Ridge Holland

Luke Menzies, born 29 May 1988 in Batley, England, is a professional wrestler and former rugby league player. He is best known for his time in WWE as Ridge Holland, where he wrestled from 2018 to 2025. During his WWE run, he became a one-time NXT Tag Team Champion alongside Andre Chase. Before stepping into the squared circle, Menzies played rugby league in the Championship, with a single Super League appearance for Hull Kingston Rovers in 2008. He transitioned to pro wrestling in 2016, signing with WWE two years later. Over his career, he has appeared in roughly 200 matches across various promotions, with his WWE tenure spanning over 150 televised bouts.

What sets Menzies apart is his raw physicality and resilience. After a severe ankle injury ended his rugby career, he rebuilt himself from scratch in a new sport. His in-ring style is all power moves and intensity, earning him a reputation as a no-nonsense brawler. Fans appreciate his blue-collar work ethic and the way he channels his Yorkshire grit into every match. As of 2026, he competes on the independent circuit in the UK, staying true to his roots.[edit]

Batley, a mill town in West Yorkshire, shaped Menzies from the start. He attended Batley Grammar School and threw himself into sports, especially rugby league. By his late teens, he was playing for the Batley Bulldogs in the Championship, a level below the elite Super League. His big break came in 2008 when Hull Kingston Rovers called him up for a single Super League match. That one appearance was the high point of his rugby career.

But a devastating ankle injury changed everything. He needed multiple surgeries and faced a long, painful recovery. The injury forced him to retire from rugby. While working as a roofer and a support worker for adults with learning disabilities, he discovered a new path. A friend suggested he try professional wrestling. He attended a tryout and was scouted by WWE, leading him to the Performance Center in Orlando in 2016. He left his job, sold his car, and flew to Florida with nothing but a dream.[edit]

Menzies signed a WWE developmental contract in 2018 and adopted the name Ridge Holland, a nod to the Yorkshire landscape. He debuted on NXT television in September 2020, immediately standing out as a powerhouse. His first major push came in early 2022 when he teamed with Andre Chase. On the April 5 episode of NXT, they defeated The Creed Brothers to win the NXT Tag Team Championship. Their reign lasted 57 days, ending in June at the hands of Pretty Deadly.

After a brief stint on the main roster, appearing on SmackDown and Raw, he became involved in a controversial angle with Big E in March 2023. During a match, a belly-to-belly suplex went wrong, and Big E suffered a broken neck. The incident drew criticism and sidelined Big E indefinitely. Menzies continued wrestling but was released in January 2025 as part of WWE budget cuts. He quickly returned to the independent circuit, working for Revolution Pro Wrestling and other UK promotions. As of 2026, he remains active on the indies, occasionally hinting at a possible move into acting or commentary.[edit]

Ridge Holland's persona is all about brute strength and stoic intensity. In the ring, he wears black or grey trunks with minimal decoration, letting his physique do the talking. His signature move is the Northern Grit, a spinning spinebuster that often ends matches. He rarely smiles during promos, instead delivering short, menacing lines that reinforce his tough-guy image.

Media coverage has focused on his transition from rugby to wrestling and the Big E incident. Fans of hard-hitting wrestling appreciate his physical style, though his character never reached the top tier of popularity. His social media voice is professional and appreciative, mixing match announcements with training clips. He does not have an official fandom name, but his supporters often call themselves the Ridge Army informally. They admire his never-quit attitude and his ability to reinvent himself after injury.[edit]

Ridge Holland's legacy is defined less by a structured, cheering legion and more by the intense, often somber attention his career trajectory has drawn from the wrestling community. Unlike superstars with dedicated fan clubs or organized campaigns, Holland's audience remains part of the broader wrestling viewership, united by shared concern over his professional journey rather than a unified identity. There is no formal name for his supporters, nor are there documented rituals, birthday billboards, or charity drives specifically in his honor. His interaction with fans has shifted from standard professional fare to a period of public friction following his departure from WWE, where he became a vocal critic regarding financial support for medical expenses. This narrative arc has cemented his story as one of tragic resilience rather than traditional stardom. The iFANN Global Fame Engine evaluated Ridge Holland in August 2026 and determined that he currently holds no placement in the published rankings (Global Top 1,000 or a Top-100 scope list). While the world's media consumption signals and search data reflect significant interest in his unique transition from rugby to wrestling, these metrics have not yet translated into a quantifiable position within the global fame hierarchy.[edit]

Luke Menzies crafted his ring name by blending two distinct Yorkshire references: "Ridge" for the rolling hills and "Holland" for his specific hometown area. Before stepping into the squared circle, he worked as a roofer climbing in all weather conditions and spent time as a support worker for adults with learning disabilities, a role he credits with teaching him patience. His rugby career concluded after a severe ankle injury requiring multiple surgeries, and he remains a lifelong fan of the Leeds Rhinos. A lesser-known detail reveals he once appeared in a WWE video package as a fan before signing with the company. Beyond these facts, his legend is shaped by the verified incident where he accidentally caused a broken neck injury to Big E during a match, an event he says haunts him daily and effectively ended his WWE tenure. Following his release, a GoFundMe campaign emerged due to his financial struggles, leading to a public feud where he criticized WWE for failing to cover medical costs. Behind-the-scenes lore also includes the fact that his tag team was nearly named "Bloody Brutes" before management nixed it to avoid confusion with The Bloodline, and stories persist about him being the target of pranks by Vince McMahon and Bruce Prichard after the injury.[edit]

Menzies keeps his family life private. He was raised in Batley by parents who worked in local trades. He has not publicly named his parents or siblings. He is known to be close with his family and often returns to Batley between wrestling engagements. As of 2026, he is not married and has no children. He does not share details about his home or personal relationships in interviews or on social media.[edit]

Menzies' most notable partnership was with Andre Chase, with whom he won the NXT Tag Team Championship in 2022. He also shared the ring with Big E in a storyline that led to a serious injury. Behind the scenes, Shawn Michaels was a key mentor during his NXT run.[edit]

Ridge Holland has kept his romantic life entirely private. There are no publicly confirmed relationships, marriages, or engagements. He has never been linked to any partner in a dating capacity. In interviews, he avoids personal questions, preferring to focus on wrestling. As of 2026, he is single with no known partner.[edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Ridge Holland's net worth stands at $1 Million as of 2026. His primary income source was his WWE salary, where he earned between $150,000 and $250,000 annually during his main roster years. Over seven years with the company, his cumulative earnings likely ranged from $1 million to $1.75 million before taxes and expenses. Since his release in January 2025, he has supplemented his income through independent bookings, which bring in modest five-figure sums per appearance. He has no major endorsement deals or real estate holdings, and his merchandise sales were limited during his WWE run. Menzies lives a relatively modest lifestyle without public displays of wealth.[edit]

Ridge Holland won the NXT Tag Team Championship once in 2022, teaming with Andre Chase to defeat The Creed Brothers. This is his sole championship in professional wrestling.[edit]