Ridge Holland Bio
Luke Menzies, known by his ring name Ridge Holland, is an English professional wrestler and former rugby league player, born on 29 May 1988 in Liversedge, England. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 120 kilograms, he is best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), where he performed from 2018 to 2025 under his adopted ring name. During his WWE tenure, he became a one-time NXT Tag Team Champion alongside Andre Chase as a member of Chase U. After his WWE release in late 2025, Menzies returned to the independent circuit and debuted for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) in September of the same year.
Before transitioning to professional wrestling, Menzies spent several years playing rugby league across English competitions and even joined the Toronto Wolfpack for their inaugural season. His athletic background, size, and physical style have defined his in-ring presence, allowing him to work as a hard-hitting brawler throughout his wrestling career.
Early Life and Background
Luke Menzies was born on 29 May 1988 in Liversedge, a town in West Yorkshire, England. Growing up in northern England, he developed a passion for sport at a young age, particularly rugby league, a sport with strong roots in the region. His imposing frame and natural athleticism became apparent during his teenage years, eventually leading him toward competitive team sports as a career path.
Menzies pursued rugby league professionally from a young age, signing with Hull Kingston Rovers in 2007 and making a single Super League appearance in 2008. Over the following years, he represented several lower-league clubs, including Batley Bulldogs, Oldham, Dewsbury Rams, Hunslet, and Swinton Lions. His longest tenure came with Salford Red Devils in 2014, though he also spent time on loan at York City Knights and Halifax. His final rugby league stop was the Toronto Wolfpack in 2017 for their debut campaign.
Path to Professional Wrestling
After spending more than a decade in rugby league, Menzies began preparing for a second career in professional wrestling. He trained under Welsh wrestler and coach Marty Jones, learning the fundamentals of in-ring work, character development, and the storytelling side of the business. He made his professional wrestling debut on 30 September 2017 on the British independent circuit.
Menzies built a name for himself quickly on the independent scene, working for promotions including 3 Count Wrestling, New Generation Wrestling, Tidal Championship Wrestling, Defiant Wrestling, and Southside Wrestling. In April 2018, he won the 3CW Championship by winning a four-way elimination match. Shortly afterward, he attended a WWE tryout in Scotland in November 2016, which led to a contract offer. He signed with WWE in May 2018 and relocated to the United States to begin training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.
Ridge Holland Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Luke Menzies launched his professional wrestling career on 30 September 2017, working under his real name on the British independent circuit. He competed for several well-known UK promotions and quickly gained attention for his size, strength, and rugby-league conditioning. His most notable independent accomplishment came on 21 April 2018, when he defeated El Ligero, Joseph Conners, and Rampage Brown to win the 3CW Championship.
His time on the British independent scene ended on 23 June 2018, when he wrestled his final match for Southside Wrestling against Gabriel Kidd. He vacated the 3CW Championship back to Rampage Brown as he prepared to move to the United States for his WWE opportunity.
WWE NXT and NXT UK (2018–2021)
Menzies signed with WWE in May 2018 and debuted at an NXT live event on 28 July 2018, defeating Mars Wang. His televised NXT debut came on 29 August 2018 in a losing effort to Keith Lee. On 21 November 2019, he debuted on the NXT UK brand under the ring name Ridge Holland, defeating Oliver Carter. After a brief stint on NXT UK, he returned to the main NXT brand in August 2020, qualifying for a ladder match opportunity at NXT TakeOver XXX.
At NXT TakeOver 31 on 4 October 2020, Holland turned heel by attacking Adam Cole after the main event, establishing a dominant villain persona. A week later, however, he suffered a serious injury during a match with Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch, tearing ligaments in his leg and knee, which sidelined him for nine months. He returned to NXT on 27 July 2021, aligning with Oney Lorcan and Pete Dunne. He made his final NXT appearance of that run in October 2021 before being drafted to SmackDown as part of the 2021 WWE Draft.
SmackDown and The Brawling Brutes (2021–2023)
Holland made his main roster in-ring debut on SmackDown in November 2021, forming an alliance with his idol, Sheamus. He defeated Cesaro in a December 2021 rematch, and on 1 January 2022 at Day 1, he and Sheamus defeated Cesaro and Ricochet in a tag team match. During that match, Holland suffered a broken nose that required mid-match removal. In March 2022, he and Sheamus introduced Pete Dunne under the new name Butch, forming the faction known as The Brawling Brutes.
The Brawling Brutes competed for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship and the NXT Tag Team Championship, facing teams like Imperium and The Usos. They defeated Imperium at Extreme Rules in a Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook match. On Night 2 of WrestleMania 38 on 3 April 2022, Holland and Sheamus defeated The New Day in a quick match. A serious incident occurred on 11 March 2022, when an overhead suplex from Holland to Big E at ringside resulted in Big E landing on his head, leading to a cervical injury that ended Big E’s in-ring career. Internal dissension grew in late 2023, and Holland walked out on Butch during a tag match, ending The Brawling Brutes run together.
Return to NXT and Chase U (2023–2025)
Holland returned to NXT on 19 December 2023, challenging Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship. In March 2024, he announced an indefinite hiatus from in-ring competition, but returned in April 2024 to attack Joe Gacy. Over the following months, he aligned with Andre Chase, joining the Chase U faction and becoming a key member of the group.
On 13 August 2024, Chase and Holland defeated Nathan Frazer and Axiom to become the new NXT Tag Team Champions, marking Holland’s first championship win in WWE. They lost the titles back to Frazer and Axiom at NXT No Mercy on 1 September 2024, ending their 19-day reign. After the loss, Holland viciously attacked Chase, defecting from Chase U and cementing his heel turn. He went on a vendetta against his former stablemates, defeating Andre Chase in an Ambulance match at NXT Halloween Havoc on 27 October 2024. He also earned an NXT Championship opportunity against Trick Williams at NXT Deadline on 7 December 2024, but failed to win the title. On 9 July 2025, Holland was moved to the NXT Evolve brand.
Style and Strengths
Ridge Holland’s in-ring style draws heavily on his rugby league background, emphasizing raw physicality, hard strikes, and power-based offense. His 6-foot-1 frame and 120-kilogram frame give him an imposing presence, and he frequently uses overhead suplexes, clubbing blows, and brutal striking exchanges to overwhelm opponents. His best work comes in brawling, street-fight style matches where his intensity and toughness can be showcased.
Notable Events and Milestones
Holland’s most talked-about moment came on 11 March 2022, when an accidental suplex to Big E on the ringside floor resulted in a serious cervical injury for Big E. His first championship gold came on 13 August 2024 as one half of the NXT Tag Team Champions with Andre Chase. His Ambulance match victory over Andre Chase at NXT Halloween Havoc 2024 stands as one of his most dramatic career wins.
Ridge Holland Career Wins
Ridge Holland has captured one recognized singles or tag championship during his WWE career, the NXT Tag Team Championship, won alongside Andre Chase in August 2024. He also briefly held the 3CW Championship on the British independent circuit in 2018 before vacating the title to join WWE.
NXT Tag Team Championship Highlights
Holland won the NXT Tag Team Championship on 13 August 2024, teaming with Andre Chase to defeat Nathan Frazer and Axiom. The reign lasted 19 days, with the title changing hands at NXT No Mercy on 1 September 2024. Although the run was short, it marked his first championship victory in WWE and the high point of his time in the Chase U faction.
Other Wins and Performances
On the British independent scene, Holland won the 3CW Championship in April 2018, defeating El Ligero, Joseph Conners, and Rampage Brown in a four-way elimination match. He returned to the independent circuit in 2025 after his WWE departure, and also made his TNA debut in September 2025, attacking Mike Santana before losing to him at Victory Road.
Ridge Holland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available details about Luke Menzies’ immediate family are limited. He is known to be English-born and raised in Liversedge, West Yorkshire, though specific information about his parents or siblings has not been widely published.
Personal Life
Luke Menzies is English by nationality and was raised in the rugby-league heartland of West Yorkshire. Limited verified information is publicly available regarding his marital status, spouse, or children.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year proved to be a turbulent one for Ridge Holland. After his betrayal of Chase U and feud with Andre Chase the previous year, he continued working on the NXT brand before being moved to the NXT Evolve brand on 9 July 2025. On 13 October 2025, Holland publicly announced that WWE would not be renewing his contract, ending a seven-year run with the company.
After venting on social media about feeling mistreated, Holland’s contract was terminated early on 5 November 2025, freeing him to pursue other opportunities. He quickly returned to the independent scene and made his TNA debut on 18 September 2025, attacking Mike Santana on iMPACT! before facing him in a losing effort at Victory Road.
Heading into the rest of 2025 and beyond, Holland is expected to continue his TNA run while also taking independent bookings, seeking to rebuild his career after his high-profile WWE departure.
