The exit of Ridge Holland from WWE has taken a new turn that could change the ongoing criticism. On November 10, Luke Menzies (Ridge Holland) revealed on an episode of Busted Open Radio that WWE will cover his upcoming neck fusion surgery, even though the company had already released him while he was preparing for the procedure.
It is a very serious surgery, and Ridge Holland will not be able to resume physical activity until around May 2026. The long recovery time makes WWE’s decision to take responsibility for his medical expenses quite significant, especially considering the backlash that followed his release.
Backlash and Fundraiser Controversy
After his release, Ridge Holland shared that he had been let go while injured, which caused outrage among fans. A GoFundMe campaign was later started by a relative to help cover his medical bills, with support coming from several figures in the wrestling community, including Chelsea Green and Nick Jackson.
However, Ridge Holland explained that he had not organized the fundraiser himself. He asked for the campaign to be closed and for the collected funds to be donated to charity. He clarified that he never meant to assign blame or create any conflict, but that the situation was mishandled publicly and taken out of context.
WWE’s Role Moving Forward
The fact that WWE is covering his medical treatment shows that the company is not too quick to abandon injured talent, even in difficult circumstances. Although Ridge Holland’s release came at an unfortunate time, he chose to redirect the donations as a gesture of respect and responsibility. Holland now faces a long recovery ahead, but with the support he has received after surgery, he can focus entirely on healing.
Still, the situation raises questions among fans and observers about how many similar cases might go unnoticed within the wrestling industry.
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