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Brit rugby player turned WWE star 'frustrated' after being released with family to support

Yorkshire-born ex-rugby league player Luke Menzies, who worked under the ring name Ridge Holland, has told his social media followers the WWE will not be renewing his contract when it ends next month

[Ridge Holland confirmed his WWE release on social media]

Ridge Holland confirmed his WWE release on social media(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

Rugby league star-turned-wrestler Ridge Holland has told of his "frustration" at being released by the WWE "with a family of five to support". The Yorkshire-born grappler, real name Luke Menzies, said his contract will not be renewed when it expires next month.

Menzies has been out of action since he broke his foot during a TNA match on September 27, cutting short his time in the organisation after working in WWE's developmental brand NXT for a few years.

He said in a social media post the WWE would still cover his rehab, but said his guaranteed pay will end. He told fans: "Quite frustrating to say the least as I cannot work for another 6 months due to the aforementioned injury, with a family of five to support."

[Ridge Holland, real name Luke Menzies, would have been sent off for that in his rugby days]

Ridge Holland, real name Luke Menzies, would have been sent off for that in his rugby days(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

Menzies made a single appearance for Hull KR in Super League, the highest division of rugby league, before spells at Batley, Oldham, Dewsbury and Swinton. He returned to the top flight briefly with Salford before a stint on loan at York and Halifax.

But when his career was cut short by injury, the 6ft 1, 18st powerhouse tried his hand at professional wrestling and caught the eyes of WWE talent scouts during a try out in 2016.

He finally signed with the company in 2018 and moved his family to the US to work on the NXT brand. In 2021, he was drafted to Smackdown where he joined forces with former World Champion Sheamus and fellow Brit Butch to form the Brawling Brutes stable.

[Ridge Holland (left) teams with Sheamus and Butch as The Brawling Brutes]

Ridge Holland (left) teamed with Sheamus and Butch as The Brawling Brutes(Image: WWE)

In 2023, he returned to NXT, where he worked until September when he made his debut on TNA, which signed a multi-year partnership deal with the WWE last year.

Menzies added on social media: "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.

"I'm unsure what lies ahead of me in terms of wrestling but going forward I will be working hard to heal up and in that time I will be launching my own online coaching business.... so stay tuned."

[Luke, in blue, in the thick of the action during his time at Swinton Lions]

Luke, in blue, in the thick of the action during his time at Swinton Lions(Image: Manchester Evening News)

A lifelong wrestling fan, Menzies started training with a coach in the Oldham are after a quad tear cut short his rugby league career. He said at the time: "I tore my quad and was subsequently let go by the club.

"It was a blessing in disguise and allowed me to make that leap. I contacted a coach around the Oldham area and it snowballed from there and six months later I was at a WWE try-out!"

He told the BBC: The training takes a bit of getting used to. Coming from rugby background I was used to the contact; taking the hits and tackles. Getting a few cut eyes and bust noses has probably helped toughen me up.

[He took a leap of faith when his rugby career ended]

He took a leap of faith when his rugby career ended(Image: WWE via Getty Images)

"The conditioning is different; youre not running for 80 minutes. Its kind of like interval training; you start you stop, youre up, youre down, youre off the ropes."

Menzies started making a name for himself performing for various Yorkshire promotions like 3 Count Wrestling, where he won his first championship in 2018 and was a one-time NXT tag team champion alongside Andre Chase.

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