Richard Holliday took some time out of his schedule to speak to Last Word on Pro Wrestling about what makes him the most marketable prospect, his unique selling points, his recovery from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and much more. Thank you to Richard for taking the time to conduct this interview.
Richard Holliday Interview
LWOPW – “What are three adjectives you would use to describe yourself?”
RH – “Marketable. Authentic. Undeniable.”
Watch any episode of MLW’s Fusion on YouTube before Thanksgiving 202 and Richard Holliday will be one of the highlights of any episode. Whether in a backstage segment or in the ring, within thirty seconds you know everything you need to know about “The Most Marketable” wrestler. The pristine suit or manicured exterior of any self-respecting Wall Street warrior. The smug, yet charming smile promises you a good return when you invest your with him. Walking to the ring on rarified air, accompanied by Shirley Bassey’s ‘Diamonds are Forever’, air pods in his ears, he lacks nothing. When he speaks his social superiority is clear. He talks in soundbites and catchphrases linked to finance and country clubs that somehow tailor themselves well to the carnival world of wrestling.
Holliday calls you consumers yet treats you as the product because he has what you want, and you want him…to be like him or see someone kick his ass. He can insult you, make you laugh, and make you buy into him all at the same time. Whether serious or comic, Holliday’s gimmick was and remains unique. Holliday puts his bachelor’s in marketing to good use. This pre-2023 version of Holliday could have been created by an advertising company.
Holliday’s USP (Unique Selling Points)
LWOPW – “What makes you the most marketable wrestler?”
RH – “From a marketing perspective there are certain boxes that need to be checked off: In ring skill, look, mic work, handling the media, etc. I check every box twice over.”
Trained by Paul Roma at the Paradise Alley Pro Wrestling School, Holliday possesses technical prowess and power. Noting Randy Orton and The Rock as influences, it’s clear that Holliday crafts stories when he wrestles. The space and time between moves are just as significant as the moves themselves. In lots of ways, Holliday has a WWE style of wrestling. Yet he has continued to evolve throughout his time in MLW until now.
Debuting at MLW’s inaugural Battle Riot in 2018, it wasn’t until February 2019’s episode of Fusion that Holliday became a central player when he aided another young up-and-comer, Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF). Together, joined shortly afterward by Alex Hammerstone, the trio united to become The Dynasty.
While Hammerstone is a throwback to Vince McMahon’s airport test, MJF has reinvigorated what it means to be a classic heel, Holliday is authentically modern. Some have said “Hangman” Adam Page’s anxious millennial cowboy is the new century model for babyfaces. If that’s the case, Richard Holliday’s could be a millennial million-dollar man, without the cartoonish trappings. Capturing white-collar corporate culture, whether Holliday, like MJF, will be able to switch between good and bad guys so fluidly, so easily, is an ongoing question.
As a trio, the group of wealthy, privileged heels dominated their divisions. Their memorable feud with The Hart Foundation (Teddy Hart, Brian Pillman Jr, and Davey Boy Smith Jr) included an excellent six-man tables match and later a ladder match where Holliday and MJF became MLW World Tag Team Champions. Throughout this time, the group’s YouTube shorts Lifestyles of the Rich and Dynastic proved comedy gold.
Later, Holliday would find singles success beating Savio Vega for the IWA Caribbean Heavyweight Championship (unofficially) in February 2020. Officially he would win the championship by beating Vega in a strap match that used the same strap Vega said he had used to beat “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Thanks to assistance from crooked referee, Tim Donaghy, a former NBA referee caught up in a gambling scandal in 2008. This stroke of booking genius emphasised how for Holliday money could buy everything.
The Clout Couple
In May 2021, Cesar Duran (Dario Cueto of Lucha Underground) entered MLW as the new authority figure. Many things changed, including Richard Holliday who began pursuing the affection of the interview queen, Alicia Atout. Holliday’s vulnerability began coming through as his attempts to woe her with his merchandise failed. Slowly, Holliday became close to turning into a fan favorite face. Until in a white suit, Holliday attacked and bloodied his former Dynasty partner and the MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Alex Hammerstone.
Joined with Atout, whose presence added to Holliday’s presentation, the Clout Couple became the hottest heels in the territory. Everything was built to Kings of Colosseum 2022. Two former best friends battled in a clash like MLW’s versions of a modern Hulk Hogan and Ted DiBiase in a dramatic sports entertainment-esque match. The rematch at Fusion on Thanksgiving (Episode #156), falls count anywhere match was just as maniac. When they fight on the rooftop, you can clearly in the background, a resident in a building opposite panic and call the police! Holliday was ascending. Yet behind the scenes, Holliday was sick and pale and drinking DayQuil to get by. Holliday competed despite his fellow wrestlers and Court Baurer’s concern.
The Road to Recovery
LWOPW – “Are there any ways your approach to wrestling has changed since your return? Both in and out of the ring?”
RH – “I am more calculated than I have ever been.”
Holliday had been wrestling through symptoms of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. It is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system- a network of vessels and glands throughout the body. Holliday was in stage 4, which means the lymphoma spread to one or more organs beyond his lymph nodes. Holliday stopped wrestling to receive treatment. He amicably left MLW to focus on his health.
Battling against a life-threatening disease, like WWE’s Roman Reigns who went away to battle leukemia, has left its mark on Richard Holliday. Besides the physical scar, facing death can alter how we view life. Returning to the ring after 352 days, Holliday is looking to catch up for the time he has missed.
The Return: Summer of Holliday
LWOPW – “The vignette you pinned to your X profile from November 22nd, seems to indicate a change (a vulnerability) in you. Will fans see a change in the Richard Holliday they have come to know?”
RH – “I have become ambiguous in my mind state, and I am honestly not sure how I will feel day to day.”
Holliday is trying to be the best version of himself. With new music by Mikey Ruckus, “Rarefied Air”, it has been hard to not receive the man as a babyface due to his experience. Grateful and happy to support anyone who’s experienced what he has, Holliday is thankful but not dwelling on what might have been. He is looking forward to and is enjoying working in the indies.
Yet, as seen on X, there are hints of unrest within the man. Is a sense of identity lacking? This vignette perhaps foreshadowed events at GCW Is Your Choice? Holliday shockingly betrayed Alex Hammerstone again and joined with Charles Mason. Whereas Cody Rhodes’ dashing gimmick was a superficial whiff of American Psycho’s Patrick Bateman, will Holliday delve further into the darkness inside the minds of men who supposedly have everything?
Full Circle and Beyond
LWOPW -“Looking forward to 2024, what are your goals?”
“Continue my white-hot momentum from the back half of 2023. I am particularly excited for my UK tour in February.”
At MLW’s One Shot, Richard Holliday returned post-match event and set his sights firmly on challenging MLW World Heavyweight Champion, Alex Kane. Potentially for Kings of Colosseum. Fans in the building and online were stunned by the return. Donning a baseball cap with the WTF logo, Holliday has returned to represent sports entertainment.
Whether this is a one-off or a return to full-time action with MLW, Holliday’s future looks bright. The man is coy about his goals and he is open to whatever comes his way. WWE failed to add his talents to their roster in September. Like the failure to sign MJF, time will prove if this was another mistake by the market leader. Whoever wants him, need to ensure they send his lawyer/father the paperwork.
Header photo – MLW. Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. MLW FUSION airs every Thursday on YouTube at 8 PM EST and every Saturday on beIN SPORTS at 10 PM EST.
