Summary

Ridge Holland says he did not hear other wrestlers label him unsafe after the match in March 2022 that left Big E with a serious neck injury, but he admitted the reaction from fans affected his confidence.

Holland and Sheamus faced Big E and Kofi Kingston in that match, and Big E has not wrestled since taking a belly-to-belly suplex at ringside from Holland. Holland said in a recent interview that the fallout shaped how he viewed his standing, even if the criticism did not come directly from the locker room.

The comments also continue a stretch of Holland reflecting openly on the end of his WWE run, including his recent remarks about having no regrets over the posts that sped up his WWE exit.

Quote from Ridge Holland

Speaking with Sportshadow Wrestling, Holland said:

"I didn't get that from any particular wrestler. I think it was more my own thoughts, thinking that people might think that. So that's what kind of affected my confidence. But the fans don't really know. The fans think they know about wrestling, but they really don't. They don't know anything. If they want to think I'm dangerous, that's fine. That's perfect. I'll take that. If there's a bit of realism there, and they want to hate me for that, that's fine. If they think I hurt people, then I do. But people who know me know what I'm capable of. People who know me know my talents. Just because you only saw that much from the WWE spotlight doesn't mean that you know everything about me. So that's why I'm looking forward to getting out on the independent scene, different promotions, and showing people, proving to myself that I'm a lot more than what people think."

What Holland's comments mean for his next run

Holland framed this less as a dispute with other wrestlers and more as a response to the reputation that followed him after Big E's injury. That matters now because he specifically pointed to the independent scene as his chance to rebuild momentum and show more of what he can do outside the WWE system.

It also makes his next stretch of matches more important than a standard post-release reset. If Holland can string together solid performances in different promotions, he has a clear opening to reshape how fans talk about him.

Sources

Ridge Holland while speaking on Sportshadow Wrestling