Injuries hampered his progress, including this latest neck issue sustained in late September that is expected to keep him out until 2026.
He was never far from headlines during his tenure, most notably following the accident that left Big E with a broken neck in 2022. The incident was a traumatic moment for both men, with Holland expressing remorse and Big E later giving public updates on his recovery.
Nevertheless, the fallout cast a long shadow over Holland’s on-screen work, and online abuse became a recurring problem. The star was often hit with social media criticism despite a clear and obvious lack of intent on his part to cause his fellow wrestler any harm.
That history, coupled with the frustration of another long lay-off, perhaps explains the emotion behind this week’s posts, but it doesn’t appear to change how such comments are perceived inside WWE. Public criticism of the company, especially during ongoing medical treatment, is rarely received well.
Stars have nonetheless rallied. WWE names Chelsea Green and Omos are among those to have pledged to a GoFundMe set up in support of Holland which has already raised over $8,000 in its first few hours.
Online some called the reported move to axe the superstar early “petty” on WWE’s behalf, many countered to suggest the outcome was to be expected after such public criticism. In response to one such comment, another user replied: “Talk badly about your employer on social media and see how that works out.”
Axed British WWE wrestler set for next move after controversial exit
From a business standpoint, WWE’s decision aligns with the report’s description of how the situation was viewed internally. For Holland, the result is another setback at a time when recovery was already his main focus.
If the early release stands, he now faces months of rehabilitation and uncertainty. His planned coaching venture could be the first step toward rebuilding beyond WWE.
For all the setbacks, Menzies still leaves with high-level experience and a story that’s far from finished, noting via X on Wednesday that he’s now available “effective immediately” for appearances.
His latest twist, however, serves as a reminder that in professional wrestling, as in any workplace, airing frustration publicly can have consequences.
