Former Ridge Holland explains how new NWL promotion is a ‘coming out party’ | Exclusive
As confirmed by Luke Menzies himself on Monday, the former Ridge Holland in WWE has his next destination set: the new National Wrestling League.
In exclusive comments released to our website, Menzies opened up about joining the new group, how he’s still figuring out the rules, and why he feels like it’s a “coming out party” of sorts as he begins this next stage of his career.
The 37-year-old announced in April that he has been fully cleared for an in-ring return after recovering from a Lisfranc injury in addition to neck surgery and that he is accepting indie bookings for the UK this summer.
Enter the NWL, a UK-based promotion inspired by European football/soccer leagues with six teams of wrestlers competing for points in a standings-based format. Dates for August (Newcastle) and October (Glasgow) have already been announced.
“The National Wrestling League will be kind of like a pretty much a coming out party, and I’m really looking forward to it. You know, getting there and getting my hands dirty and obviously helping it grow,” he said.
The West Yorkshire native will be part of Team Yorkshire, something he said “that’s close to my heart.”
“It’s just interesting, you know, obviously kind of like a group stage, tournament style. Obviously, we’ve got a few teams now. I’m sure there are some more names to be announced as well, but it’s just exciting. It’s something different, and I think obviously something that bringing football and wrestling together,” he said, also noting he is still figuring the rules out and that he’s likely to be the first to score “a yellow card or a red card for not following the rules.”
His next match will be his first since late-September 2024 when he took on Moose in a TNA dark match where he suffered the Lisfranc injury while still under contract with WWE. In November, WWE informed him that contract would not be renewed. Menzies then notably went public about his issues with how things went down, especially given his financial and family situation at the time.
With the NWL, he is hoping for a fresh start.
“I think (the NWL) is ready made for success in Britain and, hopefully, it will bleed over into international markets as well. I just think it’s something exciting to be a part of, and I’m looking to add some value to that as well, and then help it kick off in a big way.”
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.