Luke Menzies, known to WWE fans as Ridge Holland, has openly discussed the reasons behind his release from WWE in early 2026. During an appearance on The Mike Rand Show, Menzies revealed that his departure resulted from public statements on social media that breached company policies. He attributed these comments to personal frustrations and a difficult mental state, explaining that he used social media as an unhealthy way to cope with his struggles.
Yeah, just pure frustration for myself, going through a little bit of issues, some mental issues I want in a good place. And I’d advise any young wrestler to stay off Twitter, stay off social media. Don’t vent on social media. And I just, I didn’t really have anyone to vent to. So it was more or less a coping mechanism, the wrong one, and the company did what the company should have done. You know, I went on online and disparaged the company, right or wrong. In the company’s eyes, it was wrong, and they took the decision upon themselves to terminate my contract fairly, you know, my responsibility, and I’ll take full ownership.
— Luke Menzies, Ridge Holland, The Mike Rand Show
Career Challenges in NXT and Impact of Injuries
Prior to his release, Menzies experienced a challenging period in NXT where he felt his professional growth had stagnated. After returning to a rugby-inspired gimmick to revitalize his character, he also participated in a match against Mike Santana within the WWE-TNA partnership framework. Menzies suggested that an injury sustained during a bout with Moose could have influenced WWE’s decision from a business perspective, considering his injury history weighed against his overall value to the company.
Addressing the Controversial GoFundMe Campaign
Following his WWE release, a GoFundMe fundraiser was created on Menzies’ behalf, which sparked controversy. He clarified that the campaign was initiated without his knowledge by a family member overseas trying to offer assistance during a difficult time. While he acknowledged the financial help was beneficial during a challenging patch for his family, Menzies emphasized that he was not fully supportive of the fundraiser, due in part to a lack of context surrounding its launch and online misinterpretations.
I mean, the GoFundMe was set up against, like, under my own, not under my nose, like behind my back, as it were, from a family member that was concerned. Obviously, we’re having a little bit of trouble here and there. So it all stemmed from somebody trying from overseas a family, but trying to do the best and trying to do the right thing and trying to help, and that’s how it came about. And it’s like anything, anything that gets posted online, sometimes it misses context, and people misconstrue it, and they like to stick knives in. And when they do not fall, spray off the door, they have, they have their own ideas and their own opinions, and then it just gains traction and negativity on social media breeze like wildfire. So it was something I didn’t want to happen. I didn’t want it to happen. It did. The funds that came from it really helped, like, got us to a real sticky patch. So I’m grateful. But at the same time, it wasn’t something that I was truly behind.
— Luke Menzies, Ridge Holland, The Mike Rand Show
What Ridge Holland’s Departure Means for WWE and His Future
Ridge Holland’s WWE termination underscores the challenges wrestlers face balancing personal struggles with professional expectations, especially regarding social media conduct. His admission of full responsibility signals a rare openness in the wrestling industry about mental health and public expression. Moving forward, this situation may encourage WWE to enhance support systems for talent dealing with mental health issues and reinforce clear guidelines on communication outside the ring. For Menzies, this turning point offers an opportunity to reassess his path both personally and professionally, potentially leading to a comeback in wrestling or other ventures once he regains stability.
