Ridge Holland has shared his thoughts on what WWE felt about him following Big E’s injury. Having recently undergone neck surgery, Holland is often remembered as Big E’s final in-ring opponent. After a ringside suplex led to an accidental landing that caused the neck injury, Big E’s in-ring career came to an abrupt halt and he hasn’t wrestled since.
Recently, speaking at a virtual signing for K & S WrestleFest, Holland opened up about the aftermath of the injury. He claimed that he felt ‘certain members’ of WWE’s hierarchy held the accident against him, leading to significant backlash that stalled his momentum. The former NXT Tag Team Champion felt that he was blamed for the injury, which made it difficult for him to progress in his WWE journey.
“I felt it a little bit. I felt it did affect my career from going forward. I never really got started. I think it probably was a black cloud that was hanging over me, from certain members in the hierarchy. Not mentioning any names, but I think it kind of put a black mark on me going forward, and it made it very difficult for me to get past that in the eyes of some people in the company.”
Last month, Holland was informed that his contract would not be renewed once it expired on November 14, 2025. The news came after Holland suffered a Lisfranc injury in a match against Moose during a TNA Wrestling taping on September 27.
Since his departure, Holland has been vocal about his run, how WWE treated him, and his financial difficulties. While he is no longer associated with the company, WWE recently covered the cost for his neck surgery.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit K & S WrestleFest with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
